Denver labor bulletin., 1916-11-18
Especial Correspondence )

BALTIMORE. NOV. l4-Thc thirty
sixth annual convention Of the American
Federation of Labor was called to order
by President Gompcrs at 10 o'clock
Monday morning In tn" Garden theatcr
this CITY Inyocatious were Offered by
Cardinal Gibbons and Bishop John Gard
ucr Murray OF III" Protestant Episcopal
dioo~sc Of Maryland The two distin-
guished prclatcs greeted each other
heartily when they were escorted To the
platform. Five hundred delegates are IN
attendance
Secretary OF Labor William b. VIII
-on delivered the principal address Of
the opening session. He said he was
present for the purpose of showing
which .idc he was on-the side OF union
labor.
The greatest OF all the functions Of
the department of labor" said the scc-
rrtary. "is that Of having the hopes.
aspirations and philosophy OF the wage
rarncr- OF cur country come into the
councils Of the president Of the United
State"
k-Gf the 500 disputes between labor and
I.rttaI that had come before hs de-
r--tmcut, Mr. Wilson said. 275 had been
ss.,lrd in a manner satisfactory 10 both
side before strike had been reached.
President Samuel Gompcr-. in an al.
dress. declared that in the relations he
tween the United States and McNico. the
American Federation of Labor had a
part m coun-cling the Mexican workmcn
- that they might exert a steadying
influence upon the people and govern.
rnont of Mexico. and that the exploit
crs Of Wall street should not drive u
into passion and anger and compel
conflict with our much weaker sister
republic Of Mexico"
This statement evoked long contiu.
ucd applause.
Labor Acts Are vindicated.
The Lusi,ania situation was taken
well in hand by the officials OF our
government" Mr.. Gompcrs added, "and
instead of declaring war with hluster
tho aims and purposes Of that diplomacy
have accomplished all that war could
SECURE"
The passage by congress Of the sea
mons act and the Clayton antitrust
law were yindicated by the people Of
the United States last Tuesday. Mr..
Gompcrs declared.
Annual reports OF President Gompcrs,
Sccrctarv' Morrison and the executive
council were submitted in printed form
To- the convention. They were the most
exhaustive in the history OF the Fed.
Grafton. covering 1872 closely printed
pages.
Growth of the Federation.
Secretary Morrison's report showed
tho membership Of affiliated unions this
wear TO be 2.O72.7o2. as against ,aiG.-
3i7 year ago. The voting strength in
this convention is 81 ,aoG. This is n
higher record than shown by any pre-
Niou- convention.
In his report President Gompers
dwclt with considerable length upon in
t.rnntionnl and pam American labor re-
lations A summary of the conferences
and correspondence between the Amer
icnn Federation of Labor and Mexican
labor leaders forms an interesting part
of this report, National and state la
bor legislation and court decisions af
fccting rights of labor are given at con-
siderable detail During the year the
A. +. of L.. thru voluntary contibu
tions. raised Sl5s.T30.lO to assist the
Danbury Hatters. The railroad brother.
hoods fight for the eight hour day and
enactment of the Adnmson bill in con.
grcss il given considerable attention in
President Gompers' report. In tbs con-
ncction he opposes any movement that
seeks TO enact n law in this country
framed after the Canadian compulsory
Investigations net that would in any
way hinder organized workers from en-
forcing their rights.
To Urge immigration Bill.
In referring to the national child la
bor law President Gompers says I'VE
,gcuturc the suggestion that the toilcrs
,i,lout the whole United States will
do their utmost to prevent violation to
This splendid piece of legislation de-
signed for the protection of the children
Of our nation" In reference to the