The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-02-09
AMERICAN FEDERATION OFLABOR
LETTER TO ORGANIZED WORKERS

labor, and that at no distant time the
eight-hour workday shall be the un-
form maximum hours of daily toll
The convention directed:
That the state and city central
bodies appoint committees, where
they do not already exist, for the
purpose of studing conditions of To-
cal trade and federal labor unions.
report thereon to be made to their
organizations in order that greater
degree of progress may be made by
the organizations in question.
That the assistance of the organ
izers of the A. F. of L. be extended to
the Laundry Workers International
Union.
That special effort be made to or
ganize all labor engaged in the manu-
facture of bottle caps, corks and
crowns; all workers in the celluloid
and tortoise shell industry; the nurses
and attendants in state hospitals; the
meat cutters and butcher workmen:
and those employed in the manufact-
ure of gloves.
That all affiliated unions having
members employed in the various ship
yards of the country put forth a de-
termlned effort to completely organ
ize all crafts employed in the ship
yards.
That the moral support should be
given to the White Rats Actors In
ternatlonal in its efforts to better
conditions of it's members.
That every effort be made to secure
more extended demand for union la
bel tobacco, cigarettes and snuff.
That wherever possible and practic-
able cloth union labels should be SUBJ
stituted for paper labels.
1t was brought to the attention of
the convention that the impression
prevails among many of the organiz-
ers of the national and international
unions that as the Union Label Trades
Department had been charged with
label agitation and label advertising.
tne organizers are absolved from
special efforts in this direction. The
convention laid special emphasis up-
on the point that the attention of all
organizers should be called to the
fact that whenever and wherever pos-
slble label agitation is an important
part of organizers duties.
The convention was emphat;c in ire
declaration, and we expect effective
protest to be made against the en-
actment OF any law by Congress or
the states which shall have the effect
either permanently or temporarily to
deny the right of the workers to COL
lectlve action or to quit their en-
ployment.
The officers of affiliated organiza.
Clons' organizers and labor press have
performed invaluable service in the
past. Too much praise can not be
given to these elf-sacrificing. devoted
trade unionists. It has been a source
OF great satisfaction to know that
there is within our movement such q
large number of active unionists who
give OF their time and ability that the
organized and unorganized NAV raan
the benefits of oganization. There is
no institution that can boast of such
large corps of workers who, without
stint, devote their time that onnor
tunltles may be provided for the toll
ers who are less fortunate than those
who are organized.
Increasing opportunities demand
that we make even greater efforts 60
that our government shall correspond-
~ increase In membership and that its
power and influence for the better
ment OF the conditions of the workers
may be constantly augmented. The
growth of the labor movement r,o.n.
ADDED duties and responsibilities for
lts members as well as it's officers
mat the A. F. of L. may continue on
its upward march and keep abreast of
the opportunities afforded, it will be
necessary now more than ever +b.+
we devote ourselves assiduouslv TO
the demands made upon US bv orr
fellow-workers.
In a word, that every man in the
,aoor movement and organized BODY of
iaoor shall put forth every enerpv
IN order that this year of our lives
ana our movement shall be made hot
ter and more secure, that everv toiler
eligible to membership in any exist
ing union be influenced to ioin the
ranks of organized labor and make
common cause with us in this bene-
ficent and humane movement of Ours
cannot too strongly impress upon
you the necessity of exerc;s;nr Al