Norwich bulletin., 1921-06-14
AMERICAN FEDERATION
 OF LABOR IN SESSION

Denver, June 13.-President Samuel Gompers, addressing the opening session of the forty-first annual convention of the American Federation of Labor here today. declared that the enemies of labor and advocates of the "open shop" had fai,|- to crush organized labor. and the ranks of the American trades union movement held intact Similar senti- ments were expressed in the report of the executive council of the federation.
 A year Of progress was predicted for 1921, President Gompe4s declaring that before the next snow falls We shall have passed the 5,0OO,OoO mark in the Ameri- can Federation of Labor"
 Closer alliance and cooperation be- tween the organized industrial workers of the country and the farmers was urged by the veteran labor leader in 'order that we shall not be crushed by the reaction of industrial captains or princes of finance"
 The first official action of the conven- ton was to adopt a resolution to be sub mitted 10 congress protesting against the Scott bill, now pending, which it was alleged would increase the length of the navigation season on the Great Lakes, and reduce the wages of labor. This action was proposed by delegates Of the International Seamen's union. who de- clared that the bill would eliminate pro- visions in the seamen's act and would increase the dangers incident 10 navisa- tion.
 The convention unanimously adopted a declaration of the executive council call ing upon all local and international un- ions to aid the Pueblo flood sufferers.
 Urging worldwide disarmaplent in his address at the opening of the conven- tioE, President Gompers said:
 
 and We have earnestly striyen, and wS will continue 10 strive for the time when there shall be total disarmament in al the countries of the world, and that dis. armament will be based upon universa agreement"
 He made an emphatic appeal to tht workers to unite in opposition to tn, movement designed to create a depart ment of public welfare.
 Under the pr1tense Of trying 10 creatl a department 0. public welfare. t Is seri ously proposed to destroy the depaTtmen of labor and the department Of agricul ture,' he said. NO one can forctel where reaction leads. As a matter O fact. these are the only two department in the government of the United State that represent at all the producers of th wealth of our country. and 1t is seri ously proposed to destroy these two de partments."
 President Gompers paid high tribut to the memory Of John Golden, forme president Of the United Textile Workers and Milton Snellings, president of tn Steam and Operating Engineers union who died during the last week. At hi request tLe delegates and visitors stoo , in silent meditation for one minute. The report of the executive counc
 was presented by James Duncan c
 Quincy. Mass, first vice president covered the many important issues cor fronting organized labor-the "ope } shop" wage reductions. Irish questIo, relations with foreign trade union move ments, anti-labor legislation, immigrs
 ton, high cost of living, railroad situs
 ton and scores of other major problem ' This report with its recommendation , was immediately referred 10 committed l for consideration.
 The coming year must be a year ( 7 progress said the document. m
 blight of reactionary effort has bitten .
 deeply as possible. It has been checkei Our movement everywhere must now ra l ly to militant offense against the pow CTS that have sought our ruin" { While the annual rIuort of Secretar ! Frank Morrison showed the membersh l of the federation to be 3,s06,52s as con
 pared with 4,o7s-740 in 1920, it N;
 stated that the ranks Of organized lab, 0 had increased, as this report did not n s clude thousands of members now ii : volved in strikes or lockouts or uner = ployed.
 h The secretarys report showed tn, g there had been 1885 strikes during tl
 year, involving 1sl.s54 members. costir
 ;s.4s2,l74. The federation defense fur ., showed balance of S1sI,2l7.