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AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOF
CONSERVATIVES REMAIN
OFFICERS ARE
The annual convention of the American Federation
of Labor, which met in Rochester, N. Y., Nov.
11, and which continued in session the greater part
of the fortnight, was enlivened by some warm
debates and at one point by some fisticuffs. The
most notable happening of the convention was the
failure of the radical wing to gain control of the
convention on the question of industrial unionism
as against union autonomy as now obtains. The
same fight was carried into the election of officers
but it failed to win out and the old officers were
re-elected.
The convention opened with the reading ol the
reports of the credential committee, which showed
356 delegates entitled to seats. This was followed
by the reports of the officers.
The principal committee chairmanships assigned
by President Gompers and approved by the convention
were: Rules, T. A, Rickert; Laws, John B.
Lennon; Organization, James M. Lynch; Adjustment,
John Mitchell; Fedeiated bodies, H. B. Perliam;
Boycotts, D. A. Hayes.
The second day was given over to the report of
the executive council, which had much to say of
the McNamara cases and denounced William J.
Burns, the detective. At the third clay's sessions,
the time taken up by the Plumbers and Steam
Fitters case, the convention finally supporting
President Gompers' ruling that the International
Association of Steam, Hot Water and Power Pipefitters
and Helpers of America was not entitled to
representation in the convention, and that the
locals should affiliate with the United Association
of Journeymen Plumbers, Gasfitters and Steam
fitters' Helpers of America.
Nov. 14 was given over entirely to addresses,
the most important of wdiich were the greetings
from the fraternal delegates from Great Britain.
Congressman W. B. Wilson, of Pennsylvania, told
the convention what the labor members of Congress
had done ancl outlined the attitude of the members
on the limitation of the use of the injunction in
labor disputes.
Nov. 15 the Socialist delegates announced they
would fight the administration of President Gompers
and would have a candidate to oppose tiim
for the presidency. Nov. 16 no session was held,
the committee on resolutions spending the entire
day working on the resolution:.; submitted, over
150 in number.
Nov. 17 two big mass meetings were held, at
wdiich the leaders spoke. President Samuel Gompers.
Congressman William Wilson of Pennsyl-
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 37
CONVENTION LIVELY ONE BUT
IN CONTROL AND OLD
REELECTED
vania, Miss Maud Younger of San Francisco and
Miss Josephine Casey of Chicago were the speakers
at Convention Hall and Robert Smiilie. delegate
from Scotland, Frank Hayes of Indianapolis, and
Fred 0. Wheeler of Los Angeles spoke at a meeting
in Shubert Theater under the auspices of the
Socialist wing of the federation.
Referring to his arrest with John Mitchell and
Frank Morrison at Washington, Mr. Gompers said:
"I deny to any judge or any set of judges the
right to gag my mouth. If a judge by injunction
can stifle the mind and prevent free expression,
then the very essence of our liberty has been stolen.
Free speech and free press have ever been regarded
as inherent and natural rights. if daring
to express the conviction in my heart involves a
term of imprisonment, the sooner we know it the
better."
Nov. IS the fight over industrial unionism came
to the front, when tbe committee on education reported
on a resolution for the adoption of industrial
unionism. A majority of the committee
voted for its rejection and a minority report favored
industrial unionism where practicable and
where not practicable a close federation of trade
unions for unified action.
The resolution was introduced by John Mitchell,
Duncan McDonald, John P. White, Frank J. Hayes,
William Green and J. H. Walker of the United
Mine Workers of America.
The majority of the committee desired to substitute
for the resolution tbe autonomy declaration of
the Scranton convention in 1901, which favored retention
of the policy of recognizing ancl maintaining
craft or trade autonomy in so far as it was compatible
with modern organization of industry.
Nov. 19 a discussion of the Sherman anti-trust
law occupied the whole clay and the question of
urging its amendment was referred back to the
committee on President's report.
Nov. 20 the industrial unionism question came
up for consideration, and after a debate that lasted
all clay, the radical wing were defeated by a vote
of nearly two to one in their attempt to have the
federation adopt the policy of industrial unionism
in place of its policy of trade autonomy. Two
hundred and forty-nine delegates voted against the
minority report of the committee on education.
which favored the principle of industrial unionism,
and 142 voted in its favor.
The vote was the first test of strength between
the radical and conservative wings and the number
of votes polled hy the radicals was slightly under