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CONVENTION A. F. OF L.
Louisville, Ky., Dec. 10.— Imme
diately following the call to order this
morning, the resolutions committee
from the American Federation of La
bor submitted its report. The first res
olution recommended by the conven
tion was one reaffirming its favorable
position on the initiative and referen
dum, which was adopted by the con
vention by a vote of 82 to 56 after con
siderable debate. Following in rapid
succession were recommended and
adopted resolutions requesting the sup
port by congress of a bill for the higher
education of the blind; in favor of an
eight-hour bill for all postoffice em
ployes, and in favor of municipal
ownership of public utilities. The
committee reported unfavorably upon
the following political resolution:
“Whereas, The right of direct leg
islation is one of the leading political
demands of the American Federation
of Labor; and
“Whereas, We can never hope to ac
quire this right as long as we con
tinue to divide our strength at the bal
lot-box; therefore, be it
“Resolved, That the American Fed
eration of Labor, as an organization,
take such steps as are necessary to go
into the next national campaign with
this single demand, upon which all
lovers of freedom and justice can
stand.”
Special committees on the eight-hour
work-day, compulsory arbitration and
on Porto Rico, were appointed. Among
the resolutions handed to the secre
tary and referred just prior to adjourn
ment was one providing for the es
tablishment of a national labor press
bureau at Washington. The labor press
will hold its annual election of officers
tomorrow.
At the afternoon session the conven
tion heard the report of the commit
tee on organization, which favored a
resolution providing for the appoint
ment, as soon as possible after ad
journment of the convention, of four
permanent organizers for the ensuing
year in the Southern, Northern, Inter-
Mountain and Pacific coast states and
territories. Other resolutions favor a
national organization in the fishing in
dustry and among the leather-workers,
rubber-workers and wood, wire and
metal lathers and upholsterers. The
question of trade autonomy was raised
by a resolution by the steam and hot-
water fitters asking a constitutional
charter on the part of the plumbers'
union. The organization committee
recommended that committees of three
from each union be appointed to con
fer with a like committee of the Amer
ican Federation, which recommenda
tion was concurred in.
In its report, which followed, the
committee on labels recommended that
all school books used in public schools
of the various states should bear the
label of the Allied Printing Trades
Council, and recommended the recog
nition of the union labels of the boot
and shoe-workers, tobacco workers,
journeymen horseshoers and lumber
trades. These recommendations were
adopted by the convention. A partial
report- of the committtee on boycotts
contained recommendations for refer
ence to the incoming executive council
of a large number of resolutions for
placing on the “unfair list” of speci
fied firms and corporations on account
of labor troubles with their employes.
A resolution extending sympathy to
the striking telegraphers on the Santa
Fe system was adopted.
Louisville, Dec. 11.—At the morn
ing session of the American Federa
tion of Labor convention a resolution
was presented by the cigarmakers’
delegation, and under suspension of
the rules was immediately adopted by
the convention, denouncing the efforts
of the Resistencia to keep members of
the Cigarmakers’ International Union
cut of the cigar factories in Tampa.
The support of the Federation is
pledged to the unions of Tampa in
their efforts to secure and maintain
their rights.
PORTLAND LABOR PRESS
Other resolutions adopted provided
for demanding the card of the Retail
Clerks’ International Protective Asso
ciation when making purchases; for
the organization of unions of shipping
department workers and all other
freight handlers; for organization of
blacksmiths and placing of such or
ganizations in the “front rank of trade
unionism”; for the organization of
trunk and baggage workers and for
the organization of agriculturists.
A resolution was adopted directing
the secretary of the federation to In
struct non-afflliated locals to affiliate
with chartered local central bodies
and to insist that local unions, char
tered direct by the American Federa
tion of Labor, shall affiliate with the
chartered central bodies of the Amer
ican Federation of Labor before affil
iating with any other central body in
name or pretensions.
The docket of resolutions received
by the secretary contained the follow
ing, to be passed on by the proper
committee and submitted to the con
vention: A resolution introduced by
John Mitchell, of the United Mine-
workers, expressing sympathy with
the iron moulders union in its strug
gle with the National Founders’ As
sociation against rules requiring mem
bers of the former union to work with
non-union moulders; a resolution for
non - interference by international
unions of woodworkers with ship
wrights and joiners’ unions; one pro
viding that no “local” affiliated with
an international or national body char
tered by the American Federation of
Labor shall be permitted to join any
central body that has affiliated with it
any organization that has seceded
from an international or national body
of the American Federation of Labor;
one urging the placing of orders for
government army hats with union fac
tories; one urging the free school
book system where not in force; one
for the reorganization of textile work
ers in North and South Carolina,
Georgia and Alabama, and one for the
oragnization of telephone girls.
A resolution for the establishment of
the free school-book system where not
already in force was adopted. A reso
lution providing that no local affiliat
ed with a national or international
chartered body shall be permitted to
join any centra body that has affiliated
or become affiliated with any body that
has seceded from a national or inter
national chartered body was unfavora
bly reported. A resolution to reinstate
Typographical, No. 12, was referred to
the incoming executive council. The
convention offered its ai<J toward se
curing for the people of Porto Rico
“freedom of assembly, of speech and
the press.”
SKILLED WORKMEN.
The Bootblacks’ League of the
Greater New York, which was killed
through politics, will be reorganized
on strictly union lines. A preliminary
meeting was held in a hall on Grand
street, near East Broadway. Domin
ico Cassano, one of its organizers, read
two advertisements in a newspaper.
One was for a bookkeeper, whose pay
was to be $5 a week; the other was for
a bootblack, whose wages would start
at $6 a week.
“Dat’s because we’re skilled work
ers,” said Cassano. “Dem mugs as
works at bookkeeping ain’t skilled
workers. See? It takes skill ter give
an oil shine. Tink of a bookkeepin’
guy givin’ an oil shine!”
“Oil shina maka muscle,” said an
Italian, feeling his biceps. “Shorty”
McGinnis remarked that bootblacks
had to be born, not made. A meeting
for formal organization will be called
shortly.—New York Times.
The National Council of Women,
held at Minneapolis, Minn., last week,
adopted resolutions declaring that the
national government should support
enough institutions of learning to give
every child a common-school educa
tion.
BENEFITS OF THE UNION LABEL.
To workingmen the union label
means more than the mere device may
indicate, more than men outside of
the unions may appreciate. It is well
known that each union has a label,
stamp or device to indicate the product
of their work, and union men should
see that in their purchases, goods bear
their stamp. All strength comes from
united action and loyalty to the prin
ciples espoused by those banded in any
enterprise, says the Freeman’s Labor
Journal. Unless all unite for the com
mon good, not alone by having tneir
names on the rolls of membership, but
in their dealings and every-day ac
tions, the cause will not succeed.
Every union man should ask for
union-made goods, and when mer
chants have a demand thus made, they
grow anxious to please and retain a
union man’s custom. He will pur
chase union-label goods and place
them upon his shelves. The next time
the union man asks for union-label
goods he has them. Thus you are aid
ing your brethren in other lines, and
if the same spirit of reciprocity were
maintained by all union men, what a
power for good their efforts would be!
It is estimated that there are about
20,000,000 wage-earners in the United
States. Of this great number at pres
ent about 2,000,000 only are organ
ized. As a result, employers can fix
the price of wages at their own figure.
Men must work for these figures or go
idle. Alone they have no power, but
banded together they can demand the
wages justly due them, according to
their work and ability. And this is
the way to promote the use of the
union label, and in so doing you are
promoting the interests of those who
toil. When you make a purchase and
find thereon a union label you know
that you are helping to support their
families. You are also supporting the
employer of labor because he is re
ceiving his interest in the profits. If
the remaining laborers were banded in
the cause of unionism, better condi
tions would obtain among all classes.
The poor would be better able to buy
better goods, the employers and mer
chants would still make their profits.
It is well known that the trusts
have strong organizations and have ad
vanced the cost of machinery, sup
plies, tools, etc., and employers must
pay more for these articles. In their
desire for greater profit, whom do they
cut—the wage-earner, of course. The
trusts have their union, and maintain
their prices accordingly. Should you
not do likewise, as your labor is vour
capital? A good union man is one
who believes and has faith in human
ity; one who considers his neighbor’s
welfare as well as his own. When you
are helping yourself by paying atten
tion to the union label you are also
helping all others in the great army
of the toilers.
CARROLL D. WRIGHT’S REPORT.
Carroll D. Wright, commissioner of
labor, has completed his 15th annual
report. It embraces data relative to
highest, lowest and average wages
paid, and the hours of labor in 92
countries, provinces and colonies, ex
clusive of 47 states and territories in
this country. This compilation is
taken from authentic official sources
and Is not the result of original in
quiry. The very nature of the work
prevents any summary. It gives quo
tations for each country as far back
as any official statement was to be
found and down to the present vear.
These quotations are for 4,459 occupa
tions and subdivisions of occupation.
The facts are taken from nearly 1,500
different official reports and they cover
900 definite results.
“I am proud to say,” said the finan
cial magnate and captain of industry,
“that I began at the foot of the lad
der. But I did not stay there long.”
“Neither did the ladder,” cheerfully
interpolated another gentleman of the
same class.—Indianapolis Press.
LABORING MEN
GET YOUR
DRUGS • AND • MEDICINES
OF
ALBERT BERNI
COR. SECOND A N D W A S H IN G T O N STS.
H O L ID A Y i B O O K S
AND
N O V E L T IE S
AT
J o n e s B o o k S to r e
291 Alder Street, Bet. Fourth and Fifth
BEATTIE & HOFMANN
PHONE, SOUTH 371
P R IN T E R S
109 Fifth St., Portland, Ore.
Deutschei Basthaus
BREW ERS’ HOME
M e t r o p o lis H o t e l
P hilip S trhib , Proprietor
Cor. First and Main Sts., Portland, Ore.
Finest Table Board in the City
Only White Help Employed. Meals 15c. Lodging
20c and 25c. Milk and Eggs fresh from our
own ranch daily
Established 1882
Open Day and Night
Clams and Oysters
Home Made Pies and Cakes
E. HOUSE’S CAFE
Cream and Milk from Our Own Ranch
The Best Cup of Coffee or Cocoa in the City
128 Third St., Portland, Ore.
C O U N T Y A N D B A N K S U P P L IE S
GLASS & PRUDHOMME
P R IN T E R S
B L A N K BO O K M A K E R S
L IT H O G R A P H E R S
1 2 3 -1 2 2 F IR S T S T .
Bureau Trunks a
Specialty
PORTLAND, OREGON
Trunks Made to
Order
T R U N K FACTO RY
N o . SO T h i r d S t.
Bet. Pine and Ash
Ore. Phone, Clay 391
Old Trunks taken in part payment for
New Ones. Trunks Repaired.............
L . B . P H IL L IP S T R U N K CO., P o r tla n d , Or.
Henry Doerr
Ed. Helseth
HELSETH & DOERR
Certified Members of the N at’l Horseshoers’ Ass’n
Local No. 36
Blacksmiths : and : Horseshoers
Wagon and Woodwork of All Kinds Done on
Short Notice. Phone, Hood 592
285 Couch St., Bet. 4th and 5th, Portland, Oregon
WANTED
An Experienced Newspaper Solicitor
Call at Room 53 M cKay Bldg.
JOHN DELLAR’S ADMIRATION.
Great friendship is shown by John
Dellar to all the union organizations,
and he assists them In every way he
can to attain their wishes. Having
been a hard-working man all his life,
Mr. Dellar appreciates the position of
the working classes and always selects
his friends and companions from
among them at all times.
He carries a stock of men’s and boys’
clothing, men’s, ladies’ and children’s
shoes, almost entirely made by union
Mr. Dellar does not believe In extrav
agant expenses; that’s why he con
ducts his business on the corner of
First and Yamhill streets, where the
rent is not one-third of what other
stores pay. The profits are generally
fixed by every merchant according to
his expenses.
We carry none but good qualities,
which explains why our trade is so
well satisfied.
The Louisville (Ky.) Federal Labor
Union instructed Its delegate to the A.
F. of L. convention to submit a reso
lution declaring for the collective own
ership of the means of production.