SEPTEMBER 8, 1914.

To All Affiliated Unions, Greeting:

You are hereby notified that, in pursuance to the Constitution of the American Federation of Labor, the thirty-fourth annual convention of the American Federation of Labor will be held at Horticultural Hall, Philadelphia, Pa., beginning ten o'clock Monday morning, November 9, 1914, and will continue in session from day to day until the business of the convention has been completed.

REPRESENTATION.

Representation in the convention will be on the following basis: From National or International Unions, for less than 4,000 members, one delegate; 4,000 or more, two delegates; 8,000 or more, three delegates; 16,000 or more, four delegates; 32,000 or more, five delegates; 64,000 or more, six delegates; 128,000 or more, seven delegates, and so on; and from Central Bodies and State Federations, and from local trade unions not having a National or International Union, and from Federal Labor Unions, one delegate.

Organizations to be entitled to representation must have obtained a certificate of affiliation (charter) at least one month prior to the

convention; and no person will be recognized as a delegate who is not a member in good standing of the organization he is elected to represent.

Only bona fide wage-workers, who are not members of, or eligible to membership in other trade unions, are eligible as delegates from Federal Labor Unions.

Delegates must be selected at least two weeks previous to the convention, and their names forwarded to the Secretary of the American Federation of Labor immediately after their election.

Delegates are not entitled to seats in the convention unless the tax of their organizations has been paid in full to September 30, 1914.

It is, of course, entirely unnecessary here to enumerate the imminent important subjects with which our forthcoming convention will concern itself, but the reminder is not at all amiss that every effort must be made to broaden the field and means for the organization of the yet unorganized workers, to strive to bring about more effectually than ever, a better day in the lives and homes of the toilers, to defend and maintain by every honorable means in our power the right to organize for

our common defense and advancement, for the exercise of our normal and constitutional activities to protect and promote the rights and interests of the workers; and to assert at any risk the freedom of speech and of the press and the equal rights before the law of every worker with every other citizen; the tremendous conflict now being waged in Europe and its possible consequences and results, not only upon the people of European countries but upon the people of America, as well as on the whole civilized world, must of necessity receive the deepest solicitous consideration of the working people of America. These and other great questions of equal importance will, of necessity, occupy the attention of the Philadelphia convention.

Therefore the importance of our movement, the duty of the hour and for the future, demand that every organization entitled to representation shall send its full quota of delegates to the Philadelphia convention, November 9, 1914.

Do not allow favoritism to influence you in selecting your delegates. Be fully represented. Be represented by your ablest, best, most experienced and faithful members.

CREDENTIALS.

Credentials in duplicate are forwarded to all affiliated unions. The Original Credentials must be given to the delegate-elect and the Duplicate forwarded to the American Federation of Labor office, 801-809 G Street Northwest, Washington, D. C.

The Committee on Credentials will meet at the headquarters of the American Federation of Labor six days previous to the opening of the convention, and will report immediately upon the opening thereof at Philadelphia; hence secretaries will observe the necessity of mailing the duplicate credentials of their respective delegates at the earliest possible moment to Washington, D. C.

GRIEVANCES.

Under the law no grievance can be considered by the convention which has been decided by a previous convention, except upon the recommendation of the Executive Council, nor will any grievance be considered where the parties thereto have not themselves previously held conferences and attempted to adjust the

same.

If there be any further information regarding the convention, or the arrangements for the convenience of the delegates, it will be communicated in a later circular, or through the American Federationist.

SAM. GOMPERS, President;
FRANK MORRISON, Secretary;

JAMES DUNCAN, First Vice-President;
JAMES O'CONNELL, Second Vice-President;
D. A. HAYES, Third Vice-President;
Jos. F. VALENTINE, Fourth Vice-President;
JOHN R. ALPINE, Fifth Vice-President;
H. B. PERHAM, Sixth Vice-President;
FRANK DUFFY, Seventh Vice-President;
JOHN B. LENNON, Treasurer;

Executive Council American Federation of Labor.

WILLIAM CARROLL INJURED. The editor regrets to inform our readers that Mr. Wm. E. Carroll, representative of the American Horseshoe Company, met with a serious accident in Cleveland, O. While boarding a car he was thrown violently and his knee fractured. This made it impossible for him to attend the Master Horseshoers' National Convention in Brooklyn. However, he was re-elected Grand Prophet and Orator of the Nutmegs at their convention. The delegates and their friends missed "Billy" greatly at the convention, as he was one of the shining lights. He was one of the organizers of the Nutmegs. However, his friends extended their sympathy, and hoped he would be around again in a short time. As we are about to go to press we are informed that he is still at Lakeside Hospital, Cleveland, and that his knee is mending as well as can be expected.

GENEROUS.

An enterprising young florist, in order to increase his trade, displays. this sign in his window:

"We give a packet of flower seeds with every plant."

His competitor across the street promptly sought to meet the competition by placing in his window the following announcement:

"We give the earth with every plant."Tit-Bits.

On Sunday, September 13, 1914, the delegates, their wives and friends began to arrive in Brooklyn, N. Y., to attend the convention of the Master Horseshoers' National Protective Association, and an informal reception was held at the convention hall, Hotel Martinique, in the evening.

On Monday, September 14th, the convention was called to order at 10 a. m., by Miles F. McPartland, president of Local No. 42, and the delegates were addressed by P. J. Callahan. There were about a hundred and seven delegates present, and a number of representatives of the various supply firms. Monday afternoon and evening was the only time during the week that was not taken up with a formal entertainment, this day being open in order that the visitors to the convention might go where they pleased.

The delegates were royally entertained during the week, and enjoyed their visit to the great metropolis very much, and a number of them visited various cities en route. On Tuesday the delegates were entertained with a boat ride on the Steamer Sirus around the New York harbor and out on the Atlantic Ocean.

Wednesday afternoon was taken up with a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Arts, and in the evening the Nutmegs tendered their grand banquet and ball to the delegates and their friends.

On Thursday the delegates took a trip to Ellis Island in the afternoon, and in the evening enjoyed a grand theater party at the Hippodrome, given through the kindness of the Capewell Horse Nail Co..

On Friday all took a rubberneck ride to Riverside Drive and Grant's tomb, which closed the events of the week.

From reports received the convention went on record for harmony with the journeymen, and we may look for good results in the near future. We are informed that the master horseshoers of Chicago re-affiliated with the National Association, and their delegates were seated in the convention.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Bert Koelzer, of Milwaukee; first vice-president, L. A. W. Reiss, of St. Louis, Mo.; second vice-president, M. F.

Murphy, of Boston; secretary, C. J. McGinness, of Brooklyn; treasurer, F. J. Perrey, Ft. Wayne, Ind. The next convention will be held at Cleveland, O.

While the master horseshoers were in session the Nutmegs held their convention in an adjoining hall of the hotel. On account of his recent accident, Wm. E. Carroll, the Grand Prophet and Orator, was unable to be present. The discussions which were held were very interesting and educational, and the members will be greatly benefited by same. Election of officers was held with the following result: President, J. R. Murphy, of Philadelphia; first vice-president, Thos. Mullen, St. Louis; second vice-president, F. D. Kernochan, Hoboken, N. J.; third vice-president, Otto Kaufman, Hartford, Conn.; secretary-treasurer, P. J. Conway, Philadelphia, Pa.; assistant secretary, Frank Fison, Providence, R. I.; grand prophet and orator, W. E. Carroll, Chicago, Ill; sergeantat-arms, Geo. Newman, Detroit, Mich.