Resolved, That we favor a progressive decrease of working hours in keeping with the development of machinery and productive forces, believing thereby that a decrease in the hours of labor will tend to a gradual elimination of the unemployed. We recommend:

First. That we strive for a more general application of the eight-hour day in all trades and occupations before commencing a general agitation for a six-hour workday, but in the event any national or international organization desires to commence an agitation for a working day less than eight hours, that they be given the encouragement and moral support of the A. F. of L.

Second. That the A. F. of L. work unceasingly for the enactment of laws limiting the working hours of women and children to eight hours per day, and not more than fortyeight hours per week.

Third. Where women's eight-hour laws already exist an agitation should immediately begin for the enactment of general eight-hour laws.

Fourth. That the E. C. be, and is hereby, authorized to do all in its power to aid and promote the principles hereby enunciated.

A resolution for the A. F. of L. to endorse the principle of shortening the workday by law precipitated a most spirited debate. The convention adopted the following substitute:

The A. F. of L., as in the past, again declares that the question of the regulation of wages and the hours of labor should be undertaken through trade union activity, and not to be made subjects of laws through legislative enactment, excepting in so far as such regulations affect or govern the employment of women and minors, health and morals; and employment by federal, state, or municipal government.

The roll-call upon the substitute resulted in 11,237 ayes, and 8,107 nays. Thus the convention re-affirmed its guiding policy-trade union activity is the dependable method of the workers in private employments.*

The E. C. was instructed to assist the National Federation of Postoffice Clerks to defeat attempts to alter or revoke the present satisfactory law, which secures to these clerks a weekly day of rest, and to continue its efforts to secure legislation securing the weekly rest day for employes engaged in interstate commerce, and Saturday half-holiday for government employes.

One of the serious disadvantages attaching to the method of securing the shorter workday by legislation was evident in the reports on the federal eighthour law. Interpretations of attorneys-general have destroyed its effectiveness-at least in part. The E. C. was instructed to secure amendments necessary to make that law provide the desired protection and to assist railroad telegraphers in effecting the enactment of an eight-hour day.

The convention approved a resolution to have registration laws amended to provide for inspection and officers able to protect the safety of those on the boats; another resolution instructed the Longshoremen's Union to prepare a bill to be introduced in the legislatures of New York and New Jersey, to secure adequate protection of longshoremen while loading and unloading equipment aboard ships. The officers of the A. F. of L. were instructed to communicate immediately to Secretary Redfield a resolution charging the Steamboat Inspection Service with failure to perform its duty and asking for an investigation, with the request that the Secretary give the matter favorable consideration.

Two measures adopted by the convention deal with the work of the

See editorial on this question in this issue.

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR

Warning to Advertisers!

Protect yourselves from being defrauded. Read the following Report of the Executive Council and action of the Convention of the American Federation of Labor, at Scranton, Pa., on December 14, 1901, in reference to DECEPTIVE PUBLICATIONS:

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NUMBER of souvenir books have been published in which the name of the American Federation of Labor has been used without authority or sanction of any kind from either the American Federation of Labor or its officers. The good name of our movement is thereby impaired, the interests of our fellow-workers injured, and fair-minded business men imposed upon and deceived. During the year we have endeavored to impress upon all that the only publication in which advertisements are received is our official monthly magazine, the AMERICAN FEDERATIONIST; and we have also endeavored to influence a more straightforward course by those who have transgressed in the direction indicated. In this particular we have not been as successful as we should be pleased to be enabled to report to you. However, we are more concerned with the future than the past; and in order to be helpful in eliminating this cause of grievous complaint, we make the following recommendations:

FIRST That we shall insist that no body of organized labor, nor shall any person issue a souvenir book claiming that such book or any other publication is issued for or on behalf of the American Federation of Labor.

SECOND-That any city chosen by a convention of the American Federation of Labor to hold the convention following shall not directly or indirectly through its Central Labor Union or otherwise issue a souvenir book claiming that such book is issued for or on behalf of the American Federation of Labor. THIRD-That in the event of any such souvenir book being projected or about to be issued, directly or indirectly, by the Central Labor body in the city in which the convention was selected to be held, in violation of the letter and spirit of these recommendations, the Executive Council may change the city in which the convention is to be held to the one which received the next highest number of votes for that honor.

FOURTH-That the Executive Council is hereby directed to prosecute any person or persons in the courts who shall in any way issue souvenir books, directories or other publications in which the name of the American Federation of Labor is used as publisher, owner or beneficiary.

FIFTH-That it be again emphasized that the AMERICAN FEDERATIONIST is the official monthly magazine of the American Federation of Labor, and is the only publication in which advertisements are received. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, A. F. OF L.

Report of Committee to Convention on the Above Report.

Perhaps there has been no more prolific source of dishonesty perpetrated in the name of organized labor than that involved in the publication of souvenir books. Unscrupulous projectors have victimized merchants and other friends of the movement in a most shameful fashion, and your committee heartily agrees with the strictures of the Executive Council upon the subject. We emphatically agree

with the suggestions offered as a remedy and recommend their adoption. As an additional means to this end we would recommend that there be published in a conspicuous place in each issue of the AMERICAN FEDERATIONIST a notice to the effect that the American Federation of Labor is not sponsor nor interested in any souvenir publication of any kind.

Adopted by the Convention of the American Federation of Labor, December 14, 1901.

JANUARY, 1915

Vol. XXII

No. 1

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THE PHILADELPHIA A. F. OF L.
CONVENTION

A REVIEW

By SAMUEL GOMPERS

S THE annual conventions of the American Federation of Labor have grown to thirty-four in number, their sessions have become annual conferences upon matters concerning the laws and welfare of the working people. The deliberations of the Philadelphia Convention again revealed what a large and important part the workers have in the nation's affairs and the manifold character of the purposes which the labor movement is promoting. The interests and the welfare of America's workers are inseparable from the well-being of the nation. The workers are not a class set apart, seeking the subversion of all society, but they are the bone and sinews of the nation.

Their annual conferences are deliberative assemblies which decide matters of far-reaching importance in determining the course of industrial, social, and political affairs. The course and the progress of organized labor are not haphazard affairs. A decision of the labor conference always has some effect upon commerce or industry, not infrequently determining industrial and commercial policies. Economic development is not determined by employers alone, as some even yet believe, but must be mindful of workers who are inseparable from economic progress. The power of organized labor is fully appreciated by those close to the heart of the nation-power that grows with increasing organization, federation, and solidarity.

The labor men and women who met at Philadelphia spent two weeks in hard work planning for the extension and development of organization. They dealt with things big with human consequences. Perhaps the most striking characteristic of their deliberations was seriousness; the next, militancy, and aggressiveness. There was an independence and self-assertion in the attitude of many delegates that truly represented the spirit of the trade union movement. Yet it is impossible to generalize or classify-the delegates are not types but individuals, and differ one from another in physique, character, experiences, and ideals. The labor movement does not choose the human agencies through which it works but uses such as are available. Its purpose is to give these men and women a chance for better things. As a result it is a living, growing, changing thing, and acts with irregularity necessary because of adjustments to human agents and varying conditions. Practices and methods are not inflexible but are adjusted in order to get results. The Philadelphia Convention was not an exhibit of wild-eyed theorists, a gathering place for Utopians, or a forum for fanatics-it was a business. conference. The first objective of all determinations was economic welfarethe basis of all well-being and progress.

The delegates were humane, sympathetic, but practical. They realized that better wages are the means to better living. They sought no favors or special privileges; they knew their rights and planned to make effective demands for those rights. They did not expect economic betterment as a windfall, but as the result of a fight. They prepared for and expected to win that fight through economic organization. Other means will help, such as legislation, social organization, educational opportunities, but economic organization is that upon which they rely. These other things will help only as they remove the shackles from the workers and give them freedom of action.

The paramount importance of economic organization was apparent in the deliberations of the convention. Political and legislative issues aroused interest, plans for promoting general welfare stirred ideals and emotions, but that which got right at the hearts and touched the very mainsprings of action was matters which involve the unions themselves. Questions which involve jurisdiction, union organization, or authority are what rouse the spirit of "fight to a finish." That is why jurisdictional disputes occupy so much of the attention of the labor movement. They are an indication of life, change, progress. They are the result of efforts to make individual organizations more effective. They reveal the union's grip in loyalty to the union. The primary purpose of the trade union movement is to secure industrial freedom; whether the agency for attaining that end is economic or political, the purpose remains unchanged -to secure freedom of action, freedom to promote their own welfare. Long years of experience have taught workingmen that that legislation is most valuable which loosens their shackles and leaves them free and able to fight their own battles.

This experience found expression in the action of the convention upon the Clayton Antitrust Act, municipal ownership, and the universal eight-hour law proposal.

Organization

The significance of economic organization was emphasized in this sentence in the Executive Council's report to the convention: "Organization is the key to betterment of conditions for the workers." The various sections of the report dealt with the different relations of organizations and discussed the various kinds of organizing activities. The convention gave real endorsement to that position in numerous resolutions and plans for the extension of organization during the coming year. The power of organized labor is commensurate with its unity, solidarity, and federation. This power determines the number and the kind of benefits that shall come into the lives of the working people, and the number of people that shall share in these benefits. It is becoming more and more patent that all those who work for wages need the protection of organization and that all organization is hampered or jeopardized by the unorganized.

Federation and co-operation of nationals and internationals are the basis of all our work. These relations have been increasingly cordial and effective during the past year and have thereby increased the progress and power of organized labor. The E. C. reported that though the same spirit of co-operation and loyalty is developing among state federations and city central bodies, consideration should be given to plans to secure obedience to directions from the A. F. of L., and to secure affiliation of local unions to state federations and to city local bodies. The convention adopted a series of suggestions substantially as follows:

The conventions of international unions are to be visited by a representative of the A. F. of L., with whom the representatives of the affiliated departments shall co-operate, for the purpose of urging the affiliation of local unions with state federations, city centrals, and local departmental councils. The E. C. of the A. F. of L. is to secure from state bodies the names of locals not affiliated with state federations, and from central bodies and departmental trades councils the names and members of unaffiliated locals in their respective cities. This information is to be submitted to the 1915 convention in printed form. The E. C. will appoint a special committee whose duty it shall be during the 1915 A. F. of L. convention to inquire of international officers the reasons for the non-affiliation of their locals. The Secretary of the A. F. of L. is to supply to each international office the names of its unaffiliated locals sixty days before the 1915 convention of the A. F. of L.

The report of the E. C. contained recommendations for the better regulation of the affairs of A. F. of L. directly affiliated local unions in order to correct tendencies and harmful practices which have hindered the progress of organization, as well as to require its local unions to provide the means by which they can better protect and advance the interests of their members. In substance these recommendations are: These local unions shall have a comparatively low initiation fee, that is, not more than $5 nor less than $1; the dues of members shall be not less than 60 cents per month, the increased revenue from dues to provide the means for benefiting the membership. One-quarter of the initiation fees received by local trade and federal