vention will then take action on the report of the committee.

Mr. Montgomery, for the Local Committee, announced the program of entertainment for Wednesday, and stated

that the special train for Colorado Springs would leave the Union Depot at 8:30 a. m.

At 12:30 the Convention was adjourned to reconvene at 2:30 p. m.

The Convention was called to order at 2:30 p. m., Tuesday, November 10, President Gompers in the chair.

ABSENTEES: Kline, Sullivan (John), O'Brien, Sanders, Richardson, Thomas, Feeney, Costello, Williams (J. J.), Cruickshank, Coombe, Lawlor, Hart (E. F.), Price. Potter. O'Sullivan, Wilson

(James), Quinn, Alpine, Paravicini, Mahon, Clark (W. W.). Byrnes, Longstreet, Hatch, Walter, Young, Lynch (Patrick), Smith (W. J.), Garrett, Maloney (P.), Welch, Hood, Moore, Peterson, Chavey, Witt, Piggott, Chrisman, Hart (Charles E.), McKee (Anna), Leonard, Carroll, Nutt, Gass.

On motion of Treasurer Lennon the reading of the minutes of the preceding session was dispensed with.

Mr.

Secretary Morrison read a communication from Mr. Charles F. Garfield, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Rochester, N. Y., in which the American Federation of Labor was invited to hold its next Convention in that city. Garfield stated that the Mayor of Rochester joined with him in extending the invitation; that a convention hall would be provided free of charge to the Federation, and that the Chamber of Commerce Building, including an assembly hall, would be at the disposal of the Convention.

Secretary Morrison read the following telegrams:

"Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 10, 1908. "John R. Alpine, or President Samuel Gompers, Denver, Colo.

"Extend to President Gompers and assembled delegates best wishes for successful deliberations in the Convention.

fealty to the movement of the people in their leaders, and the non-partisan campaign accomplish the desired resultspeace and prosperity to the faithful.

"WILLIAM J. GILTHORPE." "Washington, D. C., Nov. 9, 1908. "Samuel Gompers, Frank Morrison and James O'Connell, American Federation of Labor Convention Hall, Denver, Colo.

"The Central Labor Union of the National Capital sends you greetings and best wishes. We love you for the dinner you will miss.

"SAM DeNEDREY,
"Secretary."

"Springfield, Mo., Nov. 10, 1908. "American Federation of Labor Convention, Denver, Colo.

"Fraternal greetings. We heartily recommend President Gompers' re-election to his present office for interest taken in recent campaign.

"CHARLES DAILY,
"President,

"C. W. CARTER,

"Secretary,

"Coach Painters' Union 375."

President Gompers-At the session yesterday it was decided to refer the question of the contested

delegation

from

the Electrical Workers to a special committee of five to be appointed by the chair. I have selected the committee and have submitted the list to both Mr. McNulty and Mr. Reid. They both agree that the committee is an eminently fair, just and capable one. I will therefore read the names of the committee:

Joseph M. Weber, of the American Federation of Musicians; R. P. Rubin, of the Brotherhood of Railroad TeleJohn graphers; B. of Lennon, the Journeymen Tailors' Union; D. S. Fitzgerald, of the Amalgamated Street and Electric Railway Employes; James A. Roach, of the International Iron Moulders' Union.

The special order of business is the deferred report of the Committee on Credentials.

Secretary Morrison read the following report of the committee on the creden

tials of the Operative Plasterers' delegation:

We have received credentials from the Operative Plasterers' International Association for John Donlin, Peter G. Cook, James O'Connor and John G. Twyford, as delegates to this Convention. They are not entitled to seats, however, in view of the fact that charter has not yet been granted to this association.

Delegate Mangan moved that the delegates of the Operative Plasterers be allowed seats in the Convention without a vote. (Seconded.)

Secretary Morrison-The Operative Plasterers are anxious to become affiliated with the American Federation of Labor. Their application was received at the headquarters too late to correspond with the various international organizations that might have similar jurisdiction. It occurred to me that, as the various building trades are represented in this Convention, it might be well to refer this application to a committee of five from the building trades for the purpose of arranging a satisfactory line of demarcation between the organizations that have protests in at the present time, or any other organizations that may be of the opinion that the Plasterers' claim of jurisdiction is an infringement on their jurisdiction. For that reason I move to amend the motion made by Delegate Mangan to the extent that it be referred to a committee of five to be selected from the building trades. The question of seating the delegates will then come up on the report of the committee.

Delegate Mangan-I will accept the Secretary's amendment

The motion of Delegate Mangan, as amended by Secretary Morrison, was adopted.

Secretary Morrison read the following from the report of the Committee on Credentials:

Rowe,

We have credentials for T. W. from the Ohio State Federation of Labor: J. F. Tobin, from the Muncie, Indiana, Trades Council; W. W. Davies, of the Belmont County, Ohio, Central Trades and Labor Council, and Frederick Shane, from the Toledo, Ohio, Central Labor Union. These gentlemen members of the American Flint Glass Workers' Association, and we recommend that they be not seated as delegates, Our recommendation based Section 5 of Article IV of the Constitution of the American Federation of Labor, as follows:

are

on

"No organization or person that has seceded, or has been suspended, or expelled by the American Federation of

Labor, or by any national or international organization, connected with this Federation, shall, while under such penalty, be allowed representation or recognition in this Federation, or in any Central Body or national or international union connected with the American Federation of Labor, under the penalty of the suspension of the body violating this section."

Delegate Ford-I move you that the report of the Committee on Credentials be concurred in. (Seconded.)

The question was discussed by Delegate Mahon and Mr. Rowe, of the Flint Glass Workers' Union.

When Mr. Rowe had spoken the full time allowed under the rules Delegate Kemper moved that his time be extended. The motion was seconded and carried.

The question was further discussed by Mr. Rowe, Delegate Klapetzky, Mr. Shane, Mr. Tobin, Secretary Morrison, Vice-President Mitchell and Vice-President Hayes.

Treasurer Lennon in the chair.

The question was further discussed by Vice-President O'Connell, Delegate Duncan,

Lewis (T. L.), Vice-President
Delegate Walker (J. H.), and President
Gompers.

On motion debate was closed.

The motion to concur in the report of the committee was carried.

Delegate Lewis (T. L.)-I move that the time limit for the introduction of resolutions, except by the unanimous consent of the Convention, be fixed at 5 o'clock next Thursday.

law

President Gompers-That is the now, but if it is agreeable to the Convention it will be ordered that,, inasmuch as we will have no session of the Convention to-morrow, that day ought not to interfere with the opportunity of the delegates to introduce resolutions, and the time limit will be extended until Friday evening.

Delegate Lewis-I object. The law fixes the time limit at 5 o'clock Thursday.

Delegate Fairgrieve-The Constitution states that the time limit shall be the end of the fourth day's session. There is no session to-morrow. President Gompers-Delegate grieve has interpreted the Constitution correctly.

Fair

The following resolutions were introduced and referred by President Gompers to the various committees:

Resolution No. 3-By Delegate Andrew J. Gallagher of the International Photo Engravers:

Chinese

WHEREAS, The menace of labor, now greatly allayed by the passage and enforcement of the Chinese Exclusion Act, has been succeeded by an evil similar in its general character, but much more threatening in its possibilities, to wit: the immigration to the United States and its insular territory of large and increasing numbers of Japanese, Koreans and other Asiatic laborers; and

WHEREAS, The American public sentiment against the immigration of Chinese labor, as expressed and crystallized in the enactment of the Chinese Exclustill stronger justificasion Act, finds tion in demanding prompt and adequate measures of protection against the immigration of Japanese, Koreans and other the grounds (1) Asiatic immigrants on that the wage and living standards of such labor are dangerous to, and must, in the United if granted recognition States, prove destructive of the American standards in these essential respects; (2) that the racial incompatibility, as between the peoples of the Orient and the problem of United States, presents a race preservation which it is our imperative duty to solve in our own favor, and which can only be thus solved by a policy of exclusion; and

WHEREAS, The systematic colonization by these Oriental races of our insular territory in the Pacific, and the threatened and partly accomplished exthe Pacific tension of that system to Coast and other western localities of the a standing United States, constitutes danger, not only to the domestic peace, but to the continuance of friendly relathe nations concerned; tions between therefore, be it

RESOLVED, By the American Federation of Labor, in annual convention asNovember, this 10th day of sembled

WHEREAS, The

work,

International Association of Machinists has always had, over the and still claims, jurisdiction assembling, erecting and repairing of engines, pumps and dynamos and other machinery necessary to the operation of elevators or performing similar regardless of where said machines may be assembled, erected or repaired; and WHEREAS, The executive officers of MaAssociation of the International chinists, with a view to adjusting said dispute between the two organizations, and with the further view of carrying out the laws of the American Federation of Labor, appointed a committee of its national officers to meet with a similar committee of the International Union of Said meeting Elevator Constructors. was held between the representatives of both organizations at the headonarters of the International Union of Elevator 1529 Nineteenth street, Constructors, 1908. No Philadelphia, Pa., August 29, adjustment or agreement was reached. The representatives of the International Union of Elevator Constructors refused to concede that the assembling, erecting or repairing of engines, pumps, dynamos to machinery necessary other and operate elevators was the work of a machinist; and

WHEREAS, The delegates of the International Association of Machinists to the Twenty-eighth Annual Convention of the American Federation of Labor were instructed to bring this controversy to

the attention of this Convention, with a view to having a decision rendered that should be binding upon both organizations; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, By the delegates assembled at the Twenty-Eighth Annual Convention of the American Federation of Labor, that the International Association of Machinists has jurisdiction over the assembling, erection or repairing of engines, pumps, dynamos and other machinery necessary to operate elevators in buildings or elsewhere.

Referred to Committee on Adjustment. Resolution No. 5-By Delegate James Whittaker, of Federal Labor Union 11823: WHEREAS, Federal Labor Union 11823 consisting of of Evanston, Wyoming, machinists' helpers, pipe men and helpers, boiler washers, fire lighters, stationary firemen, engine wipers and wrecking engineers employed on the Union Pacific Railroad, have been reduced 30 to 50 per cent. in the last year, and we can not secure any redress; therefore, be it RESOLVED, That an organizer placed in the field to cover the entire Union Pacific System from Omaha to Evanston for the purpose of thoroughly organizing the above named employes of the Union Pacific into federal labor unions, to the end that they can resist further reduction and secure improved conditions. Referred to Committee on State Organizations.

be

Resolution No. 6-By Delegate Robert Glockling, of the International Brotherhood of Bookbinders:

WHEREAS, The International Brotherhood of Bookbinders has adopted a label to be used exclusively on blank books, to which the Allied Printing Trades labels do not apply, such as ordinary daybooks, journals, plain ledgers, blotters, exercise books, cash books or any class of books without printing therein; and

WHEREAS, Such label has received the endorsement of the Joint Conference Board of the Allied Printing Trades; and WHEREAS, The general use of this label will materially aid in organizing this particular branch of the bookbinding industry which has heretofore been found difficult to reach by reason of the fact that much of this class of work is produced by cheap foreign labor to large extent on a sweat-shop basis; and WHEREAS, A great deal of this class of goods is constantly in use in our thousands of labor organizations; therefore, be it

a

WHEREAS, The principle is generally applied in United States federal and state law that work performed for federal, state and municipalities shall be executed by citizens of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Such provision, in the opinion of this American Federation of Labor, serves to conserve the American standard of wages; and

WHEREAS, The attention of this American Federation of Labor having been called, by the International Brotherhood of Bookbinders, to the fact that the firm of Cedric Chivers, limited, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and Bath, England, are contractors for the bookbinding required by the public libraries of Greater New York, and other large centers of the United States, and do, in violation of the law above referred to, constantly ship this library binding to their Bath, England, factory, where it is bound under wage conditions that compare to about 30 per cent. of the American wage standard, the American wage being $20.00 to $25.00 per week, as compared with $7.00 to $7.50 at Bath, this work being permitted, under the United States Tariff, to be re-admitted into this country free of duty; and

WHEREAS, The volume of this work required by the public libraries is of such magnitude as to cause most serious loss of employment to this particular branch of the Bookbinding craft; and

WHEREAS, A palpable injustice is thereby done to all citizens who, by their contribution of taxes that support the public libraries, are deprived of the benefits that should accrue to the community from this industry; in addition to which, they are unwillingly assisting to place in the hands of themselves and their children books bound under conditions that tend to lower the standard of American citizenship; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Twenty-Eighth Annual Convention of the American Federation of Labor does hereby strongly protest against public work being sent out of the country to be performed by cheap foreign labor to the detriment and menace to the American wage standard; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the American Federation of Labor does strongly recommend to organized labor that they render all possible assistance to the International Brotherhood of Bookbinders in their efforts to eradicate this manifest evil.

Referred to Committee on Resolutions. Resolution No. 8-By Delegate Charles T. Smith, of the Washington, D. C., Central Labor Union:

RESOLVED, That it is the sense of this Twenty-Eighth Annual Convention that all subordinate unions of International and National unions are hereby requested to immediately affiliate with the city central bodies of their respective localities.

Referred to Committee on Local and Federated Bodies.

Resolution No. 9-By Delegate Frank J. Pulver, Colorado State Federation of Labor:

WHEREAS, The Blue Cross buttons or pins which originated in Denver, Colo., and which have been So persistently pushed and become so universally known as the Union Label League emblem; and WHEREAS, We, the delegates to the American Federation of Labor, in the Twenty-Eighth Annual Convention sembled, believe that much good can and will be accomplished by a general use of such emblem; therefore, be it

as

RESOLVED, By the American Federation of Labor, in the Twenty-Eighth Annual Convention assembled, That we endorse the Blue Cross buttons or pins, emblems of the Union Label League movement, and that the same be placed upon the colored and official Union Label Bulletin issued by this Federation.

Referred to Committee on Labels.

Resolution No. 10-By Delegate Edw. B. Goltra, of the National Federation of Post Office Clerks:

WHEREAS, There has been presented to Congress by the Keep Commission a bill for the retirement of employes in the classified civil service, which bill has been referred to the Committee on Reform in the Civil Service, and is expected to be passed upon by the next Congress; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the American Federation of Labor, in Convention assembled, take this occasion to unqualifiedly express our endorsement of the principles of our National Civil Service Law and urge the enforcement of it in its true spirit. We also emphatically favor the passing of some suitable retirement bill, both as a matter of justice to the employes themselves and of value to the government, and as a worthy object lesson for states, counties and cities, and for large employers of labor in our land. Referred to Committee on Resolutions. Resolution No. 11-By Delegate Edw. B. Goltra, of the National Federation of Post Office Clerks:

WHEREAS, The American Federation of Labor, in Convention assembled, at Norfolk, Va., November 11, 1907, did instruct its Legislative Committee to support any remedial legislation that should be introduced in the 60th Congress looking towards better hours and pay for postal clerks; and

WHEREAS, Bills have been introduced along these lines in the present Congress, and are known on the calendars of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States as follows: H. R. 11808, by Mr. McDermott of Illinois, on the matter of hours; Senate 4491 and H. R. 18865, by Mr. La Follette of Wisconsin and Mr. W. B. Wilson of Pennsylvania, on the question of pay, and H. R. 16871, by Mr. Nichols of Pennsylvania, extending the leaves of absence with pay; and

WHEREAS, The National Federation of Post Office Clerks acknowledge and are grateful for the aid ever rendered their cause, and are of the opinion that the American Federation of Labor can assist them; therefore, be it

Referred to Committee on Resolutions. Resolution No. 12-By Delegate Chas. T. Smith, of Washington, D. C., Central Labor Union:

WHEREAS, Foreign steamship interests introduced Senate Bill 5083, which would virtually repeal section 42, a much needed humane provision requiring more air space and better sanitary conditions on immigrant ships; and

WHEREAS, The illiteracy test is the most practical means for the restricting of the present immigration of cheap labor, whose competition is so ruinous; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, By the Washington, D. C., Central Labor Union that we earnestly beseech and petition Congress to enact the illiteracy test into law, and to refuse any modification of section 42, unless it be to increase the amount of air space and to require better sanitary accommodations in the steerage.

Referred to Committee on Resolutions.

Resolution No. 13-By Delegates A. McAndrew and E. Lewis Evans, of the Tobacco Workers' International Union:

WHEREAS, The Union Label is the trade mark of our trade unions; and

WHEREAS, This trade mark has been adopted to be used by all members of trade unions as a guide to distinguish the fair union made products from those that are unfair; and

WHEREAS, The Tobacco Workers' International Union has adopted a blue label for the express purpose of giving the purchaser undisputed proof that the tobacco he buys which bears the blue label is the product of union labor; and

WHEREAS, The Tobacco Workers' blue label has received the endorsement of the American Federation of Labor and all its affiliated unions, and

WHEREAS, It is essential to the best interest of the Tobacco Workers' International Union that the greatest possible patronage shall be given to the tobacco products bearing the union label; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the American Federation of Labor, in Convention assembled in Denver, November, 1908, hereby reaffirms its previous endorsement of the blue label of the Tobacco Workers' International Union; therefore, be it further

RESOLVED. That the members of the affiliated unions are requested to lend their assistance in creating a greater demand for tobacco bearing the blue label. Referred to Committee on Labels. Resolution No. 14-By Delegates A. McAndrew and E. Lewis Evans, of the Tobacco Workers' International Union: