THE LABOR CONVENTION AT SAN FRANCISCO.
There is now in session in the city of San Francisco the annual convention of the American Federation of Labor, with representatives in attendance from all the various labor organizations. Samuel Gompers, president of the Federation, John Mitchell, president of the United Mine Workers of America and vice-president of the American Federation, are present, together with the leaders of state Federations. This convention is recognized as being one of the most important meetings of the Federation ever held, and the speeches of the delegates and leaders indicate a firm determination to push the interests of organized labor unremittingly toward the goal they have in view. Just what that goal is has not been yet stated in the convention. It was evident from Mr. Gompers’ remarks on the evening of the 14th that the condition in the retail stores where early closing is now in practise is not yet satisfactory, but only comparatively so. While disclaiming any desire to promote strife, the president plainly indicated the determination of the organization to allow nothing to stand in the way of the attainment of its object. Five speakers addressed the meeting on that evening. No one who listened to these speeches could fail to be impressed with the earnestness of the speakers in the cause they had espoused, as well as with the perfect faith of the audience in these men to whom they were listening. These labor leaders claim to represent three million men and women in the federated trades, and the number is growing rapidly with every year. It is perfectly plain that in organized labor the nations have a power to reckon with; and that the organization will brook no interference where it has the power to carry out its designs was shown by the angry hisses that greeted the mention of the name of Governor Peabody of Colorado, who has been carrying on a campaign of attempted extermination against unionism and union methods in Colorado. The American Federation of Labor aims to bring all the labor organizations under its direction and control, so that organized labor can deal as one man with any situation, unfavorable to itself, that may arise in any part of the country. The officers of the Federation lost no opportunity to impress upon the audience the great advantage of such a consolidation. It is very easy to understand how the culmination of this purpose will tend to make harder and harder the conditions of labor for those who can not conscientiously bind themselves to the union’s chariot wheels. That it is not a charity or philanthropic organization is shown in the attitude it sustains toward the laborer in general—one of aggressive warfare. It is anticipated that there will be a strong effort made at this convention to elect officers favorable to Socialism. That element is strongly on the increase in labor’s ranks, and aims to secure the control of the organization that the Socialist Commonwealth may be ushered in at the earliest possible moment. That purpose will not be accomplished without a struggle, but when it is accomplished, it will be no harder for the organized laborer to bow to it than it is now to yield to the dictates of his own organization. To the one who is watching the unfolding signs of these times there is much food for serious thought in the developments of these days.