Show LABUR LEADERS CONFER AMERICAN FEDERATION IN SESSION SES-SION IN LOUISVILLE I President Gompers In His Annual Address Gives Figures Showing tho Growth of the Orgnnlzation I Louisville Ky Dec GThe twentieth II annual convention of the American I Federation < of Labor convened at 1015 I oclock today in Music hall with 217 J delegates present Among them werb I representatives of British Trades I I I Union congress anil the Canadian Trades and Labor congress three women I I wo-men delegates and two colored President i Presi-dent Gompers in his annual address I i spoke In part as follows The past I year has witnessed a most J remarkable growth in organizations I anon the workers who have realized that there Is no protection or for hope for justice in the freedom In the I future unless it results from the unity I of the wageworking masses r We have issued direct from the 1 American Federation of Labor during I the past year SI9 charters to national and international unions 14 State federations fed-erations of labor G city central labor unions 9C local trade unions having no national organization 1S1 j federal labor unious 250 I I Ve had at the end of the fiscal year October 31 1900 afllllatcd Kith the American Federallon of Labor national and international unions S3 State federations fed-erations 16i city central labor unions 206 local Crude unions and federal labor IDol I-Dol unions 1051 Realizing the necessity for the unity of the wageearners of our country the American Federation of Labor has upon all occasions declared that trades unions should open their portals to all i wageworkers Irrespective of creed color nationality sex or politics Unless I Un-less we shall give the negro workers the opportunity to organize and thus place r them where they can protect and defend 1 de-fend themselves against the rapacity I and cupidity of their employers unless we continue the policy of endeavoring to make friends of them there can be no question that they will not only be forced down In the economic and social advancement but race prejudices willie will-ie made more bitter and to the Injury of all I The alien contract labor law falls far short of accomplishing what It was I originally intended to do for the reason rea-son that violators of the Jaw are easily and systematically coached how to pass the Inspection The enactment of wise I and beneficlent legislation In the Interests Inter-ests of the toiling masses of the country coun-try must still demanded until all the wrongs from which the tollers suffer arc abated Secretary Frank Morrison presented his report which was unanimously adopted The American Federation said Secretary Morrison Is now in a position numerically and financially I I to accomplish during the coming year more remarkable results than have been achieved during the present year Members Mem-bers of unions are beginning to realize that higher duties and united action are necessary for success Treasurer John B Lennon reported receipts of 79676 and expenses of GS 373 The total funds on hand amount to 12301 I |