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i rvrz''-iif'i.vv"m?' GOMPERS IS PLEASED; OTHERS SAY LABOR CONGRESS DID NOTHING OF CONSEQUENCE (The following statements by leaders on the work of the convention of the American Federation of Labor which has just closed at Seattle, Wash., have been secured especially for The Day Book.) BY SAMUEL GOMPERS, President of the American Federation of Labor Thirty-one Years. In poiiit of work accomplished and momentous matters discussed and passed on, and entire results, the Seattle convention of American Fed eration of Labor was greatest in the history of the organized labor move ment in this country. Of all the grist of resolutions adopt ed and referred for action I regard those demanding shorter workdays as most important of industrial mat ters approved. Of all political sub jects which went before the conven tion and received approval, the reso lution indorsing the Bacon-Bartlett bill, a most important anti-trust reg ulation in which labor is interested, was of primary interest. The Bacon-"Bartlett measure pro vides that any combination or agree ment having in view the increasing of wages, shortening of hours or bet tering the condition of labor is not unlawful. International peace resolutions and those calling for investigation into causes of our hig strikes were also very far reaching. BY ROBERT-H.' CAMPBELL, Delegate From the Texas State Fed eration. , The American Federation of Labor is practically at a standstill today. Old heads- who have been in control year afferyear have developed likes and dislikes until aUVconyentions of the federation have come to consti tute merely a battle among the old heads for themselves and their views and not for the rank and file of labor which they are supposed to repre would be a revolution in organized labor at once. The labor movement in dues alone costs over $24,000,000 a year, and yet propositions that come- before the federation for settlement are post poned year after year, thereby keep ing different crafts in conflict with one another and wasting their money. Differences of crafts involv ed are used to perpetuate powerful machines, while the rank and file are kept in ignorance of the real reason for the failure to make progress. BY GEORGE L. BERRY, President of the International Press men's Union. There is a natural opposition to the present executive council of the American Federation of Labor com posing more than a majority of the federation. Revolt would have oc curred at the recent convention, but the individual insurgents feared they would lose out on schemes of their own if they organized an opposition. I am gratified at the endorsement the federation gave my plan for a political labor party. The pnly dif ference being that a majority were in favor of future action, while I be lieve the time Is ripe now. Other than this there was na change aldng progressive lines in the policy of the federation. As it stands today the federation organization is reactionary. All propositions "which in any way differed with the policy favored by the present administration were re ferred to the executive council, vhicu means "pigeon-holed." Along with these went many splendid reso 'utions introduced by insurgents. sent. If the rank and file knew how t These were "pigeonholed to show their rights were gambled with and he disfavor of the administration traded off at these conventions, there Lvitji the introducer. JJttj-Z''- .a- a