A. F. of L. Convention

"The funniest place on earth, a playground for old and young," so its owners describe Steeplechase Pier at Atlantic City where one may have his hat blown off, his skirts blown up, ride on a merry-go-round, walk through a revolving barrel, slide down a chute into a wooden bowl, or scare his wits out of himself by a ride on a roller coaster--all by paying a modest admission fee of 50c. Strangely enough over the great amusement hall is built an apartment where the owners of the entertainment dwell, and where they have a little window where they can gaze down upon the antics of the crowd below.

Last week if they were looking down they must have seen 400 grave gentlemen in black proceeding in dignity past the revolving barrel and into the dance hall adjoining. The dance hall was fitted out with chairs, and there before the grave gentlemen, William Green called to order the 45th annual convention of the American Federation of Labor.

For the first time in 40 years the convention assembled without the dominating presence of Samuel Gompers in the chair. But William Green, his successor, seized the iron-handled hammer (a regular gavel had been forgotten) and pounded the desk, opening a session that was expected to last for two weeks. The chief events:

Green's Speech. Chairman Green opened with a speech and the reading of a long report from the Executive Council, of which he is head. He told that the Federation (composed of 31,261 unions) as of Aug. 31 had 2,878,297 members not counting some 500,000 unemployed or out on strike and not paying dues. He assailed "employes' representation," "employes' ownership" and "employes' insurance' as schemes of employers more insidious than outright attack in undermining the unions. He warned Labor of Communistic organizations masquerading as part of the bona fide trade union movement--such organizations as the International Defense Council, the American Negro Congress, the Irish Workers' and Peasants' Famine Relief Committee, the International Workers' Aid, the Workers' Party, the Trade Union Educational League.

English Visitors. The next day a group of English visitors appeared upon the scene. Arthur A. Purcell, Laborite and Member of Parliament spoke:

"It has often struck me that while the Americans have been the most advanced and the most receptive in ideas concerning mechanical invention and business organization they have been most slow in accepting new social and political ideas. I do hope that from now on the organized workers of America will establish the closest fraternal relations with the organized workers of Russia."

To this Mr. Green replied: "We wish that our friend who has so kindly advised us and offered us such frank suggestions might take back to the Russian Red International this message -- that the American labor movement will not affiliate with an organization that preaches that doctrine or stands for that philosophy."

The convention cheered.

Child Labor. One session of the convention was given over to the discussion of child labor and the means of passing a Constitutional amendment to abolish it.

Resolutions Adopted:

That every aid be given the Bookkeepers, Stenographers and Accountants union in organizing white collar workers.

That a special effort be made to organize bank clerks in New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Cleveland.

That only union clerks be employed in labor banks.

That every effort be made to maintain the present restrictions on immigration especially as to keeping out the Japanese.

That the War Department be asked to investigate labor conditions at West Point where the quartermaster was reported to be opposed to unions and getting building construction done at cut rates by non-union men.

That the Federation oppose the operation of Muscle Shoals by private concerns.

That Feb. 12 be made a legal holiday known as "Lincoln Day."