Trade agreements and mutual understandings permit workers to have a voice in industry. They remove complaints, improve conditions and lessen strikes through conciliation and arbitration.

At the Buffalo A. F. of L. convention President Wilson said:

"It is always dangerous for a man to have the floor entirely to himself. And therefore we must insist in every instance that the parties come into each other's presence and there discuss the issues between them and not separately in places which have no communication with each other."

The trade union movement is committed to mediation and arbitration. Strike settlements by these methods increase in proportion to the workers' unity.

Labor is so thoroughly committed to this principle that at the Buffalo A. F. of L. convention it was declared:

"It is advisable that production

should not cease because of an apparent injustice or oversight contained in an award, for it is necessary for the nation's protection as well as to the welfare of the trade union movement that there should be no cessation of work except as a last resort."

In these times "team work" is of first importance and the employer who refuses to accept this fact will be compelled to do so by the strongest of human powers-a people at war.

QUICK WORK.

Two insurance men were bragging of the promptness with which their respective companies paid up. Said one of them: "The man died and I handed the check to his family within an hour of his death."

"That's nothing," said the other, scornfully. "Why, a man fell from an upper story of one of our buildings, and I handed him the check as he went past my window."-London Mail.

Buffalo, N. Y.-Full indorsement of the war policy of A. F. of L. officials and other trade union representatives and an indorsement of the patriotic work of the American Alliance for Labor and Democracy were the most important official acts of the annual convention of the American Federation of Labor, which closed its thirty-seventh annual meeting in this city last Saturday.

The notable incident at this gathering was the address of President Wilson at the opening session. It was the first time that the nation's chief executive appeared before a body of organized wage-earners.

The convention approved reconstruction proposals submitted by the A. F. of L. Executive Council, which was instructed to lend its assistance in securing the incorporation of these views in necessary measures which will be enacted in the after-war period.

The work of the Executive Council in securing war agreements and representation by labor on war boards and commissions was indorsed, and the council was instructed to continue its good offices in establishing agreerents through governmental co-operation to cover the production of war material.

A. F. of L. officials were instructed to protest to the President against the postmaster general's violation of the constitution in his suppression of newspapers.

A retirement law for superannuated government employes was favored, and woman suffrage and equal pay for equal work regardless of sex were reaffirmed.

The government was asked to pass legislation or enter into treaties with our allies which would permit the deportation of all citizens of those countries residing in the United States if

they do not enlist in the army of this country or their own country. During this debate it was said that 65 per cent. of Massachusetts' volunteers were trade unionists.

In a letter to President Gompers, read to the convention, John Barrett, director general of the Pan-American Union, offered to assist the Pan-American labor movement in any way possible. The latter movement is intended to unite the workers of the American continent and is supported by the A. F. of L. The Pan-American Union is maintained at Washington by the United States and South American countries for the purpose of developing mutuality between those nations.

Labor's opposition to the injunction process in strike times was reaffirmed. The convention declared that wherever this writ is based on the dictum that labor is property that it "be held as usurpation and disregarded, let the consequences be what they may."

At the request of the printing trades delegates, objection was recorded to the increase of second-class postage in the war revenue act. Congress will be asked to deal with this question from the standpoint of service rather than revenue.

New trials were asked for Thomas J. Mooney and Warren K. Billings, convicted of murder in connection with the bomb explosion at San Francisco, last year.

An investigation committee on labor conditions reported to the convention there is no labor shortage. On the contrary, the report declares, unemployment is widespread in several trades. The committee declared housing problems in cities where new industries have sprung up have not been properly dealt with.

At the request of the National Federation of Postal Employes and the National Association of Letter Carriers the convention condemned "the autocratic policy of Postmaster General Burleson toward the postal employes and hereby instructs the Executive Council to co-operate with representatives of the affiliated postal employes' organizations in securing an audience with President Wilson and placing before him all the facts concerning the oppressive labor policy of Postmaster General Burleson." The postal employes declared that the 250,000 workers in this branch of the government "are expected to accept without protest the working conditions imposed by the postmaster general."

The convention indorsed the twoplatoon system and ordered a charter issue to unions of municipal firemen, to be known as the International Union of Fire Fighters.

A large number of other resolutions, covering every phase of social activity, were acted on.

The date for convening the annual convention was changed to the second Monday in June.

Besides President Wilson, other addresses were delivered by:

Governor Whitman, of the State of New York.

John Hill and Arthur Hayday, fraternal delegates from the British Trades Union Congress.

William Lodge, fraternal delegate from the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada.

Major E. Requin, of the French general staff, and Lieutenant Francois Monod, chief of cabinet to the French high commissioner in the United States.

L. B. Strayer, second vice-president of the Farmers' Congress.

A. C. Townley, president of the National Non-partisan League.

Frank L. Glynn, director of vocational education of Wisconsin. Gifford Pinchot, representing the Federal board of farm organizations of America.

Announcement was made that the

A. F. of L. charter of the International Association of Bridge and Structural Iron Workers was automatically restored, following adjustment of differ

ences.

The International Brick, Tile and Terra Cotta Workers' Alliance and seceding members have amalgamated, the new organization to be known as the United Brick and Clay Workers of America.

All officers were re-elected except Treasurer Lennon, who is succeeded by Daniel J. Tobin, president of the Brotherhod of Teamsters.

St. Paul was chosen as the next convention city.

Two men were hotly discussing the merits of a book. Finally one of them, himself an author, said to the other:

"No, John, you can't appreciate it. You never wrote a book yourself."

"No," retorted John, "and I never laid an egg, but I'm a better judge of an omelet than any hen in the State."

The Price of the New Emblem Button

Remains the Same

E

The style and design are the same as the original button, proportionately reduced to one-half inch diameter. Solid gold (guaranteed),

Price 75 cents

Orders taken by the Local

Secretaries.

ion of the smiling face.

GREETINGS.

We embrace this opportunity of wishing all our readers a very happy and joyous Christmas. May they and theirs feel that Divine spirit of "Peace on earth, good-will towards men."

in

For the past three years we have been offering the consolation of peace to our country and its people while the flames of war devastated all Europe; now we can offer this consolation no longer, as our nation, too, has been drawn into this maelstrom of death and destruction. Thousands of our men who have taken up arms in defense of human liberties, are in the trenches on the battle front France; millions of others will be required to follow them, there to fight and suffer, and in all human probability, many will offer up their lives on the altar of duty, so that we and our descendants may continue to enjoy the blessings of liberty and the whole wide world made a good safe place to live in. Let us pray to our Divine Saviour for aid and victory for our brothers in arms, and the blessing of an early and lasting peace. Remember, the surest road to happiness during this great festival is to contribute to the happiness of some one less fortunate than yourself, and to our members that pleasure would, no doubt, be greatly enhanced if our benefactions were bestowed on the offspring of some departed brother. If there are any such in your community that may need assistance, do not let the opportunity slip by without bringing some sunshine into their lives. Remember the day is dedicated to children, and we should endeavor to make all in the sphere of our influence as happy as possible.

Here is wishing happiness to all and many returns of the day.