interests and moral forces. Therefore, we, the representatives of the organized workers, having the right to speak for all of the workers and in the interests of all of the people, urge upon our governments the appointment of a commission to be composed of high-minded citizens, fully representaitve of our nations, to consider differences that have brought our nations to the verge of war and to make such recommendations for adjustment as shall fitly express the highest ideals of the great rank and file of the citizenship of our two countries. We direct that copies of this declaration shall be presented to the President of the United States, Honorable Woodrow Wilson, and to the First Chief of the Constitutionalist government of Mexico, General Venustiano Carranza, and that it be given widest publicity among the workers of our respective countries. For the organized workers of the United States: SAM'L GOMPERS, President JAMES DUNCAN, First Vice-President For the organized workers of Mexico: C. LOVEIRA BALTAZAR PAGES L. N. MORONES S. GONZALO GARCIA EDMUNDO E. MARTINEZ As is evident from this declaration the constructive suggestion of the conference was the appointment of a joint commission to consider the differences between the two countries that had so nearly embroiled two nations in war and to suggest recommendations for adjustment. This plan met with favor in both countries and was later adopted. When it became apparent that the critical situation had passed, it was no longer necessary that the two representatives of the labor movement of Mexico should remain in Washington. They, therefore, returned home, with the understanding that the representatives would be returned should the necessity arise. The workers of Mexico affiliated to the Federacion de Sindicatos Obreros de la Republic Mexicana felt that they could be benefited by sending representatives to Washington to confer with President Gompers about labor conditions in Mexico and secure advice upon practical matters of organization. Three representatives of this organization, Messrs. Carvallo, Alonzo and Ramos, came to Washington and had conferences with President Gompers. He gave these representatives the following letter to be conveyed to the workers of Mexico: Labor's Message to Mexico's Toilers WASHINGTON, D. C., July 18, 1916. To the Members of Confederacion de Sindicotos Obreros de la Republica Mexicana. DEAR SIRS AND BROTHERS: It was a great satisfaction to have additional proof of the desire of the Mexican wage-earners to establish cordial, fraternal relations and to prevent misunderstandings between the labor movements of Mexico and the United States. The spirit that prompted your organization to send delegates with additional information of organized labor in Mexico and your declarations of good will are an earnest of what can be accomplished by international organization. As Col. Martinez has doubtless informed you, on July 1 and 3 a joint conference was held between the E. C. of the A. F. of L. and representatives of the Mexican labor movement. The conference was in pursuance of an invitation extended by the A. F. of L. which was given such general publicity in Mexico as was possible in the limited time and restricted agencies available to us. The diplomatic situation became so critical that labor representatives from Mexico City came to the United States before a definite time had been mutually determined. Under the circumstances that existed it was not possible for the A. F. of L. to call together a representative labor group to meet with the Mexican delegates in Eagle Pass, Texas. Therefore it was suggested that the Mexican delegates come to Washington where the E. C. had arranged for a ten days' session closing with the dedication of the new A. F. of L. office building. This was agreed upon. A delegation consisting of Mr. Luis N. Morones and Mr. Salvadore G. Garcia, of Mexico City, came to the conference. It was most opportune that your representative Col. Edmundo E. Martinez came on his mission to bring to the A. F. of L. the beautiful gold medal from the workers of Mexico and that he was authorized to represent your organization in the conference. Two representatives of Yucatan, Messrs. Carlos Loveira and Baltazar Pages, had come to the United States commissioned to bring an appeal to the workers of our country to help avert war and to establish ways by which information could be conveyed to the workers of both countries that would protect them against the mistakes due to misunderstanding. As Messrs. Loveira and Pages also participated in the conference its representative character is apparent. The conference was devoted chiefly to discussion necessary for mutual information and to consideration of means to avert the immediate danger of war in which baneful elements and greedy exploiters were seeking to plunge our countries. A declaration was signed by the representatives participating in the conference. A copy of the declaration is enclosed. As you will note it was provided that two representatives of organized labor of Mexico should remain in Washington in order to act quickly and effectively upon any emergency that might arise. But when the critical period had passed and no new danger seemed probable the Mexican representatives decided that it would not be necessary for them to remain longer. Messrs. Loveira and Pages had been commissioned by their state government to visit all Latin-American countries to urge a Pan-American Congress of workers for the purpose of establishing a Pan-American Federation. This was an idea that had been given serious consideration in our country and had been approved by the A. F. of L. in its annual convention held in San Francisco in November, 1915. In order that the workers of all American countries should know that the A. F. of L. gives hearty approval to the proposed Congress and Pan-American F. of I... I gave each of the Mexican representatives a letter stating the position of the workers of the U. S. A copy is enclosed. I hope you will assist in giving general publicity to this letter, and will urge consideration of the plan contained therein. But in working for this far-reaching purpose we must not forget that which is immediate the holding of a general labor conference to consider matters that immediately concern the wage-earners of Mexico and the U. S. Let me suggest that through correspondence, the press and all agencies of publicity, you give the workers of Mexico information as to what already has been accomplished by the power of economic organization and direct attention to common interests and problems of the workers-interests and problems which extend past national boundary lines and intermingle wherever the industrial and commercial interests of our countries extend. The hope of the workers of all countries lies in their economic organization which is an organic force limitless in its possibilities. This fact makes very gratifying the information you send of the strength and the number of labor unions affiliated to your Federation. We in our country are dependent upon the organized workers of Mexico for information in regard to your movement. We went to know more about you, and to keep in close touch through correspondence. I have been asked to make the suggestion as my experience may warrant as to the organization, development and direction of the Mexican labor movement. Of course, it is not possible, at this time, to enter into the subject minutely, but I may be privileged to state that: 1. The wage-earners engaged in any particular trade should be organized in a union of that trade. 2. That the unions of the trade should be organized in every city and town wherever that trade has a sufficient number of workers to form a union thereof. 3. That as soon as there is a sufficient number of unions of a trade in the various localities so as to permit of the safe financial conduct of a national trade union of these various local trade unions, then such a national union should be formed, and it should have absolute authority to determine its own laws, methods and policies for the protection and promotion of the rights and interests of the workers of the trade. 4. This should apply to each and all trades and occupations of wage workers whether skilled or unskilled. 5. In each city there should be formed a central labor union composed of delegates from each trade union. The Central Labor Union of each city should concern itself with the affairs of the workers generally affecting them, and not interfere with the internal trade affairs of any of the organizations, these being reserved to the unions themselves. 6. The central labor unions should not allow representation of any group of persons other than the delegates from the bona fide trade unions. 7. Central labor unions should meet not less than twice each month. 8. In each state of Mexico there should be a State Federation of Labor which should meet annually and be composed of delegates from local trade unions and local central bodies within the state. None but 'bona fide delegates from bona fide trade unions and central bodies should be admitted as delegates. The State Federation of Labor should concern itself with state legislation affecting the interests of the workers; both the State Federations and City Central Bodies should aid in the organization of workers in existing unions or institute new unions, and when such local trade unions are organized, they should be placed under the immediate jurisdiction of the national union of the trade. 9. There should exist a Mexican Federation of Labor somewhat after the plan of the A. F. of L. The Mexican Federation of Labor should guarantee to every National Union affiliated to it the right to determine its own laws and policies. The Mexican Federation of Labor should exercise no power except that which is conceded to it by the National Trade Unions. The Mexican Federation of Labor should be voluntary in every respect declaratory of general policies and purposes, and it should aid any National Union to the fullest extent in the effort to protect and promote the interests of its members or of the trade. The Mexican Federation of Labor should concern itself largely with organizing, with securing legislation or administrative acts from the Mexican congress and government. The Mexican Federation of Labor should hold annual conventions at which the National Trade Unions would be represented by delegates from National Unions in proportion to the numerical strength of each and one delegate from the Mexican State Federations and the Mexican City Central Labor Unions. The Mexican Federation of Labor should issue charters or certificates of affiliation to National Unions, to State Federations and to City Central Labor Unions. I am sending you a blank charter as sample, which the A. F. of L. issues. The Mexican Federation of Labor should also organize and issue charters to local trade unions of which there is an insufficient number to form a National Union. Enclosed with this I am sending you a copy of the constitution and laws of the A. F. of L. I am also sending you a copy of the official printed proceedings of the last A. F. of L. convention. I am also sending you a copy of the New York State Federation of Labor constitution, and also copy of the laws of one of the City Central Labor Unions of the A. F. of L. Please communicate our desire to all officers of labor organizations and request all to send us written and printed information. We shall be glad to receive regularly copies of your labor papers and to send you our publications. Again permit me to express my gratification at the opportunity to meet the representatives of the Mexican Federation of Labor, Messrs. Carvallo, Ramos and Alonzo, and learn from them of your splendid progress. Sometime I have the hope of meeting more of Mexico's workers-her people face to face. With fraternal greetings and best wishes, I am, SAMUEL GOMPERS, President, American Federation of Labor. During the conference held in Washington in June, the representatives of this organization presented to the A. F. of L. a gold medal on which was the following inscription: To the American Federation of Labor As a loving token from the Mexican Workingmen to the Workers of America. Later they presented a beautiful diploma, again expressing the spirit and feeling of fraternity and good will. It was the understanding at these conferences that later conferences should take place between the representatives of the workers of Mexico, and that the relations that had been established between our two countries should be broadened and made to comprehend the workers of all the countries of America. Better and closer relations and understanding between the workers of the United States and Mexico are necessary for the protection of the workers of both countries. The boundary line between the two countries does not constitute a real barrier to industrial and commercial development and organization. There is an identity of interest between the property holders and employers of both countries. The fifteen millions of Mexicans among whom low standards of living and work, low wages and long hours have prevailed have constituted a real barrier toward progress and betterment among the workers in this country. This is true not only along the border line but its influence is felt even among the central states. There are now thousands of Mexican workers in the cities along the border lines and in the mining regions of the west and in some of the eastern states. In Los Angeles alone there is a Mexican population of about fifteen thousand. There are mining communities in Arizona and Colorado which are composed almost wholly of Mexicans. Mexican workers have been imposed upon and brought into this country even as far as Chicago to be used as strike-breakers to defeat efforts of the United States workers in reducing hours of work and securing higher wages. This problem must be met by the development of the organized labor movement in Mexico and by the organization of the Mexicans within our own country. We can aid and support the Mexican workers in working out their own problems, and we ought to begin a definite campaign for the organization of Mexicans in this country. In connection with this section of the report we wish to call attention to the editorial in the July issue of the American Federationist entitled "Liberty's Hope Is in Thy Keeping, Organized Labor," and to the article in the August issue entitled "United States-Mexico Labor, Their Relations." These articles describe briefly the development of the labor movement in Mexico which is identified with the cause of the revolution and the attempt to establish a constitutional government. As clearly and keenly we have been kept in touch with the progress of the labor movement of Mexico (for be it always remembered that in Mexico the revolutionary movement was really a labor movement), yet we were agreeably surprised to learn of the wonderful progress and achievements of the workers of Mexico in shortening hours of labor, increasing their wages and standards, and improving their conditions of work, and this particularly since the overthrow of Huerta and the establishment of the Constitutionalist government. This has been general; yet in the state of Yucatan, Mexico, some of the broadest and best constructive labor conditions and labor legislation have been adopted within the past year and a half. In all of our relations with the workers of Mexico it has been our purpose to impress upon them that economic organization is that which is of paramount importance to wage-earners, for only through the organization and control of their economic power can they hope to secure their protection and their freedom. We have also tried to call attention to the fact that the development of the labor movement in Mexico must be directed in accord with the peculiar needs of the Mexican workers and must be worked out to meet the problems and conditions that exist within their country. By establishing closer relations with the labor organizations of that country we can bring about the better protection of the workers of the United States and the advantages of the workers of both countries. Supplemental report of the Executive Council: REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS. Since our report was prepared and in printed form an important communication has been received that ought to be considered by this convention in |