Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1889-09-28
THE CIGARMAkERS.
Internal Taxation Sustained-Stra
ser and GOmpcrs Reelected.

not the union should favor the abolition
of the Internal Revenue tax on cigars,
and after five hours debate the ques-
ton was decided that the union should
favor the tax. The other important
business was the reelection of A. Stras-
ser as president,
The Strike Committee secured the
floor early in the morning session of
Tuesday and recommended that the
complaint against Union No. 80, of this
city, charged with failure To pay strike
assessments and violation of union
rules be dropped. This was done, and a
motion to censure the union was
promptly tabled
The Committee on officers Reports
next reported. The committee was
composed of five members, and four of
them reported against the recommends
ton made by President Strasser that
any attempt to repeal the Internal Rev
enue tax be vigorously resisted. The
four committeeman stated that they
believed that the union would be bene.
fitted by the repeal of the tax and that
Congress should be petitioned to abolish
it.
Delegate w. H. McKinstry, the fifth
member of the committee, handed in ii
minority report, in which he said that
every effort should be made against the
repeal of the tax, as its abolition would
work serious harm to the union.
Delegates Dunden, of Binghamton,
nd Snhnaly Of nrr,tnl in,
favor of the repeal of the tax.
WHAT THE ABOLITION MEANS.
Delegate Mcclure, of Manchester, said
the abolition of the tax meant the in
crease of the filthy tenement house fac.
tories, the increase of child labor, longer
hours and less wages.
Delegate Grambarth, of San Fran
cisco, said that his city would be flooded
with more Chinese if the tax was re-
pealed.
President Strasser made a long speech
in favor of the retention of the tax. He
said that before the tax was in opera
ton wages were very low, cigars being
made in some districts in Pennsylvania
for five cents hundred. 1t had been
argued that the tax prevented individ-
ual liberty, as it prevented a poor man
from going into business. But the
union was organized to protect wage
workers, not bosses, and the union had
had to legislate for men who did not
have ability enough to conduct manu-
featuring business The abolition of
the tax would be a great blow to the
union.
The question was then put, and it was
decided to ask Congress not to repeal
the tax by vote of 1876 to 20.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
Nominations for officers were next
in order, and Delegate Grambarth
nominated President Strasser. Dele
gate Jablinowsky, Of this city, nom
mated Charles Erb, of Detroit, and
the nominations closed. Strasser re-
ceived 1O7 votes, and Erb 20. The re-
suit was received with cheers and at
the request of Erb the election was made
unanimous, Jablinowsky alone voting
against it.
For First Vice-President George W.
Perkins, of Albany, was the only NOM
inee, and was unanimously elected.
For Second Vice President +. r. West
ermeyer, of st. Louis received II votes;
Henry Abrahams, of Boston, a votes;
John Eckford, of Chicago, q votes.
Samuel Gompers received the highest
vote, rs. and was declared elected.
For Third Vice-Presdent, which must
go to Canada, George S. Warren, of
Montreal, and William " Todd of To-
ronto, were put in nomination. Todd
was elected by vote of 66 to So.
The other ce-presidents elected are:
William H. McKinstry, of Muskegon,
Mich; William Neuroth, of Denver;
Emil Levy, of Evansville, Ind. and
James B. Doherty, Of Richmond. These
officers, with President Adolph Strasser
| Vice Presidents George w. Perkins
Samuel Gompers, and William V. Todd
| constitute the Executive Board. l.. A
Bolio, of Westtield, Mass, was elected
| Treasurer.
At the Wednesday meeting resolu
ton came up that the Internationa
President and Executive Board take
action to secure the enactment of laws
preventing employers from using the
police power of the State, and also pre-
venting the use by corporations OF
armed bands of mercenaries, known as
Pinkerton's detectives, from intimidat
ing their employees engaged in strikes
lockouts or boycotts, There was also
a provision that 81, 900 be appropriated
toward carrying out the intent of the
resolution. The committee reported il
favor of the principle but against the
appropriation, and its report was sus
| tanned.
A resolution was passed against thu
Fasset prison bill.
The subject of cancelling the deticien
cies of local unions was the theme of I
two-hours' discussion in the afternoon
The proposition was introduced chiefly
in the interest of the New York unions
several of which became deeply in
debted during the strike in the winter