Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-02-28
THE STATE.
LABOR MEN ORGANIZE.
Adopt Constitution and Elect OFF,
enPS

Adopt u Constitution and Elect OFF,
GERS.
The trade councils and central labor
sslnions of the state held three days CON
Seht on in Lansing in February. Organ
11Ftion was ehected the first day, aud res
-oli4ions adopted in favor OF eight hours as
8 day labor, indors ,ng the bill Tor two
cent fare on Mich gan railroads, but reject
Dog the amendment prohibiting free passes
The federation refused TO indorse Frank
AZ. kgan for public printer, and asked tho
E'res dent to appoint union printer 10 that
dtllce. kreighoffs resolution opposing
high license and sumptuary Legislation was
knocked out
Wetiaufer's single tax bill received the
endorsement of the committee on resolu-
lions, but this action was not concurred IN
by the convention, which considered the
measure impracticablc. The proposition TO
Endorse Rheine voting machine as the best
method to secure the purity of elections
WGs largely discussed, but no concl1slon
was reached.
when the federation assembled on the
came day, Pres dent GOldwater, in char
acteustic address, stated that the comoina-
fipns OF capitalists were plotting against
1he rights and liberties of the working peo-
Esle rendering the individual unions pow.
-erlcss for self-protection, and 80 larger and
more powerful combinations OF labor were
necessary.
10 the adoption of consultation, and hnally
agreed upon a document declaring That
'fnothing is rChtfuily sub ect TO ownership
bat that which is produced by labor. That
personal occupancy and use are the only
rightfui title TO land" The present patent
laws were declal ed unjust.
The objects of the federation were de-
ciared to be to promote the industrial inter
osts OF the members in particular, ana the
tailoring class in general ito collect facts re
farding injustlces pracJicod upon lndlVluu'
nj and collective worke sand publish them
60 the world; to urge laboring people and
Chcir sympathizers 20 patroni2e union made
goods bearing union labels: to syste natize
and pT osecute boycotts sanctioned oy the OK
ecutive committee: TO uphold strikes legal
lied by the same authority; to shorten the
days work; to secure equal pay for equal
work for both sexes; To collect statistics
relative TO the financial, social and physical
condit ons of labor; to establish weekly
nay day in all trades pract1cab!e; To ala
and encourage the labor press of the state,
aud Co establish an organ OF this contedera-
tjOn.
The Michigan Arbeiter Zeltung was made
the German official paper of the organiza.
zion. A resolution was adopted in favor or
tho RhineS' ballot box at elections. Com
pulsory education was indOrSed and the re-
peal of the Baker conspiracy law is de-
manded. Cast Saginaw was selected as
the place for tho next annual meeting.
The following officers were elected :
President, Joseph Labadie of Detroit; first
vice president, Frank II. Gin Of Grand
Rapids; second vice president, John Ralph
of Marquette; third vice-president X. j.
Curtis of jackson; secretary and treasurer,
George W. Duncan of Detroit. Executive
board, T.. M. McPhlllips of jackson, John
butcher of Saginaw, J. G. Mitchell of De-
treit, II. G. Willahan of Grand Rapids,
Henry Two OF Detroit. Legislative commit
tive, &. G.. Smith, A. j. Whitman. Daniel
Barringer, all of Lansing.