Workmen's advocate., 1889-12-21
Fourth Days Session.

Fourth Days Session.
 On Friday morning, after the reading of the minutes, the Committee on Resol- utions, through Joseph R. Lahie, brought up again a resolution on child labor in the following revised form -
 Resolved, That we urge the abolition of child labor before the age of fourteen years.
 This was accepted and passed by the Convention.
 MATTERS FAvORABLY REPORTED.
 A favorable report was made by the committee on the following;-The saddle and harness makers of America desire the cooperation of all affiliated trades in their efforts to protect themselves from the evils induced by competition with the product of the prisons of our land, and would urge upon our delegates the necessity of either regulating or abolish ing the crying evil which compels honest men in the struggle for living to con- pete with the labor of convicts clothed, fed and housed by the several States in this Union.
 Favorable reports were made also on resolutions providing that the continuity of the American Federation of Labor be recognized and dated from the year 1881 in all future documents issued; and that the American Federation of Labor de- clares its desire that Congress shall restore wages in the Government Print ing Office to the rates prevailing previ- ous to 1877 and indorses the effort of Typographical Union, Mo- 101, of Wash ington, to secure the same.
 POLITICAL FREEDOM FOR wORKINGMEN.
 Delegate Lyons, of North Adams a member of the incoming Legislature, in- troduced the following:--
 Whereas it is known that certain em. ployers of labor in the various parts Of the country are forcing their employees to sign away their rights as citizens, the Federation of Labor demands of the various Legislatures that they enact laws making such methods unlawful.
 The Committee on Resolutions report ed adversely on this resolution, and the Convention entered into long discus sion of the principle underlying 1t and the effect upon the working people if a law such as was asked for should be en- acted. The resolution was finally adopt ed by a vote of 32 to 25, there being fifteen delegates absent.
 The Committee on the President s Report submitted its final report. In the matter of alien contract labor the con- mittee recommended the adoption of a resolution favoring amendments to the Alien Contract law. to make it effective. It recommended that all matters relating to farmers be referred to the Executive Council Il urged the delegates and every member of the Federation to work earnestly to carry out the suggestions of the president, The report as whole was adopted.
 THE TRADE IN BASEBALL PLAYERS.
 Among the resolutions offered was one condemning the buying and selling of baseball players by the National League and calling upon the labor unions to support the Brotherhood or anization. HIS IGSUlullOll WdS ltlCIlCu SllN NDlll- mittee on Boycotts.
 The Committee onOrganization report ed favorably on resolutionsu urging special assistance to the organization of boot and shoe workers, coal miners, furniture workers, sailors and tiremen and journey men brewers, and they were adopted.
 In the afternoon the constitution was voted upon in detail. After a long debate it was voted A to 13, that the basis of representation in the Federation shall remain as at present.
 REPORT OF THE EIGHT HOUR COMMITTEE.
 George E. McNeill, for the Eight Hour Committee, presented report, which, after setting forth the advantages to be derived from an eight hour law, sayJ:-
 "Your committee are agreed that ex- isting conditions will not in our judg- ment justify the hope that at this time all the crafts are prepared to successfully enforce the eight hour system on the 1st of May, 1890, although many of the trades are now ready, and many more will be by the time specified for the in auguration of this, the greatest of in, dustrial reforms.
 We therefore recommend that the Executive Council shall have power to select such trade or trades from those affiliated with the American Federation of Labor as shall in their judgment be best prepared to achieve success, and that such unions in the Federation be requested to assess their members ten cents week for as many weeks as shal be necessary to secure the short houl day, payment on such assessments tc commence not later than March 1. 1890