Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-13
GOMPERS IS AHEAD.
Is Reelected President of the Fedora
tion by Big Majority.
HE ANSWERS SOCIALIST CHARGES.
A Petition Favoring Woman Suffrage is
Sent to Washington.
NEXT MEETING AT BIRMINGHAM, ALA.

DETROIT, Dec. 12.-The convention OF
the Federation of Labor this morning sent
greetings to the Farmers Alliance Conven-
ton and to the International Labor Con-
gress at Brussels. The Legislatures OF
Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama
will be asked to forbid convict labor IN
mines Support was pledged to the paint
ers, who will strike for eight hours May 1.
Congress will be petitioned to forbid United
States enlisted musicians from competing
for business with free musicians. The con-
vention decided that only bona fide men,
bers of trades can hereafter be delegates.
A motion to make new Executive Coun-
Gil of four and leaving the officers, except
the President, out of it, was lost. The
bonds of the Secretary and Treasurer were
raised to $1,000. A new section of the con-
stitution, providing for a SIS week strike
benefit for five weeks for such local unions
as pay in per capita of cents month,
was considered.
Gompers on Question of Privilege.
On the question of the readjustment of the
Executive Board and the power of the Presl-
dent, the committee reported back an
amendment regarded by the friends of the
President as of restrictive tendency. Mr..
Mcclure opposed it in fiery speech as
having a tendency to tie the hands of the
President, and Mr.. Mcbride advocated the
amendment in strong terms. President
Gompers arose to a personal explanation, in
which he said he was not affected with big
head, and, besides, he knew the men on the
Executive Board were not capable of crawl
ing on their stomachs to Sam Gompers
A vote was taken, and during its progress
President Gompers resumed his personal
explanation, and read the heading of
| German New York paper in which Gompers
is charged with petty tricks in cutting off
| debates in favor of Saniel, and that In
every way Com pers was against the Social
lists. He would ask if these things were
true, and whether he deserved the abuse.
He would not quote Socialist papers that
said he was fit candidate for a lunatic
asylum. Ee claimed to have acted impair
tally, but he would not ask the convention
to take any action.
Gompers and Other Officers Reelected.
On the count of the vote it was found that
the amendment did not have the necessary
two-thirds vote, and was declared lost. This
was regarded as a success for Gompers.
On the rest of the amendments to the
constitution it was plain sailing, save one
raising the bonds of the secretary and
treasurer from 81, 900 to S., 900, on which oc-
Cured slight breeze, but the amount of
the bonds was raised.
The election of officers was the first bust
ness of the afternoon session. President
Gompers was reelected by /, 716 votes, while
his opponent, T. j. Morgan, OF Chicago, re-
ceived 1914. Mr.. Gomper's election was
made una nimous upon motion of Mr..
Morgan. All the other old officers were re-
elected as we'll, with the exception of Treas
urer, the present incumbent declining re-
nomination. j. B. Lenmore was elected
Treasurer by acclamation.
Miss Ida M. Van Etten read paper on
s'The condition of the women-workers under
the present industrial system"
Birmingham, Ala, was selected as the
place OF holding the next convention.
Amendments to the Constitution.
The report of the Committee on Constitu-
ton, which was, under discussion at the
time of adjournment at noon, was again
taken up. Article ten, in reference to the
establishment of strike fund for local
unions, after some further discussion, was
referred to the Executive Committee, to-
gether with three representatives, of local
unions, with instructions to formulate a
plan for the carrying out of the intention of
the amendment, and submit the same to the
local unions interested.
A motion to establish board of appeals
was favored by the committee as an amend
ment to the constitution. After some dis
cussion it was voted down by the conven-
tion. The resolution so send delegation to
the convention of the international Brick
layers Union at Toronto next January,
with view of inducing that union to
affiliate with the Federation, was finally
adopted, with an amendment providing
that the delegation shall consist of the
President and two delegates. Several other
resolutions were disposed Of Among them
was the one previously introduced, pledging
the Federation and delegates to exert their
efforts to secure legislation prohibiting the
employment of children under the age of Ii
in factories. The session then adjourned.
In Favor of Woman Suffrage.
Sessions will be held tomorrow at A,
NJ. and P. NJ. The latter will probably
be the closing session, as the members are
anxious to leave before Sunday, and the
remaining business will be pushed as much
as possible.
convention the officers have drawn UP the
following, which will be Immediately for
warded to Washington:
To the House of Representatives and Senate, in
Congress assembled:
We, your petitioners the American Fedora.
ton OF Labor now in session in the city of De-
troit, and representing 500, QUO workingmen who
are voters under the laws OF the United States
respectfully request your honorable bodies to
pass the resolutions already favorably reported
by your proper committees proposing an
amendment to the National Constitution, Sc
curing to the women of the United States the
exercise of the right of suffrage; that the ques-
tion may go before the people of the United
States to be rejected or ratified by them
through the action of either their Legislatures
or conventions, as the one or the other mode of
ratification may be proposed by Congress-"
In witness whereof, and under instruction of
the American Federation of Labor we
Samuel Gompers. President, and Chris Evans,
Secretary of said Federation, do, this l1th day
of December, in the year 1890. append our
official signatures and the seal of said Fedora
tion. Very respectfully,
CHRIS EVANS, Secretary