Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-16
PITTSBURG PRINTERS
And Their Troubles Make a Breezy
Time at the Convention of the
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR.
Gompers Acts as the Watchdog Of the Or
ganization's Treasury.
LIST OF ALL THE COMMITTEES NAMED
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH ]

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcE.l
BIRMINGHAM, ALA, Dec. 15.-Pittsburg
has furnished the American Federation OF
Labor with the breeziest discussion that has
yet enlivened its proceedings. AT this
mornings session Delegate o. A. Williams,
gaining permission of the convention, ad-
| dressed the assembly with reference to the
job printers strike now at Pittsburg.
cat first the employers ridiculed the strike
in the newspapers, saying that they would
starve us out. In carrying out this strike
5000 have been expended. We have been
dragged into the courts, and came here to
ask your aid in carrying the matter to the
United States Supreme Court, and move
that this association donate $1,000"
1t was seconded Doherty, of Pittsburg,
and Harding, of Chicago, sustained Will
Jams, while Goldwater, of Chicago, and
Treasurer Fennon opposed the motion.
Williams got the floor and renewed his ar
gument. He said it was not the mere item
of dollars and cents, but to let it be known
over the country, by press reports, that
powerful organization like the American
Federation proposed to back these legal
proceedings would lend tone to a fight
against capital, and set the politicians who
are on the bench to thinking, and probably
recognize that working people were entitled
to justice.
Gompers Acts as the Watchdog.
Mcneil wanted to refer the matter, with
power to act, to the Executive Committee
Foster. of Boston, offered the following:
Resolved, That the Executive Council be
instructed to heartily cooperate with the
striking printers of Pittsburg in their effort
to test the constitutionality of the recent
enjoiner issued against the Committee ofthe
Typographical Union.
Resolved, That the American Federation
of Labor condemns. in unmeasured terms,
the conspiracy laws of Pennsylvania and the
recent decision Of the Allegheny Courts
which interferes with the rights of free
speech and free men.
After considerable discussion denouncing
the conspiracy laws of Pennsylvania, Presi-
dent Gompers took the floor and urged that
such a policy was not to be entered on
hastily. "You can't think for a moment"
said he, that you can pay out $4,000 unless
you have decided to continue to make like
appropriations. 1 am the watchdog of the
Treasury, and now you should be careful"
A motion was then made by Delegation
Lennon to refer the whole matter to the
Committee on Resolutions, when appointed.
Carried by a vote of 40 to 8.
Committees Named by the President.
The President announced the appoint
ment of the following committees:
On Laws-W. II. Keliner, Samuel Gold
water, Frank A. Kidd. Reese w. Prosser,
Edward Coogan.
President's Report-Martin Fox, W. c.
Boyer, j. R. Burk, II. j. Skifiington and j.
Barens.
Secretary's Report-John Mcbride. A. B.
Losebenger. Richard Robertson, Charles
Dold, Levi J. Regan.
George F. Mcneil. Jerry Doherty.
Organization-W. J. S. Shields, August
Delbar, Owen Miller, William A. Carney,
Henry Miller.
E. Coughlan, Dan Harris, c. T. Bechtold,
Henry D. Blizenberg.
Grievances-C. B. kavanaugh, James Nc
Gill, Charles Curier, George Speer, John
Local Federated Bodies-Frank H. Foster
Gus Lavigin, j. c. Myers, j. Z. Fatknock, W.
I. Devare.
The reports of the Auditor and Commit
tee on Rules were adopted. Several COM
were read. The Committee on
Credentials seated Henry Harlow, of Port |
land, Ore, and Anthony Loppin, of Dallas,
Lea. COHtcetcu u6lcSdtcS. Lie ObucE Two
Pacific coast delegates have not yet been |
seated.
Ladies Address the Convention.
A large ;.art of the afternoon session was |
devoted to the two ladies who are now at |
tending. Mrs. Eva Mcdonald -Valesh, |
State lecturer of the Minnesota Farmers |
Alliance, sought admission as representing |
the Saleswomen's Association of ST. Paul, |
ruh 10 eha ad 10
talk, she was denied the right to |
vote. Then the lady took the floor and |
read strong appeal in behalf of working |
women. urging equal recognition for that |
class of wage earners. Miss I. NJ. Van |
Eaton, of New York, made an address along
he same lines, on behalf of her sister work
ngwomen. Following their addresses both
aides were appointed members of special
committee to consider a report on the whole
subject of women workers
Tne convict question is coming in for a
arge share of attention, owing to the fact
hat nearly 1000 convicts are worked in
he mines of this country, and their re-
noval is just now the main question in
yery heated political campaign for Gov
rnor.
Brewers Trouble About Settled.
The squabbie between the Brewers Union
nd the Trades council mas reached partial |
ettlement by an agreement on the part of
he delegates of the Pacific Coast Brewers
Union that their union shall reioin the Ma
ional Union and pay up disputed arrear-
ges of $40. The National Union agrees to
ccept the wandering brethren's return,
ubject to the action of convention to
meet within the next six months. The
natter will come up tomorrow for action.
The only breezy incident of the afternoon
vas created by Delegate Skeffington, of the
Boston shoemakers, who lost his temper
vhen another delegate introduced a resolu.
ion, 'by request" which related to that
lnion. He wanted it understood that he
vas here to look after the Boston end of
he shoemaking trade.
The Federation Will be in session till Sat-
rday, and the real work will begin to-mor-
ow, when the committees on resolutions
egin to make their reports.