The morning call., 1891-12-18
LABOR FEDERATION.
Resolutions Adopted by The Ma
tiOnal Convention.
Suggestions Of President GOmpers on Lead
Ing Questions.
Special Committee Appointed to Consider the
Condition of Conflicting Pacific
Coast Interests.
sIecial to TIE MORNING CALL.

BIRMINGHAM (Ala.), Dec. 17.-The con-
vention Of the American Federation of
Labor at to-day's session passed a resolu-
ton in favor of the governmental control Of
telegraphs.
President Gompers recommended that the
organization demand the passage of a labor
law by Congress recognizing the first Mon
day in September as legal holiday in the
District of Columbia and the Territories, and
resolution to that effect was adopted.
President Gompers spoke at some length
ON the subject of boycott, saying that every
local organization seems to take upon itself
the right to levy boycotts and to spread
them before the entire country. 1t seemed
to him that an opportunity should be given
for investigation, and no boycott recognized
unless approved by convention or an ex-
ecutive council. He asked the convention to
take some action on tliis point.
A SEVERE BLOW.
On the question of union labels President
GOmpers said the decision Of the Supreme
Court of Pennsylvania recently, to the eff
feet that inasmuch as wage workers do not
own the product they cannot have a label
certifying to the character of the labor en-
ployed in its production, will be, if allowed
to stand, one of the severest blows which
could be inflicted upon the rights of organ-
lied labor. Gompers severely scored the
decision and said the officers of the organ
izaton should be empowered to cooperate
with affiliated unions 10 secure legislation
to overcome the obstacles presented or re-
Versal of the decision in question.
PLEA FOR PEACE AND UNITY.
A special committee was appointed to con-
slider the conflicting elements on the Pacific
Coast President Gompers made speech on
the subject, telling how he listened to state
ments on the matter when in San Francisco
and regretting exceedingly that no adjust
ment of the trouble had yet been had.
Last year," said he, "a convention was
held OF all the unions on the Pacific Coast,
taking in the area from Spokane, Wash, to
include California and British Columbia" 1t
practically established a federation outside
OF the American Federation, and GOmpers
sees in this. unless some adjustment is had,
two ORGANIZATIONS with the same purposes in
view, having local unions represented in
each. ana which can scarcely work on par
allel lines. Sooner or later great conflicts
Will arise and instead of fraternally aiding
trade union movement of the country. He
trusted this movement would receive earnest
consideration and that the action taken
might bring peace and unity with the Brew
cry workers unions which are primarily In
terested III the ma tier.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
A resolution was adopted denouncing the
Chicago police for "breaking into lawful
and peaceful meetings of labor people No
vember 11th and 12th." in violation of every
principle of right and justice.
In accordance with the action of labor or
ganizations of the District of Columbia,
asking change in the form of government
OF the city of Washington, resolution was
adopted requesting the passage of law
re-establ1shing government of the people,
for the people and by the people in the
capital OF the nation"
In reference to circular issued by the
New \ Ork City Labor Federation, drnounc-
ing President GomperS as corruptionist in
politics and as having prostituted his office
and the federation in corrupt deals with New
York City Democrats, the Committee on
Grievances reported a resolution entirely
exonerating him and declaring him to be
"as far above bribery, political boodleism
or corruption as the stars are above the
earth" The report was unanimously adop-
ted.
A resolution was also adopted against the
employment OF non-union men on pu Dlic
buildings and against the failure of the
Government to enforce the eight-hour law
A resolution that no politician be allowed
to address the assembly did not 90 through.
Tonight the delegates are being enter
talned at banquet given by the local union,
at which colored delegates occupy places at
the board. This matter gave rise to some
difficulty, but the coIored delegates had
either to be admitted or the banquet to be
abandoned.