Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-17
DEMANDS OF LABOR.

The Federation VIII Help Pennsylvania
Printers to Fight the "Injunction Casea''
Much Of the time Of the convention of the
American Federation OF Labor at Birmingham
yesterday was occupied in discussing the two
sets OF resolutions regarding the conspiracy
laws in Pennsylvania. Senator J. G. Mcneil
read the majority report ON the motion to ap-
propriate 5000 to help the Pittsburg Typo
graphical Union fight the injunction cases
Committeeman valest after some discussion
read the minority report After q long dis
cussion, in which Vice President P. J. Mcclure
led the opposition to the majority report, the
report was overwhelmingly adopted.
The resolutions that were adopted are:
Whereasa court of Pennsylvania has. in the
Judgment of this convention, exceeded it's au-
thority and violated principle of justice in en-
joining union printers engaged in a contest to
MAINTAIN and defend their interest wage
workers. who have committed no act involving
breach of the peace or violation of law, and
whereas in the judgment of this convention
the court Ill this case exceeded its power and
jurisdiction, which, if allowed to stand unchal-
lenged. Will be constant menace to the ad-
vancement and progress OF the wage workers
as class and the people as u whole; therefore
be it
Resolved That the American Federation Of
Labor, In convention assembled, do hereby
pronounce the edict OF said court to be an I'M
justifiable and illegal interference with the lib
critics guaranteed in the bill Of rights.
Resolved. That we hereby direct the execu-
tive council of the American Federation Of
Labor to proceed to challenge the order of the
court by carrying the case to the highest
tribunal In the land. and the executive council
are hereby empowered and directed to expend
sum not exceeding 5000 in the prosecution
OF the case referred to III order that justice may
be done to the wage workers and the rights Of
the people upheld.
Resolved, That in the event That the case is
not carried up to the highest courts the ex-
ecnhve council may use such part or the whole
OF the above-named sum to test the con-
stitutionality OF the conspiracy laws or OF any
proceedings III equity against affiliated unions
anu union men In any state in the Union.
Resolved, That we cali upon affiliated unions
to cooperate with the executive council of the
American Federation in their work.
The minority resolutions were:
whereas conspiracy laws appear on the
statutes of many states. and of late years it ap-
pears evident that the courts persistently coa-
strue them In such = manner rs to annul the
most law-abiding efforts OF labor organizations
Tor abatement of conditions; and
whereas ENJOYMENT proceedings and similar
tactics are now employed to oppose strikers
rather than the former methods of physical
force to suppress laborers; and
whereas we see in this perversion OF the courts
n most dangerous menace to the very existence
OF labor organizations, because it is evident
that there lis concerted plan to make the en-
forcenent of conspiracy laws an excuse for
draining our treasures and terroriziag our
members so that the efficiency OF the organiza:
tons will be destroyed: be il
Resolved, That the American Federation Of
Labor hereby enter solemn and emphatic pro-
test against such unwarranted proceedings aad
the executive board are empowered &c take
steps for the repeal Of such laws. and that it
exercise Its discretion in aiding unions il, fight
ing ehjoinment proceeding where the courts
have encroached upon the rights of labor or
ganlzations affiliated with the American FEEDER
alton Of Labor.
1he committee on resolutions reported and
the convention adopted resolution urging the
passage OF laws prohibiting barber shops from
opening on Sunday and asking the friends OF
labor not to patronize shops that open on Sun
day and keep open later than o'clock in the
evening