Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-18
WORKMEN'S WEAPONS.
The Boycott a Boomerang if In
fairly Used. Says Gompers.
SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO CONTROL,
A Pennsylvania Courts Decision Makes
Union Labels Useless.
TROUBLE rs COMING ON THE COAST

TROUBLE is COMING ON THE CoAS'
BIRMINGHAM, ALA, Dec. T.-Mucl
important business claimed the attention
the delegates to the convention OF thu
American Federation of Labor to-day
President Gompers recommended that th'
organization demand the passage OF Law
by Congress recognizing the first Monday
in Septem Der Oabor Day) as legal holi
day in the District of Columbia and the
Territories under the jurisdiction of the
General Government, and a resolution tt
that effect was adopted. When the ques
tion of boycotts was reached, President
Gompers spoke as follows:
I desire to impress upon your minds the
resolution adopted at the st. Louis conven
tion upon the report of the committee hav
ing that subject under consideration Every
local organization seems to take upon itseli
the right to levy boycotts and spread them
before the entire country. 1t seems to me
that before the people should be asked to
I taboo the product of any firm, opportunity
| should be given for investigation, and nc
boycott be recognized unless approved by
the convention, or the Executive Council in
the interim of the conventions of this Fed
| Grafton.
The Boycott Sometimes Boomerang.
The boycott is very powerful weapon in
the hands OF the wage-worlzers, but if put
upon firm unfairly, promiscuously or with
| out Investigation, it is likely to react upon
us and destroy the usefulness of that method
| to obtain our rights.
Then, again, organizations entirely for
| eign and antagonistic to the trades unions
and the American Federation have depend
| ed in a large degree in carrying out boycotts
| to a successful termination upon the trade
unions affiliated to the American Fedora
tion of Labor Several boycotts placed upon
firms by the American Federation of Labor
| have terminated successfully. 1 trust that
this convention will take some action in
reference to the levying and supporting of
boycotts.
The matter was referred to committee.
On troubles that have grown out of the
adoption of a uniform label the President
said:
The last convention directed that label
be issued for the product of the members of
the American Federation of Labor who have
no other label Of their own. Although the
label has not been in great demand, at
tribute 1t to the fact that we have had very
little opportunity to make its issuance gen.
orally known.
In connection with the issuance Of the
label, it would be proper to call your atten-
tion to the fact that decision was recently
rendered by a justice of the Supreme Court
would be one of the severest blows which
could be inflicted upon the rights of organ
lied labor.
Producers Have No Right to a Label.
1t questions our right to issue label
certifying to the character of the product
bearing it. In the decision, Judge Williams
says that, inasmuch as the wage workers do
not own the product they cannot have
label certifying to the character oflabor en-
ployed in its production.
more unjust decision in the interest of
the wealth possessors and against the wealth.
producers, has seldom been rendered, even
in the darkest days OF Jurisprudence. Your
attention is called to this decision because,
If upheld, it will render nugatory all efforts
labor. 1t is probably the first time that
forgery and counterfeiting has been ju-
dicially and officially sanctioned.
The officers of the ensuing term should be
empowered to co-operatewith the affiliated
unions in order to secure such legislation as
may be necessary to overcome the obstacles
presented, or reversal of the court in
question.
The Pacific Coast Federation.
The delegates from the Pacific coast
brought up the question of the conflicting
labor elements in that region in brewery
made an explanation, after which a special
committee was appointed to adjudicste upon
the matter. Said Mr. Gompers:
Since last year convention was had of all
the unions on the Pacific coast, taking in an
area of from Spokane. WASH, to and inclus-
i've of California and British Columbia. That
convention practically established q Fed |
Grafton" outside OF the American Federation |
of Labor, and I see in it (unless some ar |
pngement is made by which the difficulties |
,lofl IL
tions with the same purposes in view, hav- |
ing local unions represented in each. and |
which can hardly work on parallel lines. |
Sooner or later: greater conflicts will arise, |
and instead OF fraternally aiding each other |
we may see internecine strife in the trade |
union movement of our country.
The resolution denouncing the Chicago |
police adopted bv the American Federation |
of Labor this morning, reads as follows:
WHEREAS, The action of the Chicago |
peaceful meetings of labor people of that |
city without warrant, was in violation of |
every principle of right and justice, there
fore be it
Resolved, That the American Federation
of Labor denounce such action as danger |
ous, not alone to the working people, but to |
all classes, as it tends to the usurpation of |
the peoples authority and the substitution |
of an authority entirely foreign to the spirit |
of American ins ttutions.
Home Hule for Washington City.
The resolution calling for change in the
form of government at Washington City,
adopted this morning unanimously and with
no discussion, was as follows:
Resolved, That the American Federation
of Labor earnestly indorses the action of
the labor organizations of the District of
and joins in requesting the pas
sage of a law re-establishing a government |
IF the people and by the people in the cap
tai of the nation.
A telegram was received from Patrick
asking what the convention had
lone toward helping the striking Indiana
miners, but the committee was not ready to
'eport.
In reference to the circular issued BY the |
New York Central Labor Federation, de-
President Gompers as corrup-
ionist in politics, and charging him with
,rostituting his Office and the Federation to
.orrupt deals with the New York City Dem
,crats, the Committee on Grievances re-
ported this resolution:
Resolved, That this Federation do en-
declare its faith in President |
iompers as an honest, upright and earnest
yorker in the cause of labor and that it ab- |
olutely believes him to be as far above |
bribery, political boodleisIn or corruption
8 the stars are above the mother EARTH.
The report was unanimously adopted bv
standing vote, amid great enthusiasm.