The morning news., 1891-12-19
FEDERATION OF LABOR.
a NUMBER OF Resolutions Adopted at
the Morning Session-


the Morning Session.
/ BIRMINGHAM, ALA, Dec. 1s.-Tbe con-
Vention OF the American Federation of
Labor adopted a resolution at its morning
session, favoring woman's suffrage amend
ment to the constitution.
Ihe convention refused to adopt a resolu-
tlon recommending political action on the
part OF trades unions
A resolution was passed demanding that
no further subsidy be paid the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company unless the COMPANY
discharge all the Chinese and japanese in
lts service. Also resolution to amend the
shlpping act Of 1890 so as to make vessels
liaDle In damage for cruelty to sailors at
the hands Of their officers.
STIRRED UP BY WOMAN.
Immediately after the reading of the
minutes at the afternoon session Miss Ida
NJ. Van Eaton, representing, without a
vote. the working women Of New York,
asked, through delegate, unanimous con-
sent to make statement as to the resolu-
tlon respecting the employment of a woman
organizer, which yesterday was referred to
Ia the coming executive council. Per-
mission having been given, Miss Van Eaton
proceeded to make speech. in
which she dealt somewhat severely
with the delegates who had not
been friendly%E to her resolution.
Referring especially to Vice President Nc
Cures rather brutal" conduct; to Dele
gate McNealps sarcastic replyn TO one of
her questions, and to Delegate Lennon as
the representative of an organization which
was willing to receive dues from women
members, but unwilling to allow women to
vote"
THAT is false. that is untrue" angrily re-
piled Delegate Lennon, rising to his feet.
Miss Van Eaton was allowed TO proceed
until she was called to order for her refec-
tions on members, more especially on Vice
President Mcclure.
lemons DENIAL.
When she had concluded her remarks,
Delegate Lennon rose to a question of per-
sonal privilege He, himself, had organ
lied many working woman's societies, for
which he had never received any pay, and
Miss Van Eaton had reflected untustly upon
his organization.
Delegate McNeall detailed what took
place between himself and Miss Van Eaton
when she informed him that her committee
had agreed to ask the convention to provide
for woman organizer at salary Of s., 200
year with expenses. He told her that he
did not think the convention would indorse
the plan. So far as the question of salary
was concerned Miss Van Eaton could take
his place as an organizer and his salary,
she was more than welcome. He had been
an organizer for many years, and had been
in receipt Of no pay for that duty.
Vice President McGuire said Miss Van
Eaton had gone out of her way to attack
him. He had organized women's societies
and expected to organize many more. He
mentioned more than one organization with
which Miss Van Eaton had been actively
connected and which had died under her
ministrations
That ended the matter.
SUCCESSOR TO THE PRESIDENT.
Hitherto the first vice president has stood
in order of succession in case of the death
or removal from office of the president.
This clause of the constitution was amended
by requiring that the executive council
shall temporarily fill vacancy from its
own membership.
n proposition for the establishment of an
official organ for the federation. to be ed
tied by the president under direc tion of the
executive council, came up aud was dis
cussed by several delegates. The conven-
tion, by vote of more than 2 to L, refused
to sanction the proposition.
Delegate Frank A. Kidd from the commit
tee on rules reported unfavorably a resolu-
tion introduced by Delegate Strigel of De-
troit, prohibiting holders of political offices
from acting as organizers and the fact was
brought out that the resolution was aimed
at an inspector of sidewalks in Detroit.
whom Delegate Goldwater characterized as
one of the best organizers in the United
States. The convention concurred in the
unfavorable report Of the com mittee Del
egates Harding, Thomas, Kidd, Faulkner
and Dodd asked to be recorded in the mega
tive.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The convention then proceeded to elect
officers.
President Gompers was reelected presi-
dent, receiving 1856 votes. against 535 for
j. H. Barth of Wheeling, and 120 for
August Delabar of New York. Mr.. Del
abar withdrew his name before the vote. A
motion to make Mr.. Gompers' election
unanimous was objected to by Mr.. Harding.
The other officers elected are:
P. J. Mcclure Of Pennsylvania, first vice
president.
w. A. Carney of Pittsburg, second vice
president.
Christopher Evans of New York, secre-
tary
John B. Lennon of New York, treasurer.
All of these were reselectIons.
Mr.. Gompers has been president since
1883.
ROETONSa DEAD DYNAMITER