Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-12-19
]. 1. BURTT
Was Not Elected President, But BE
Had a Good Following.
THE OLD OFFICERS ALL ELECTED.
Considerable Argument on Resolution to do Away
With Political Office Holders in the Fed
eration--GoOd Reasons For
Elscting Laboring Men.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, December IS
The Convention of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor adopted resolution
recommending political action at its
morning session favoring a woman suf-
frage amendment to the constitution.
A resolution was adopted that no furth-
er subsidy be paid the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company, unless the COM
pany discharge I'll Chinese and Japan
ese in its service. Also a resolution to
amend the shipping act OF 1890 so as
to make vessels liable In damages for
cruelty to sailors at the hands OF
officers.
The proposition for the establishment
OF an official organ for the Federation,
to be edited by the President, under the
direction Of the Executive Council,
came up and the convention, by vote
of more than two to one, refused to
sanction the proposition.
Delegate Z. A. Kidd, from the Com
mmittee on Rules reported favoraoly q
resolution introduced by Delegate Stri-
gel, of Detroit, prohibiting holders OF
political offices from acting as organi-
zers, and the fact was brought out that
the resolution was aimed at Inspector OF
sidewalks in Detroit, whom Delegate
Coldwater characterized as one OF the
best organizers in the United States.
The inspectors name is Robert Y. Ogg.
Delegate Dodd was strongly opposed
to allowing politicians to get into the
councils of the trades unions. Delegate
Foster thought the resolution the most
remarkable that had come before the
convention. The test of man was his
fidelity to trade unionism, not his con-
nection with a political party. He
pointed out Delegates Mcneil, Aug.
Miller, DAILY and others present, all
holding political Office.
Delegate Doherty said they had be-
gun movement in Pittsburg to do
away with all the obstacles to the
rights of trade unionism and to do that
they must go In politics. Delegate
Mcbride said that in the miners move
ment ihe miners have selected from
their ranks men whom they have urged
in politics. In Ohio In 1888, they had
in that State number of laws that
were a curse and oppressive to the
working people. He himself was the
first miner to be elected to the Ohio
Legislature.
| ns,. aola.a.- -i-Su Ilvcu- IN m har ~
wise laws, and great reforms that had
been brought about by the working
people having their own representa-
tives in the Legislature.
A similar state Of affairs was true oil
| Indiana, Illinois and other States. An
ex-Speaker of the Ohio Legislature was
in 1884 swinging miners pick in the
Hooking Valley. The Convention con.
Cured in the unfavora6le report OF the
Committee. Delegates Harding, Thomas,
Kidd, Faulkner and Dodd, asking to be
recorded in the negative.
The convention then proceeded to elect
officers. President Gompers was re-
elected President, receiving 1855
against SO for j. II. Burt, OF Wheel.
ing, and 13O for August DsLabor, OF
New York. DeLabor withdrew his
name before the vote. A motion to
make Gomper's election unanimous was
objected to by Harding. The other Of
ficers are: P. J. Mcclure, Of Pennsyl-
vania, First Vice President; w. a. Car
ney, of Pittsburg, Second Vice Presl-
dent; Chris Evans, of New York, Secre-
tary; John B. Lemon, Of New York,
Treasurer, all OF them being reelected.
Mr.. Gompers has been President since
1888.