The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-18
THE FEDERATION OF LABOR.
Abuse of the Boycott-The Union Label
PACIFIC Coast Complicationa


BIRMINGHAM. Ala, Dec. 1.-THE convention
of the American Federation OF Labor at this
mornings session passed resolution in favor
OF the re-est1bishment of a republican form of
government in the District of Columb ia and of
governmental control Of telegraphs, aud pro-
testing against the action of the Chicago police
in br aKing up public meeting.
President Gompers recommended that the or.
ganzation demand the passage of a law hy
congress recognizing the first Monday in
september as legal holiday in the District of
Colulnola aud the territories, and q resolution
to that effect was adopted
President Gompers spoke at length on the sub
iect of the boycott, saying that every local
organization seems 10 take upon itself the right
10 levy boycotts and 10 spread them before the
entire country. 1t seemed to him that an oppor-
tunity should be given for investigation.
anu no boycott recognized unless approved
by the convention or the executive council
lie asked The convention 10 take soma action on
this point On the question OF union labels he
said the decision of the supreme court OF Penn.
sylvania recently, 20 the effect that inasmuch "a
wsge-workers do not own the product they can
not have u LABEL certifying TO the character of
the labor employed in it production, viii be
If allowed 20 stand, one OF the severest blows
which could De inflicted upon the rights Of or
gained abor. GompeYs severely scored the de-
cision, and said the officers OF the organ zatio,
should e empowered 20 cooperate with ari1f
ated unions - secure legislation to overcome
the obstacle presented or reversal of tina decis
ion in question.
special committee was appointed TO consider
the conflicting elements on the Pacific coast
PRESIDENT Gompers made speech on The suh-
!ect. telling how ne lad listenei 10 sta,arnapts
on tie matter when in san Francisco ana re-
GREETING exceedingly that no adjustment OF the
trouble had yet been had. Last year. said ne
convention was held of all the unions on ths
Pacific coast, taking IN an area from Spokau. To
and including California and British Columbia
IL had practically established a fe ierstion and
GompeTs sees IN this, unless some adiustnaen, ia
had, TWO organizations with the same purn,.es
in view, having local unions renressuted In
each, ana which can scarcely work on nn-aIlaI
lines. Sooner or later great conf cts will arisaas
aud instead Of frateraally helping each other
we may see internal strife in the trade union
movement of the country He trusted ,hfs
movement would receive earnest eousi ,era,io,
and that the &C ion taken IN -ht bring naara Ga,
unity between the brewery workers nnio,x
which are primarily interested ia the matter
81 Louis, Dee l7-GrauG Master sweenev ..
the Switchmen's Aid Association. when a.ked
what action his organization would take in the
matter Of The Proposed new federation of rail-
way employees, severely scored the advisory
council o! railway men for the action taken YES
terday, and declared that the swIgchnen would
have nothing 20 do with It.
DALLAS, Tex, Dec. 1.-THE officials and oper.