Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-12-18
BOYCOTIS.
President Gompsrs Warns the Fsdsr-
alton Concerning Them.
ABOUT THE TRADES UNION LABEL
And the Decision Of Judge Williams Of the Penn
sylyania Supreme Court Against 1.-THE
officials Should Be Allowed %
Garry the Case Up

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, OeCcmoof ~.
Much important business claimed the AZ
tention OF tho delegates 70 the conven-
ton of the American Federation OF La
bor to-day. President Gompers recon-
mended the organization TO demand the
passage OF law by Congress recognis-
ing the first Monday in September as .
legal holiday In the District OF Column
bia and the Territories under the Juris-
diction af the general government, ana
a resolution to that effect was adopted.
When the question OF boycotts was
reached, President Gompers spoke Is
follows: II desire to impress upon your
minds the resolution adopted at the st.
Louis convention upon the report OF
the committee having that subject
under consideration. Every local or
ganizatIon seems to take upon itself the
right TO levy boycotts and spread them
before the entire country.
at seems.to me that before the people
should be asked 70 taboo the product or
any firm, opportunity should be given
for investigation and no boycott recog-
nized unless approved by the conven-
tion, or the executive council. The boy
colt is very powerful weapon an the
hands OF the wage workers, but II put
on firm unfairly, without investiga-
tion, il is likely TO react upon US and de-
stroy the usefulness to that method TO
obtain our right.
"Then again, organizations entirely
foreign and antagonistic TO the trades
unions and the American Federation
have depended in large degree In car
rying out boycotts TO a successful ter
mination vpon the trade unions affiliated
to the American Federation OF Labor
trust that this convention will take
some action by which IL will distinctly
formulate a decisive action In reference
to the levying and supporting OF boy
COTS"
The matter was referred to COM
mittee.
On the trouble that has grown out
OF the adoption OF uniform label, the
President said: "The last convention
directed that label be issued for the
product OF the members OF the Amer
lean FEEDER Ion OF Labor who have no
other label OF their own. In connection
with the issuance of the label, IL would
be proper to call your attention TO the
fact that decision was recently rem
dered by . Justice OF the Supreme
Court OF the State of Pennsylvania,
which, II allowed to stand, would be
one OF the severest blows which could
be inflicted upon the rights OF organ
lied labor.
at questions our right TO Issue label
certifying 10 the character Of the pro-
duct bearing It. In the decision Judge
Williams says that inasmuch as the
wage workers do not own the product,
they cannot have q label certifying TO
the character OF labor employed In its
production. A more unjust decision In
the interest OF the wealth possessors
and against the wealth producers has
est days OF Jurisprudence.
Your attention is called TO the decision,
because II upheld it will render nu-
gatory all efforts TO place label on tho
product Of union labor. IL is probably
the first time that forgery and counter
feiting has been judicially and officially
sanctioned. The officers OF the en-
suing term should be empowered 10
cooperate with the affiliated unions
in order TO secure such legislation as
may be necessary TO overcome the OBJ
stacles presented or reversal OF the
decision OF the court 10 question.
A telegram was received from Patrick
Mcbride, asking what the convention
had done toward helping the striking
Indiana miners, but the committee was
not ready.
In reference TO the circular issued by
the New York Central Labor Federation
denouncing President Gompers as
corruptionist In politics and with pros
tituting his Office, and the federation
to corrupt deals With New York City
Democrats, the committee on grlev-
ances reported this resolution:
''Rcsolred, That this Federation, in
convention assembled, does emphatic
ally declare its faith In President Com
pers as an honest, upright and earnest
worker In the cause OF labor, and that IL
absolutely believes him to be as above
bribery, political boodleism or corrup-
tIon as the stars are aboye the mother
earth.
'And your committee further recon-
mends that the incoming president be
requested to use his best efforts towards
strengthening and perfecting the Or
ganization known as the New York
Federation OF Laber affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor
The report was unanimously adopted
by a standing vote amid great en-.