The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-09-23
A BIG INFANT.
The Pacific Coast Council of
Trades Federation.
An Organization Formed and officers Elected
for New Labor Body Representing
$4,000 Members.

Something like $4,000 members Of labor
unions of the Pacific Coast have been more
closely allied by the action taken yesterday
by the convention now in progress at Shoe
makers Hall.
The convention met on Monday. and con-
sisted of delegates from the extreme south
ern part of the State to Washington on the
north. Their object was to form an ALL
ance or amalgamation of the Pacific Coast
labor organizations. and it was accomplished
yesterday.
The name of the big infant is the Pacific
Coast Council of Trades Federations, and
the name indicates its character There
was talk of including the word labor" in
the title, but it was ruled out, some contend
ing that it would open the door to admission
for the Farmers Alliance, and one avowed
object of the federation is to avoid politics
The name resolved upon was in accord
ance with the report of the committee ap-
pointed on Monday. Among other recon-
mendations il made, and which were adopt
ed, were:
RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED.
That the organization consist of representa-
tiVes of bona hide Il AIDES councils, and thai the
words Grades council" shall mean an ofganlLa-
lluu VI al Icdol uloAlhSt
That the representation be on the basis of one
vote for each 100 constituents the of1ceTs elected
to be a President, three lce-PTesdents, Sec
Rotary and Treasurer and an Executive commit
tee of seven members, four to be elected by tue
San Francisco Federation, and Que each bv the
Alameda, Santa Clara and Sacramento fedcra-
lions
That each trades council shall have Standing
Committee OF three, known as The Coast COmnlt-
tee, which shall consider the minutes OF me
council; that fee Of SO shall be charged for
councils seeking admission TO the federation, ana
| monthly dues of 90 cents per 1000 members
or fraction thereof and 20 cents Tor each 1Ooo
additional members.
The convention yesterday forenoon took
action on the admission OF the Pacific Coast
LaOOTeT5' Union, aud while admitting It's
delegates to seats, vet denied them votes,
pending an inquiry into the representation
the union is entitled 10. This was merely
subterfuge, however, and so the delegates
themselves seemed to consider II, Tor they
voluntarily withdrew later.
The conventions action on Monday In
ruling out the delegation OF the Nanaimo
Miners Union was rescinded, and MIR. Ed
wards, the delegate, was admitted to q seat,
with fourteen votes.
REPRESENTATION CHANGED.
After appointing Messrs. Armstrong,
Thurman, Grimes, Heppel and Josselyn q
Committee on Bylaws and Constitution,
the convention adjourned until 2 o'clock.
The afternoon session was called 10 order
by Chairman Mackay, but VITA number of
the delegates absent, They had deputed
proxies to vote for them. After reading the
minutes of the morning session, the cOnyen-
tion settled down to the election OF perma-
nent officers of the newly created Organiza-
ton.
Pending this work, amendments were
proposed TO change the representation on
the Executive Board decided upon at the
morning session. 1t was proposed TO give
the San Francisco Federation only three Of
the seven members, instead OF four. and the
Alameda, Sacramento, Santa Clara and Los
Angeles organizations each one.
/ here was some opposition on the ground
that Los Angeles, being SO far away, it
would hardly be possible for Its members to
attend the boards meeting.
Another amendment by Secretary HOugh
proposed that the three San Francisco MEM
bers should be chosen one from the City
front Labor Council, one from the Building
Trades Council and ole from the Trades
Council.
Delegate Fuhrman objected to this. saying
that all three members should be chosen
from the Federated Trades and that If any
of the other councils wanted representation
Oh the board they should affiliate with the
federation.
THE CITY FRONT HEARD FROM.
This brought a City-lront Council dele
gate to his teet, with the emphatic declara-
tioh that the council does not want to atfili-
ale. lney are lHDOIeTS ana Idu q
nothing in common with shoemakers, tailors
and the various trades.
a Pacific Coast Labor Union man next
jumped up with the demand that his organ
ization be allowed member on the board.
Another delegate wanted the members of
the board elected by the convention instead
Of by the various councils.
Thurman finally proposed substitute for
the whole by giving Alameda one member
of the board, Santa Clara one, Sacramento
one and San Francisco four, as follows;
The Federated Trades two, Building Trades
Council one and the City-front Labor Coun-
ell one. This was in effect the origin al mo-
ton, adopted in the morning, and it pre-
vailed. The election Of officers resulted as
follows:
President, Alfred Thurman of San Fran
cisco 1S6 votes, W. &. Armstrong of Seattle
First Vice-Presdeut, W. e. Armstrong
Second Vice President, Otto Bel of Sac
ramento 1891, Edward Oringle of San Fran
cisco III y.
Third President, Edward CringIe
Secretary and Treasurer, w. b. SOule Of
Alameda 169, j. Collins of San Francisco
I24h.
sergeant-at-Arms, George Thomas.
REFERRED FOR CONSIDERATION.
A long communication was received from
| the Grand Council Pacific Coast Laborers
and referred TO the convention for consid
Grafton, Withdrawing its delegates, yet re-
| Questing the convention t. consider the III
terests Of unskilled labor in its delibera-
| lions.
| That the cards Of membership OF the Pacific
| Coast LabOrers Union be accorded recognition
10 all cases where unskllled labor Is employed to
| assist artisans.
| That the convention give Its careful cousidera-
| ton TO the actions of the Immigration Conven.
| ton now in session, as tile actions thereof will
| tend TO crowd 10 suffUcallOn an already over
stocked labor market, and will, If not checked
| or prore'ly regulated, bring misery and suffering
| upon thousands
| That 1t recommends the passage OF Senate
| bills No. 81 aud SO, also $50 and GAO OF the
| Thirty ninth California Legislature.
That 1t also devise some practical manner OF
| amell0rallDg the haTdships caused by The ar
| tlsans crowding into the avOcatous followed by
| unskilled labor during times of depression.
That II demand That our representatives in
| Congress do their utmost TO stop all foreign i'm
migration for the next ten years.
That 1t devise ways and means TO render II.
| legal (by suitable legislative endctments) any
and all contracts wherein the welfare OF any
| patty or parties not participating in the profit
| thereof Is Involved.
At 4 o'clock the convention adjourned un-
| I'll o'clock this morning. when it will re-
ceive the report of the Committee on By
| Laws and Constitution.