Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-18
SOCIALISM OUTVOTED
Fully Three to One in Test Issues
by the Federation of Labor.
MERCY ASKED FOR ANARCHISTS.
Gompers Reelected and Salaries of All
Cficers Increased.
CLOSING SESSION FULL OF BUSINESS

PHILADELPHIA, Dec 17.-At the last
| day. session of the American Federation
of Labor, resolutions were adopted, calling
on all local unions affiliated with the FEEDER
alton to join Central labor bodies holding
charters from the Federation; condemning
| the Rock Island Railroad system for re-
quiring its telegraph operators to withdraw
| from their organization; asking that sailors
be included under the provisions of the
alien contract law; condemning the system
of advance wages to sailors; favoring
changes in the patent laws so that inventors
will receive direct reward; condemning
the Baron Hirsch fund and its charitably-
! assisted recipients and demanding restric-
tion of immigration; condemning the sys-
tenn compelling walters to shave off their
mustaches and favoring the eight-hour sys-
tenn for them
A resolution was unanimously adopted
asking clemency for the Chicago Anarchists,
Fielding and Schwab. Emboldened by this
success, one of the Socialists present, Dele
gate Morgan, of Chicago, introduced SUBJ
stitNte for a resolution favoring Govern
ment control of telegraph and telephone
lines.
Socialists Outvoted Three to One.
The Socialist element wanted a resolu-
tion asking that the Government control all
means of communication, transport alton
and production. Morgan insisted on a roll
call to test the sense of the Federation on
this proposition, aud the result was defeat
for the Socialists by vote OF 1,62S to 527.
Even some of the delegates of pro-
nounced views voted against the resolution,
owing to the indefinite nature of the de-
mand, when the original was passed with
an amendment asking Government control
Of railroads.
Resolutions affirming the previous con-
ventions' advocacy of woman's suffrage
and asking for legislation to protect trade
union marks were adopted, and various
resolutions asking legislation against the
Chinese were favorably recommended to
the next Executive Council.
Differences between the Socialists and
sutonomists were aired when resolution was
reported. asking Congress either to pass
legislation compelling the adjustment of
labor disputes by arbitration, or the SUBJ
mission of constitutional amendment per-
mitting such legislation. The Socialistic
representatives favored the measure as
step toward Government control of all pro-
du ctions, and characterized its opponents
as Anarchists, charging that they objected
to it as they objected to all government.
The Princip lie of Arbitration All Right.
President Gompers and others argued
that compulsory arbitration might prove a
dangerous weapon against labor interests
should it fall into the hands of capital. The
question was finally settled by the adoption
of a substitute, which emphatically ap-
proved the principle of arbitration, but
recognized its impotency where the workers
involved are not fully organized.
The President was instructed to visit the
coming National Conventions of Machinists
to endeavor to harmonic the two conflicting
bodies which are divided by the recogni-
tion of a color line in one of them. Nu-
merous resolutions for the organization of
various workers into national unions were
referred to the Executive Council, together
with resolution to aid the National Long
shoremen in their efforts to obtain recogni-
tion for their union in Buffalo.
In tho afternoon the annual election of
officers was called for as the regular order,
but the Federation first decided to vote on
the amount of salaries paid. President
Gompers' salary was increased from 81, 500
to 81, 800 per annum.
More Salaries Are Raised
Before proceeding further resolutions
were adopted recommending that chiefs and
superintendents of Government bureaus be
selected from the trade in which the skilled
workmen employed in the bureau are en-
gagged; favoring municipal, State and ma
tional civil service reform; favorinS free
and compulsory education, and instructing
the Executive Council to prepare bill to
that effect. Numerous other resolutions
advocating various reforms were reported
unfayorably and ouashcd
The salary of the Secretary was increased
from 81 200 to 81, 500.
There was no opposition to President
Gompers' reelection. Christopher Evans
was in like manner reelected Secretary.
A contest developed for the Treasurer's
Office, John B. Lennon, the present iucum-
bent, being elected over Henry Weismann.
P. ]. Mcguire was elected First Vice Presi-
dent. For Second Vice President, William
A. Carney, of Plttsburg, who took an active
part in the Homestead troubles, was elected
by large majority
Halt to Be Called on Boycotts.
A large number of boycotts were Endorsed
BY the committee, to whom they had been
referred, together with a recommendation,
as the boycott is being made ineffective by
indiscriminate use, that hereafter they can
not be approved unless requested under
seal of an affidavit.
Chicago secured the convention for 1893,
after close fight against the claims of
Denver
A resolution favoring direct elections by
the people was passed unanimously. The
Executive Council was authorized to con-
duct campaign of education by appoint
ing lecturers and buying literature to en-
large the scope of the Federation's efforts
in the direction of political action.
Under the guIse of expenses, 500 was
added to the Treasurer's salary. Other
resolutions were concurred in, favoring
labor representation in Congress and the
Chinese immigration act After the usual
complimentary communications and resolu-
tions, Vice President p. j. Mcclure de-
liveIed the peroration preceding final ad-
journment, which was then announced