Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-12-22
FEDERATION OF LABOR.

nl-Wfn of the Knights of Labor-No Aid
For q Worlds Fair Congress-The EN-
Pioyment of Militia In Labor Troubles.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 17.-At yester-
days session of the American Fedora
ton of Labor the proposition to hold a
labor congress during the worlds fair
came up in the nature OF unfinished
business The proposition for the fed
Grafton to take any action toward as
sisting in worlds fair congress was
then defeated by an overwhelming vote.
Recommendations in the presidents
report were approved, including the
clauses relating to the woman organic
ers, whose work was complimented,
and relating to labor day. The COM
mittee recommended an appeal for the
establishment of national labor day
in the districts and territories It was
United States of the action condemning
the employment of Chinese sailors by
the Pacific Mail Steamship Co.
Here resolution was recommended
that stirred up lively debate. 1t re-
lated to the action of the president and
executive council requesting confer
ences with the Knights of Labor unions.
The many attacks of the Knights of
cially on local shoemakers, was de-
plored- 1t was said that all efforts to
heal the breach while they were on the
attack and the federation on the de-
fensive would only be waste of time
The committee recommended that the
highest duty of the federation was to
defend the unions selected by the
Knights of Labor for attack and that
he Al L,
ton as will enforce this idea"
The recommendation of the commit
tee was finally adopted. The special
committee of nine on the use of militia
in strikes then reported.
They said: 'tUnless a halt is called
it will not be long until liberty gives
way to despotism. Since the recent
uses to which troops have been subject
ed has been brought about by allowing
the people unchallenged to surrender
their power, we therefore believe that
herein is the vital point of grievances. u
The following resolutions were then
proposed:
That the American Federation of Labor and
aff1lia ted bodies demand of their respective
legislatures the enactment of laws embracing
one of these propositions
First-They shall create board of commits
sioners, to be selected by the people, and to
consist of as many members there are CON
gressional districts in the state The commit
tee only shall have power to call out the militia
after inyes tiga ton of the labor d11cul ties, III
conjunction with the governors.
Second-That in of labor difficulties ii
shall be unlawful for the governor to call out
the militia for the suppression of the same eX
cept upon a petition signed by at least one
fourth of the qualified voters of the county
wherein the trouble NAV exist
We further recommend remedy for the
employment OF PinkertOn or other armed
forces, that we demand enactment of laws by
the several states of the union prohibiting non
residents from serving as peace officers
1t was recommended that the Fedora
ton refuse, under any circumstances,
to accept men in the national guard,
and that the members now enlisted
withdraw as soon as they can lawfully
do so, unless one or the other of the
propositions herein proposed be en-
bodied in the state laws
After considerable discussion, the
recommendations of the committee
were stricken out and clause adopted
instead, favoring the support of labor
representation in the administrative de.
partments of the national and state
governments and advising mem berS OF
the federation to see that friends of la.
Dor command the militia rather than
the friends of capital.