Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-22
THE FEDERATION or LABOR
A Plan for the Creation of
International Unions.
A SPEECH BY EX-SENATOR BLAIR
He Is Still Hopeful of His
Educational Bill.


Of Labor this morning the committee on
resolutions reported a plan TO create ma
tioual or international unions whenever
seven local unions Of any craft had been
formed. President Hompers took part in
the discussions which followed. expressing
the view that it would NOT always be prac'
ticable owing to the weakness Of newly
formed unions.
A special committee was appointed for
the consideration of methods for limiting
to their proper functions the military and
judicial powers, which it was resolved had
been used in contravention Of law and
government during recent labor en-
counters.
A request from the Walters Alliance
that all central bodies composed Of local
unions be abolished and the local organi-
cations allowed direct representation in the
federation was negatively reported and re-
fused.
Numerous resolutions were introduced.
Among them We're the following Favor
ing the assistance of labor men in the in
spection of certificates of returning Chinese;
prohibiting Japanese immigration for a
congressional Investigation of the Cnur
d'Alene troubles; for establishing friendly
relations with the knights of Labor
favoring the opening of school houses for
public meetings for the removal OF feder-
alton headquarters west Of Cincinnati; for
the exposition QI inc laDOr prOpleil III
public schools.
A recommendation from the grievance
committee was adopted recommending
that the Duquesnc and Alvin Theatres of
Pttsburg be declared non union il they
refuse to sign the scale demanded by the
Machinists and Theatrical Employees
Unions by January LIST.
Another recommendation was also con-
CURED in reyukiug the charter of the
Workers Union and instructing the mem
hers to join the National Sewing Machine
Iron Workers.
After other routine business the conyen-
ton adjourned until tomorrow.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 15.-At the
fourth days session Of the Federation
Of Labor Miss Mary Kenny, the only
woman delegate, introduced resolutions
fayOring woman's franchise, and pro
lection against accident from machinery
on which women are employed" The
report of the committee to whom Presi-
dent Gompcrs report had been referred
was then taken up III the afternoon.
hecoMmittec concurred in most of the
recommendations, and this was ap.
proved until the clause tavoring the
opening Of the Worlds Far ON Sunday
was reached. Miss Kenny opposed ii
on the ground that it was an entrench-
ment Of The working peoples right to a
day of rest. She was supported by the
representatives Of the Blrhers' Inter
national Union, Chicago Trades Assem-
bly, and others. The hotel and restaurant
employees and other delegates favored
the opening of the fair.
The presidents recommendation favor
ing sunday opcning was finally endorsed
by the vote Of SO delegates to 10 against,
or 1911 to 297 by the unit system Of
representation, Four other delegates
aftcrward voted for Sunday opening,
making 1918 in its favor.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 16.-At this
mornings session Of the American
Federation of Labor Convention the
proposition TO hold labor congress
during the Worlds Fair came up in the
nature of unfinished business. President
tiompcrs stated that an invitation had
already been extended 10 the Inter.
national Labor Congress at Brussels to
act upon the proposition to hold con-
gress in the United States. Great Britain
laborers, he said, have decided to ac-
ccpt the invitation to come to this
country.
The committee recommended an ap,
peal for the establishment Of a National
Labor Day in the districts and terri
tories,
The special committee of nine on
militia in strikes then reported.
They SAID that the powers designed
to rest with the people as expressed in
the rational and state governments were
being diverted from the purposes Of
| their authors, and that the masses have
lost the powers guaranteed them
"unless halt is called it will not be
/ long until liberty gives way to dcspot,
ism. Since the recent uses to which
troops have been subjected .las beer
brought about by allowing the people
| unChallengsd, to surrender their power
we therefore believe that herein is the
| vital point of our grievances,
At the afternoon session cngrosset
| resolutions were presented to Georg,
| MacNeiI, the well-known speaker OF
| labor topics, thanking him for his ser
/ vices in the cause Of organized labor,
The committee to whom the PROPOSE
ton had been submitted to establish {
sinking fund reported fayorably upoI
such fund for the purpose of support
! ing strikes and lockouts not less thai
| $30O,oG0. The report was ordered re
ferred to the executive council, with in
structians to perfect the details of thu
plan and submit it to the affiliated
Unions.
A. breeze arose when the committee
on law reported unfavorably on reso
luton that delegates must be worker
in the trade which they represent. Il
support of the resolution Delegate Gold
water Of Detroit, charged that men higl
In the councils Of the federation wer
subordinating the interests of organized
labor To their own personal advantage
and that it was through the favor of tn
committee on credentials that such dele
gates gained admission.
This brought the chairman of the Gre
dcutials committee to his feet to eyplGii
that the committee recognized hOm
rule for each Of the affiliated union
and their right to choose such delegate
as they deemed proper. Other delegate
eXpllinGd why they did not work in I'll
crafts they represented. Others callel
on Mr.. GOllwater to state the names 0
the delegates he hal attacked. MI
Goldwatcr COntenAed himself with til
reply that he did not refer to the presen
officers. The report of the committe
was finally adopted
Amendments to the constitution wer
then taken up and were under discus
sion when the convention adjourned 70
the day.
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