The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-12-29
TAKE ADVANCE GROUNDS.

past year mas QaQ WOuOOfIu1 0H0CG Oh
the leading men of that organization. |
The effect is shown in the fact that the
federation has taken steps on political
and social questions far in advance of
any other labor organization, and in
some respects in advance of the Peo-
pies party. Heretofore the federation
has always shown disposition to be
conservative and to 'keep out of poll |
tics" True, it has made political dec
larations before this, but they were |
such as could not possibly be called |
progressive, much less radical But at |
this meeting the delegates seem to |
have realized the necessity of doing |
something to make themselves useful,
even if they had to step beyond the |
bounds of conservatism. Samuel Com
pers, who was at this meeting, re-elect- |
ed for the twelfth term to the Office of
president, has always been fearful lest
the movement should go ashore on the
rack of politics, yet he joined the great
majority of the delegates in urging the
adoption of some of the most radical
expressions.
One of the first important steps the
federation took was to indorse the &C
ton of Governor Altgeld in the follow
ing words.
"Whereas, The pardoning of the So
called Chicago anarchists by Governor
AItgeld of the state of Illinois is but
simple act of Justice.
"Whereas, The conviction and incar-
ceration of Fielding, Schwab and
Neebe W as the result of class prejudice
and persecution at time when the
public mind was influenced with pass
ion; and
Whereas, The governor of Illinois,
in the face of a set resolve of the CAPT
talist class to the contrary, has had the
courage to defy power and opposition
in defense of innocence and justice,
thus proving the honesty and sinceri-
ty of heart; therefore, be it
"Resolved, That we indorse Gever-
nor Altgeld's action and accept the
reasons he assigns as in line with the
true facts of the case; and be it further
Resolved, That copy of these re-
solutions be sent to Governor Altgeld."
The above was unanimously adopted
as was the following:
'Resolved, That system of society
that denies to the willing man the OPP
portunity to work, then treats him as
an outcast, arrests him as a vagrant,
and Furnishes him as felon is by this
convention condemned as inhuman
and destructive of the liberty of the
human race.
Resolved, That the right to work is
the right to life. To deny the one is to
destroy the other That when the pri-
vate employer cannot or will not give
work, the municipality, state or nation
must"
But the most astonishing proceeding
was the unanimous adoption of the fol-
lowing political declaration, after a
free and lengthy discussion:
"Whereas, The trades unions of
Great Britain by the light of experien-
&c and the logic of experience and the
logic of progress, adopted the princi-
| pie OF independent labor politics as an
auxiliary to their economic actionyand
'Whereas, Such action has resulted
in the most gratifying success, and
"Whereas, Such Independent labor
politics are based upon the following
programme. Compulsory education;
district legislation. A legal eight hour
work day; sanitary inspection of work
shop, home and mine Liability of en-
p1oyer for injury to health, life or
body. The abolition of contract labor
in all public work. The abolition of
the sweating system. The municipal
ownership of street car, gas and ;elec-
trio plants for public distribution of
light, heat and power. The Nationalist
ton of telegraph, telephone, railroads
and mines. The collective ownership
by the people of all means of produc-
ton and distribution. The principal
of referendum IN all legislation; there
fore
"Resolved, That this convention
hereby indorse the political action of
our British comrades. and
Resolved, That the programme and
basis of political labor movement be
and hereby are submitted for the con
sideration of the labor orga6iztions of
America. and the request that their
delegates to the next annual conventi-
on of the American Federation of Lab
or be instructed on this most import
ant subject"
Another resolution declared for free
coinage at a 16-to ratio.
MEETING OF FEDERATION OF LABOR
The Federation of Labor met in an
nual session in Chicago on Monday,
Dec. II, and were welcomed to the city