Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-12-15
THE FEDERATION OF LABOR.
A Platform OF Political Principles Pre-
nnnted for the Body's Consideration.


CHICAGO, December 14.-The dele
gates to the American Federation OF
Labor convention to-day refused to take
action on q communication toucnlng
upon the question of the tariff. Inc
matter came up in the form OF COM
munIcation from the plush workers OF
Bridgeport, Conn.,, which declared
that after the passage OF the
Mckinley bill their wages had been re-
duced and the company employers
threaten a further reduction In the
event Of the passage of the Wilson Dill.
The communication was laid on the Ia
BILE and the delegates fought shy OF
any discussion of the subject.
At the request of two hundred stu
dents of the Chicago Theological Semi
nary two representatives OF the federa-
tion were appointed to expound It's
principles at a gathering OF students
this evening.
A number OF resolutions wore adopt
ed as the sentiment of the convention as
they came from the committee. Inc
theory of the government ownership OF
the telegraphic system Of the country
was approved; the election of United
States Senators by popular vote was
endorsed: the President Of the Fedora
tion was authorized to draft bill max
ing it compulsory for manufacturers TO
place exhaust fans in their manufac-
tories. The convention expressed ltset
as being in favor OF compulsory educa-
tion. 1t was resolved to petition Con-
gress to enact a law establishir : postat
savings banks In view OF the adequacy,
as the resolution expressed it, OF the
present national banking system.
Representative Lewis Nash OF the
Retail Clerks National Association, read
paper on the future usefelness OF the
federation. He advocated government
ownership of the telegraph and the
railroad. He said the country now has
too much law with too little justice.
1--WE should stand shoulder TO shoulder
on election day and vote for measures,
not for men; for statesmen, not for poll
ticians; for humanitarians, not for dem
agogues."
Chairman Morgan, OF the Committee
on Resolutions, submitted a programme
for the naturalization OF railroads,
mines, telegraph, ETC., as proposed oy
English economists as basis of the po-
litical labor movement. A motion to
have the matter presented to the or
| qanizations OF the Federation for the
purpose of having their delegates In
structed to vote upon it at the next con-
vention OF the Federation received the
support of a number OF delegates and
the disapproval Of others. =.
The platform has twelve planks In 1t
as follows: Compulsory education, di-
rect legislation, a legal eight hour
work day, sanitary inspection Of work
shop, mine and home. liability OF en-
ployers for physical disability, abolition
of contract labor in all public works.
abolition of the sweating system, muni'
clnal ownership of street cars, electric
liRhJ ond Gus pIauJs, decentralization oi
telegraph, telephone, railways and
mines, collective ownership by the peo.
pie of all means of production and dis
tribution, the principle Of referendum
in ali legislation. 1t was moved to have
the resolutions taken up and voted on
seratim.
There was contest this afternoon
between the Conservative and Social
istic delegates regarding the adopt.
ion of the principles OF a platform
to be submitted at the next
annual convention. The Conserv.
atives came out ahead. The Com
mittee on Resolutions brought up a
programme obtaining the fundamental
principles of independent labor politics.
A accommodation accompanied the re-
port TO the effect that the planks should
be submitted to the favorable consid-
GRAFTON OF the labor organizations
representing the socialistic delegates
being against the use of word "iavor-
able" and the conservatives il favor OF
it. A resolution was adopted iavoring
a series of national and international
congresses, or conferences OF labor.
the same to eliminate on May 1st,
1901 in an international demonstration
Of labor organizations in all countries.