Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-12
ALTGELD lNDORSED.
Federation Of Labor Approves the
Pardon of the Anarchists.
A LARGELY ATTENDED MEETING.
Only One Dissenting Vote in the
Local Federation.
OTHER BUSINESS TRANSACTED

The Federation Of Labor held q very i'm
portant meeting last night at the hall at the
corner Of ~ street and Pennsylvania avenue.
An election Of officers took place. but the most
important business transacted was the passage
of a resolution approving the action of Gov.
Altgeld of Illinois in psrdoning the anarchists.
Neebe, schwab and Fielding It will be remem-
bered that short time ago District Assembly
66, Knights Of Labor, passed resolutions sp-
proving the action OF the governor, which cre-
ated widespread comment. The passage of the
resolution by the assembly was, how
ever, attacked on the grounds that
it was snap judgment and did
not accurately represent the feelings
Of a majority of the organization. This theory
was bolstered up by the fact that when the reso-
lutions were passed only small number Of the
members were present. Further expressions
Of opinion from the local labor organizations
on question which had aroused such general
interest were awaited with solicitude The
action Of the Federation Of Labor last night In
also approving the granting Of the pardons by
Gov. Altgeld. in even stronger language than
that used by the assembly, would seem to put
to rest all question Of the platform Of the local
organizations on this subject Like the assem-
bly,. the federation, in their resolutions, profess
to approve not Of anarchy. but Of the pardon
ing of men who, they claim were innocent.
The charge Of snap judgment cannot be made
against the action taken last night The Fed
Grafton of Labor Is composed Of delegates from
all the different local labor organizations, and
last night, owing to the election OF officers and
the closing up Of the business Of the year there
delegates being present The resolutions were
passed last night after q number Of speeches
had been made, and on the passage only one
dissenting vote was recorded.
ALrGELD UPHELD.
The resolution is as follows:
Resolved by the Federation Of Labor, Wash.
ington, d. c., that we approve the action Of
Gov. Altgeld of Illinois in the pardon Of Neebe,
Schwab and Fielding, who were suffering life
imprisonment for alleged completely in the un-
fortunate Haymarket tragedy Of 1887.
THAT We recognize in Gov. AItgeld an exc
cutive having the wisdom of honest discrimina-
ton, an enlightened sense Of Justice. and the
manIiness to rebuke aprejudiced Judiciary, and
amend, as far as possible, an outrage inflicted
by perverted jury.
"We also regard Gov. Altgeld representative
Of that class Of patriotic citizens who condemn
alike that anarchism which would DESTROY by
brute force and the other insidious anarchism
Of the judiciary and the press which, by the
abuse Of justice, the perversion Of truth and
sentiment, iB q menace to the stability Of gov
ernment and the social order Of our republic"
OFFICERS ELECTED.
The federation last night, as already stated
elected officers for the fiscal year. The cleo
tions we're entirely harmonious and resulted as
follows President, John F. whitemore; secre-
tary, Joseph X. Potter; first vice president,
Margaret A. Ross; second vice president, Chas.
A. Moran; financial secretary and treasurer,
Steven A. Clements; sergeant-at-arms, Chas.
]. Coleman.
CONVICT LABOR.
The meeting also appointed . committee to
investigate the charges that convict labor was
being used in the preparation Of the stone for
the Congressional Library building.
Another resolution passed without dissent
approved in unmistakable terms OF the action
Of the supervising architect Of the treasury in
announcing that no bids would be received
from any contractor who employed contract
labor.
MR. POTTER TALKS.
Mr.. J. Z. Potter, secretary Of the federation,
speaking to STAR reporter today in reference
to the action Of the organization on the pardon
by Gov. Akgeld said that the resolution did
not mean any Endorsement Of anarchy as the
word was understood by the general public.
1.-THE resolution simply means" said Mr..
Potter, "that we believe the pardoned men
we're in reality innocent Of any crime and we
desire to express our admiration Of the man
who had the courage to exercise his discretion
ary power in the interests Of right and
justice. As matter OF fact In the
discussion Of the resolution, which was full and
fair. the sentiments of the speakers were in the
line Of denunciation of anarchy. After the dis
cussion. and when the delegates understood the
nature Of the resolution, there WAS only one dis
senting voice to the final passage of the resoiu-
tion. You must remember that the Federation
of Labor consists Of five delegates from each
labor organization, and is therefore q thor
oughly representative affair. The man who
offered the resolution a native born citizen,
and the great preponderance Of the delegates