Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-12-20
IT CAUSES A SPIRITED DEBATE.
4 Chart Presented Showing the Relative
Number and Wealth Of Worklngmsn'
Business Men, Capitalists and
Milli0naires.

Whereas, The trade unionists OF Great Brit
ain have, by the light Of experience and the
logic Of progress adopted the principle OF in-
dependent labor politics as an auxiliary TO their
economic action; and
Whereas, Such action has resulted In the
most gratifying success; and,
Whereas, Such independent labor politics
ore based upon the following programme.
to-wit:
First Compulsory education.
Second-Direct legislation
Third-A legal eight hour work day.
Fourth-Santary inspection Of work shops
mines and homes.
Fifth-Liability Of employers for injury to
health, body or life.
Sixth-The abolition Of the sweating system.
Eighth-The municipal ownership Of street
cars and gas and electric plants for public dis
tribution Of light, heat and power.
Ninth-The naturalization Of teles raphs
telephones, railroads and mines.
Tenth-The ownership by the people OF Oil
means OF production and distribution.
Eleyenth-The principal Of referendum in ell
legislation. Therefore
Resolved That the convention hereby In
dorse this political action Of our British COM
rades, and
Resolved, That this programme and basis OF
4 political movement be and Is hereby submit
ted for the consideration Of the labor organiza-
:ions OF America. with the request that their
delegates to the next annual convention OF the
American Federation Of Labor be Instructed
On this most important subject.
After spirited discussion, at 10
o'clock the previous question was called
for and the roll call resulted in the
striking out Of the preamble by d vote
Of 1895 to sol. A vote was then taken
on plank one, without debate. II was
adopted. The convention decided to
consolidate planks two and eleven,
making the plank read; Direct legis'
lation through the referendum" II
was adopted.
Delegate Strasser offered an addi'
tional plank demanding the repeal Of
the obiectional laws regarding sea-
man.. lie wanted it made one Of the
leading planks. Delegates favoring
plank ten saw in the motion on at
tempt to change the numbering Of the
blanks SO as to side-track their favor
tie. Discussion on this subject was I'm
finished when at 1890 recess was taken
On the reassembling Of the conven-
ton N. R. Hysell, Of the Mine Work
crs, moved that a committee OF three
be appointed to draft resolutions in re-
gard to the decision Of Judge Woods
and the Imprisonment Of Debs and
others, and N. R. Hysell, Thomas j.
Morgan and Thomas Tracey were ap'
pointed. Mr.. Strasser was granted
permission to withdraw his amend
ment to the political programme, with
the understanding that it would be re-
introduced.
Plank three was taken up and Mr..
Weisman, Of the Bakers union, moved
to amend it to read, "An eight hour
day for all government employees, ma
tional, state and municipal" This
was met by strong opposition. Dele
gate Lloyd, of Boston, offered an
amendment to read, "a legal work-day
Of not more than eight hours which
was adopted.
Plank four was taken up and ar
omandment was offered eliminating
,he words ..and homes.' It was claimed
,he home should be inyiolate from the
intrusion of government officials. Or
tho other hand. It was claimed many
so.called workingmen's homes need in
snection as much as shops and factories
After a lengthy discussion the planl
as originally drawn was adopted
Plank Ave was adopted without dis
cussiou as were also numbers six ant
and seven. Plank eight was amended
IN include waterworks and adopted
Plank nine was adopted without dis
cuss;on though several delegates asket
N he recorded as voting in the mega
tive
When the famous plank ten came VI
n few minutes before A o'clock, the tuy
~ war was reached, Mr.. Strasser, 0
New Jersey stated he proposed I,