The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-12-19
FOR FREE SILVER COINAGE
FEDERATION OF LABOR ADOPTS A
RESOLUTION To THAT EFFECT.
A Sentiment I'm the Convention
Against the ActiOn-Other ResOIu-
lions Are AdOpted-Burns to Appear
in indianapolis Dee. %.


can federation Of ,abor today the ex-
ecutive committee submitted the fol-
lowing schedule of dates for meetings to
be addressed by John Burns. to be sub
stituted for the one submitted yesterday:
Omaha, Dec. II; Chicago, Dec. 10; st.
Louis, Dec. 81; indianapolis, Dec. %;
Cincinnati, Dec. 2S; Jacksonville, o., Dec
"a; Detroit, Dec %; Cleveland, Dec. 20;
Pittsburg, Dec. %; Washington, Dec. %
and So Philadelphia, Dec. 81; Boston, JAM
2 The report was adopted.
The auditing committee reported: Re
ceipts of the year, S15.S46; balance on
hand Nov. I. 1898 $7,147; total. $22.49S.
Expenses Nov. l, 1893. to Oct. 81, 1894, ST.
302; balance on hand Nov. 1, 1894, S5,19l.
The resolution committee recommended
the adoption of a resolution, Endorsed by
the Typographical union, against land
monopoly The report was adopted
The committee on resolutions also recon-
mended the adoption Of Delegate Lloyd's
resolution in favor Of the free coinage Of
silver. The preamble covers much Of the
argument Of the advocates Of free coinage
and demands the re-enactment Of the law
in force before 1873, regardless Of the ac-
ton Of any other nation.
Delegate Thomas J. Morgan of Chicago
offered an amendment that the silver mines
be secured as the property Of the govern
ment before the adoption of the resolution.
/ He received no second.
Treasurer Lennon objected to the pre-
amble because, he said, it assumed that
all the trouble in this country was due TO
the characterization Of silver, and moved
to strike out all except the bare declaration
for the re-enactment Of the law. Mr..
LLOYD made a strong speech in favor OF
IN tG favored
primarily, a government issue OF non
me.allic money, but believed the restora-
ton of silver would be temporary
alienation of existing evils. Mr.. WOlfsOn
of Fall River offered a substitute similar
to the amendment of Mr.. Morgan IL was
lost and Mr. Lemons amendment was
agreed TO, after which the resolution was
adopted
! The committee indorsed the action of the
president in the A. r. L. strike and the
! various recommendations of the report
! 1t was recommended that May 1, 1895,
be fixed for the general establishment Of
an eight-hour day.
The proposed compulsory arbitration law
was vigorously opposed. The report was
then adopted.
President Gompers read a dispatch from
Chicago containing an alleged interview
with L. Y. Debs in which he denied hav
ing asked Gompers to aid him in the
strike. Mr.. Gompers said: when, during
the Chicago conference, | asked him What
would You have the federation Of labor
/ do? he said, If 1 were in your place
would order the workirgmen Of America
/ to walk out. "
The report of the committee on secre-
/ tary's report was adopted 1t recon-
mended the setting aside of Is per cent.
{ OF the revenue as an assistance fund, and
that a deficit Of S1,271 in that fund be re-
placed from the general fund. A resJu-
: ton against the issuance Of money by
mOnOpolies was introduced by Delegate
nIrfN sff nd yafar
/ The committee on resolutions recon-
/ mended the adoption of resolutions favor
! ing state employment agencies.
The grieN ance committee reported in the
Louisville Central labor union difficulty,
sustaining President Gsmpers in his grant
ing Cf the charter. The protest was from
/ the Louisville trades assembly. which with
drew from the federation two years ago.
! The question was referred to the executive
/ council for final settlement.
The committee on labels and boycotts
/ reported several decisions in support of
I local bOycOtts. Among them are the Arena,
which, il was alleged. was printed by non
/ union printers. Many delegates expressed
! regret at the necessity Of taking action
! against this periodical. which is regarded
/ as very able exponent of labor doctrines,
/ and the matter was finally referred to the
! executive council with instruc ions TO de-
! clare the boycott only after all means of
| bringing the publication into the union had
| failed.
An invitation was received from the
! women's clubs to attend a reception 10 be
/ given at the Albany hotel tomorrow night,
! but upon the announcement that the AL
bany is not union house the invitation
was declined.
Tomorrow's session will probably be one
| of the hveliest of the convention. AT 10
: o'clock the political program is to come
I up. The plank over which the great fight
| is to come is number 10. 1t is as follows:
1.-The collective ownership by the people
Of all means Of production and distribu-
ton"
DENVER, Col, Dec. 14--On the as
| sembling of the convention Of the Ameri-
/ can federation Of labor today President
/ Gompers announced that John Burns had
/ informed him that 1t would be necessary
for his engagements at Cincinnati and
/ Detroit that he have an occasional day
/ Of rest. The matter CT adopting a joint
label for the shoe workers was brought
/ up with majority and minority reports.
As one of three organizations uniting on
/ the label is affiliated with the knights Of
| Labor the matter was deferred till the
committee on conference reports. letter
/ from Governor Waite was read. 1t was
/ Characteristic document touching on the
! action of Presidents Harrison and CleVe-
land in calling out the federal troops for
( the settling of labor and other troubles
/ and urging worlxingmen to unite in pollti-
[ cal action.
At 10 o'clock, the political program
which was submitted DN the last COuNtil-
ton to the various unions to be acted
upon by them and then by the federation,
was taken up. 1t was as follows:
| Whereas, The trade unlonists Of Great
| Britain have, in the light Of eXpedience
and the logic Of progress, adopted the prin-
! ciple of independent labor politics as an
| auxiliary to their economic action, and
| Whereas, Such action has resulted III the
most gratifying success, and
| Whereas, Such independent labor politics
are based upon the following program,
to-wit:
! 1. Compulsory education.
2. Direct legislation.
g. A legal eight-hour work day.
| 4. Sanitary inspection of workshop,
| mine and home
s. Liability Of employers for injury to
! health. body or life.
6. The abolition Of contract system in
| all public work.
| Z. The abolition Of the sweating system.
g. The municipal ownership Of street
| cars and gas and electric plants for public
distribution Of light, heat and power.
9. The naturalization Of telegraphs, tele-
| phones, railroads and mines
10. The ownership by the people of all
| means of production and distribution.
IL. The principle Of referendum in all
| legislation; therefore. be It
Resolved, That the convention hereby
| indorse this political action Of our British
| comrades; and
| Resolved, That this program and basis
| Of a political labor movement be and is
hereby submitted for the consideration of