The morning call., 1894-12-15

Lnc logic Oh progress, HuOpIcu LILO piiuClpic VI
independent labor politics as an auxiliary to
their economic action; and whereas such ac
lion has suited IN The most gratifying sue
cess; and whereas, such independent labor
politics is based upon the following pro-
gramme. to wit
1. Compulsory education.
2. Direct legislation.
8. A legal eight. hour working day.
4. Sanitary inspection OF workshops. mines
and homes.
5. Liability of employers for injury to health
G. The abolition of the contract system in all
public works.
Z. The abolition of the sweating system.
8. The municipal ownership OF streetcars and
gas aud electric plants for public distribution
OF light heat and power.
9. The, naturalization Of telegraphs, tele.
phones, railroads and mines.
10. The collective ownership by the people
Of all means OF production and distribution.
IL. The principle OF referendum in all legis-
lation; therefore,
Resolred, That the convention hereby In
dorse this poll ical action of our British COM
rades and.
Resolved. That this programme and basis OF
political labor movement be and is hereby sub.
United for the consideration OF tile labor Or
CARNATIONS of America, with the request that
their delegates TO the next annual convention
OF the American Federation OF Labor be ill.,
structed ON this most important subject
The preamble was stigmatiZed by Mr..
StraZer as a bold misrepresentation. This
brought T. j. Morgan. author of the plat
form, 10 his feet in a very spirited re-
joinder. MIR. StraZer moved that the pre-
amhle be stricken out. 1t was claimed
that the labor unions of England had no
political organization. John f. Tobiu of
the boot and shoe workers stirred up
storm when he asserted that there was
political organization among laboring men.
and that the presidents and secretaries
and other officers of the labor unions used
their positions to secure political election
and appointment. Objections came from
a dozen men. including President Com
pers, Secretary Evans and other fedora
ton officers. Mr.. Tobin remarked that
such show of feeling was all the proof
he wanted that his shot had hit the mark.
He was applauded by T. j. Morgan and
others.
When he had finished President Com
pers took the floor and denounced as a lie
the general charge which included him,
and defied Mr.. Tobin, Mr.. Morgan or any
other delegate to point to vulnerable
place In his career as to honesty. He
charged that it was a cowardly, covert
attack upon organized labor. He was mad
clear through, and his words were very
bitter. Others followed in mider vein,
but the display during the ten minutes &C.
cupied by Tobin and Gompers showed the
nature of the fight on the tapis between
the supporters and the opponents of the
sOcialistic plank.
L. D. Mcguire denied that the action of
the English laboring men politically was
based on the planks given in the political
programme. He read an extract from an
English newspaper which charged John
Burns with acting as decay for the
Liberal party. He denounced the attempt
TO force the federation into a political
party when each member had been as
sureG upon joining his union that its
pledges should not conflict with his polit-
cal views in any particular. He said that
the 1900 labor leaders of Great Britain
who are holding municipal offices are
greatly outnumbered by the American
brethren in similar positions.
At IL o'clock the previous question was
called and the roll-call resulted In the
striking out of the preamble by vote of
1866 to So1. A vote was then taken on the
plank, one without debate and 1t was
adopted. The convention decided to con-
solidate planks 2 and IL making the
plank read: direct legislation through
the referendum" 1t was adopted.
Delegate Strazer offered an additional
plank demanding the repeal OF the objec-
tionable laws regarding seamen. He
wanted it made one of the leading planks
Delegates favoring plank 10 saw in the
motion an attempt to change the number
ing OF the blanks SO as to sidetrack their
favorite. Discussion Of this subject was
unfinished when at 80 recess was
taken.
On the reassem bling of the convention
N. X. Hyseil of the mine-w orkers moved
that committee of three be appointed to
draft resolutions in regard to the decision
of Judge Woods and the Imprisonment of
Debs and others. N. r. ,Hysell. Thomas
j. Morgan and Thomas Tracey were ap-
pointed. Mr.. Strasser aeked permission
to withdraw his amendment TO the 'polit-
cal programme" with the understanding
That It would be reintroduced. 1t was
granted. Plank was taken up and Mr..
Weisman of the Bakers Union moved to
amend 1t to read IAN eight-hour day for
all Government employes-natonal. State
and municipal" This was met by strong
opposition. Delegate Lloyd of Boston
offered an amendment to read. "a legal
working-day sof not more than eight
hours" which was adopted.
Flank was taken up, and an amend
ment offered eliminating the words "and
homes" Ii was claimed that the homes