The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-12-15
GOING INTO POLITICS.
The Political Programme stin up the Dele
gates TO the Federation Of Labor
Convention.
LABOR LEADERS GET INTO OFFICE
Debate oyorihe Soeinlis,e ldod Of Collective
Ownership Of Means Of Production
and Distribution.

and Distribution.
Denver. Dec. i4.aOn the assrmbling
Of the convention ~ the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor to-day, tho matter ~
adopting "a joint label for shoe work
W. was brought up by q majority ana
minority report AS one of the thrr"
organizations uniting on labels AMT
ated with HE knights ~ Labor, the
matter vas deferred until the commit
zee on conference reports. A letter
from Gov Waltr was read. II was
y characteristic document touching IN
the administration VI Prcaldcnts llar-
rlson and Clc,elan and the calling out
Of federal troops for settling labor and
other troubles. ana urging workingmcn
to unite IN political action,
At iOo'clock the political programme
which was submitted by the last CON
vention 10 the various unions 10 be-
acted upon by them and then by the
federation, WIS mlSru no, IL was "a
fullows; Whereas, The trade union
lists OF Great Britain have, by the light
of experience and the logic Of progress.
adopted the principle Of Independent
labor politics auxiliary 10 their econ
pmIc action. and.
whereas. Such action has rcsultSl
In most gratifying success, and.
Whereas Such independent labor
La ~
programme. to-wit. uJ Compulsory
education; 90 Direct legislation; go
Legal elght-h0ur working day; C) San
itary inspection az workshops. mines
and homes; 90 Liability of employers
Tor Injury 10 health. body or life; tG
Abolition OF the contract system In all
public works; 90 Abolition of the sweat.
ing system; tsl Municipal ownership ol
street ears. and gas and electric plant,
for the public distribution OF light. hea
and power; 90 Naturalization OF tele
graphs. telephones. railroads ant
mines; 00) Collective ownership by tn,
people OF all means Of production an,
distribution; uD The principle OF ref
erendum In all legislation; therefore b,
| II
Resolved. That The convention here
by indorse this political action OF GU
British comrades; and.
Resolved, That this programme an
basis OF political labor movement b
and Is hereby submitted for the consid
Grafton OF the labor organizations o
America, with the request that thel
delegates to the next annual convention
OF the American Federation of Labo
be instructed on this most importan
subject"
The preamble was stigmallzed by Mr.
| Strazer as bold ton
This brought T. ]. Morgan. author %
| the platform. to his feet In very spir
tied rejoinder StraIer moved that IN,
| preamble be stricken out. lt was claim
ed the labor unions of England had "A,
political organization. John r. Tobin
Of the Boot and Shoe workers. stirre,
| up storm when he asserted that theri
was political organization among lab
oring men and that the presidents an,
secretaries and other officers OF labo
unions use their positions to secure 20
lltical election and appointment. oh
lection came from dozen men, I'm
Guiding President Gompers, Secretarl
| Evans. and other federation officers
| Tobln remarked that such show o
feeling was all the proof he wnnte,
that his shot had hit the mark. II
was applauded by T. j. Morgan an,
others.
When he finished. President Gomper
took the tloor and denounced as u
the general charge. which included him
and de1cd Mr.. Tohin, MIR Morgan q
any other delegate To point out vul
lta.. l.l. "A IA
esty. He charged that Il was COW
ardly covert attack upon organized Ia
Dor. His words were very bitter. oh
ers followed In milder vein, but the dis
play during the ten minutes occupie
by Tobln aud Gompers showed the ma
ture Of the fight on tapis between tn
supporters and opponents Of the social
istic plank.
| y j. Muguirc denied that the uctioI
OF the English lahorlug men politicall
was based on the planka given In tn
political programme. He read an eN
tract from an English newspaper, whic
charged John Burns with acting AS
decOy for the liberal party. He de
uuunced the attempt to force the fcdcr
alton Into political party when yaC
member had been assured upon joinln
his union that its pledges should no
conflict with his political views In an
particulN. lie said the 200 labor lead
crs Of Great Britain who are holdin
municipal offices are greatly outnum
berrd by their American brethren d
similar positions
AZ ~ o'clock the previous Questio
WAS called aud the roll call rcsultr
m the striking out of the preamble b
Ia vote of l36J tO sal, Plank ! wa
adopted without debate. The conyeu
lion consolidated planks and N, max
ing the plank reads direct leglslati0
through the referendum" II WA
adopted. n a. llysoll. of the Min
Workers moved that a committee o.
three be- appointed to draft resolution
i'm regard to The decision oC Judg
Woods aud The Imprisonment uf Deb
and others. llysell T, J. Morgan nm
Thomas Tracy were appointed, Plan
= was taken up and Wcismhn, of th
Bakers union moved 60 amend II I
/ read. "Au eight hour day for an gov
lcrnmcnt employees. national state nu
municipal" This WIS met by strun
lopposltIou. Delegate Lloyd OF HostOt
offered an amendment to read. "A ],
gui working day of not more than eigh
hours" which Was adopted. Flank NJ
4 was taken up and adopted Plank
was adopted without dusCusslou, a
were also Nos aud e. Plank = wa
lAmoudrd 10 include water works, an
ladoptud Plank . WIS adopted withOu
discussion.
When famous plank ten cam" NJ
few minutes before I o'riuck The tur
Ipf-war was reached Strlzor, ~ Nr'
Jersey, stated that he proposed To- max
th- author Of that plank declare HIN
self He offered as nn amendment th
addition ut the words, by means o
cuuuscutiuu without compensation.
| r. J Morgan author Of the plank. nee