The herald., 1894-12-15
THE FEDERATION OF LABOR
A Lively Time in the Denver
Convention.
The Political Programme Taken Up
for Action.
Plank Ten Caused . Heated Disouaaiou.
Tho soolaiiaiist Delegates in the
Minority-Presid~nt Com
pers Cots Angry.

DENVER, Dec. 14.-On the assembling
OF the convention OF the American Fed.
GRAFTON Of Labor today Mr.. Gompers an.
nounced that John Burns had informed
him that it would be necessary to cancel
his engagements at Cincinnati and De-
troit. as he must have an occasional day
OF rect.
The matter OF adopting joint Label
for the shoe workers was brought up by
a majority and minority report. Az ono
OF The three organizations uniting on the
label is affiliated with the Knights oi
Labor, the matter was deferred until the
committee on conference reports.
A letter from Governor Waite was
read. 1t was q Characteristic document,
touching on the administrations of Pres
idents Harrison and Cleveland. in call
ing out federal troops for the settling oi
labor and other troubles.
At 10 O'Clock the political programme
which was submitted by the last con-
vention TO the various un!ens &c be
acted upon by them, and then by the
federation. was taken up. II was as
follows:
Whereas, The trades unionists OF
Great Britain have, by the light OF ex.
perience and the logic OF progress
adopted the principle Of independent
labor politics as an auxiliary to their
economic action, and,
Whereas, Such action has resulted in
the moat gratifying success, and,
Whereas, Snch Independent la Dor pol.
itics are based upon the following pro.
gramme, to-wit:
First-Compclsory education.
Second-Dirsct legislation.
Third-A legal eight hour working
day.
Fourth-Sanitsry inspection Of work.
shops, mines and homes.
Fiith-Liability OF employers for in
jury 10 health. body or life.
Sixth-The abolition OF the contract
system in all public works.
Seventh-Abolition of the sweating
system.
Eighth-The municipal ownership OF
street care, gas and electric plants for
public distribution OF light, heat and
power.
Ninth-The naturalization of tele.
graphs and telephones, railroads and
mines.
Tenth-The collective ownership by
the people OF sll means OF production
and distribution.
Eleventh-Tb principle OF referendum
in all elections.
Therefore, Resolved, That the con.
vention hereby endorses this political
action OF our British comrades; and
Resolved, That this programme and
basis OF a political labor movement be
and is hereby submitted for the consid-
Grafton Of the labor organizations OF
America, with the request that their
delegates to the next annual convention
OF the American Federation OF Labor
be instructed upon this most important
subject.
Tne preamble was stigmstizsd by Mr..
Strazsr as a bold Misrepresentation
This brought Morgan. author of the
to his feet in very spirited
rejoinder. Mr.. Strazsr moved that the
preamble be stricken out. L. was
claimed that the labor unions of England
had no political organization.
Mr.. Tobin, of the Boot and Shoe
Workers. stirred up a storm when he
asserted that there was a political or.
ganizaton among laboring men, aud
that tho president and secretaries and
other officsrs OF the labor unions used
their positions to secure political cleo
ton and appointment. Objections came
from dozen men, including President
Gompers, Secre ary Evans and other
Federation officers.
Ny. Tobin remarked that such 9 show
of feeling was all the proof ho wanted
that his shot hai hit the mark. He was
applauded by I. j. Morgan and others.
When he had finished, President
Gompers took the floor and denounced
as lie the general charge, which in
cluded him, and defed Mr.. Tobin, Mr..
Morgan or any other delegate to point
to vulnerable place in his career as to
honesty. He charged that it was q
cowardly. covert attack upon organized
labor. He was mad clear through. and
his words were very bitter.
Others followed in mildey vein, but
the display OF feeling during the III min
utes occupied by Tobin and Gompers
showed the nature of the fight on the
tapis between the supporters Gnd the
opponents Of the sociaistic plank.
+. j. Mcclure denied that the action
of the English lsborins men politically
was based ON the planks given in the
tract from an English newspaper which
charged John Burns with acting as O
decoy for the Liberal party. He de-
alton into q political party when each
member had been assured, upon joining
he union, that its politics should not
con fiict with hls political views in any
particular. He said the 1900 labor
- - ;k,i hr N boI
municipal offices are greatly outnum.
bered by their American brethren 10
similar positions.
was called and the roll was called, the
roll-call resulting in the striking out OF
the preamble by vote of 1865 TO 80l.
A vote was then taken on the first
plank without debate. II was adopted.
The convention decided to consolidate
plapks two and eleven. making the
plank read: "Direct legislation through
the referendum" 1t was adopted.
Delegate Strazer offered an additional
plank deman Ling the repeal of the OBJ
jectional laws regarding seamen. He
wanted it made one OF the leading
plRnks.
Delegates favoring plank No. 10 saw
in the motion an attempt to change the
numbering OF the planks, 80 as to side
track their favorite. Discussion OF this
subject was unfinished when at IL 80 q
recess was taken.
On the re-aese mi bling of the convsn-
tion, n. r. Hysell, of the Mine Works
ere, moved that committee OF three be
appointed to draft resolutions in regard
to the decision of Judge Woods and the
imprisonment OF Dsbs and others. N.
u Huaall Thonnaa Mnrnan and