The Helena independent., 1894-12-14

FREE SILVER COINAGE ENDORSED.
May !, 1896, Is Set for the General Estab.
shment Of tho EIght.Hour
Work Day.

Ai'h iHhHhHNNu bg EuWhTu L. Bhlg, OF
Boston. asking congress to pass "A law
making II an offense punishable by fine
and imprisonment for any employee 10
employ. during n strike OF lockout OF
his employees aliens who have resided in
the United States less than one year,
or who have not expressed their inten-
lions OF becoming American citizens.
A substitute was adopted that the reso-
luton be referred TO the incoming ex-
ecutiye council. with instructions to
secure legal advice regarding the CON
stitutionallty OF the law, II passed
The resolutions committee recon-
mended the adoption Of a resolution. In
dorsed by the Typographical union,
against land monopoly. The report was
adoSted.
A resolution asking the secretary OF
war TO have the fish traps removed from
the Columbia river, according to exist
Ing law. was adopted. The committee
on resolutions recommended the adop-
tion of Delegate Lloyd's resolution in
favor OF the free coinage OF silver.
Treasurer Lennon objected TO the pre-
amble, because he said 1t assumed that
all the trouble OF this country was due
to the decentralization OF silver, and
moved TO strike out all except the bare
declaration for the re-enactment OF the
coinage law. Lemons amendment was
agreed TO, after which the resolution
was adopted.
The committee on the presidents re-
port submitted its report. 1t warmly
indorsed the action of the president In
the A. Il. U. strike, and his recommen-
dations. IL was recommended that May
!, 1896, be fixed for the general estab-
llshment OF the eight-hour day. The
proposed compulsory arbitration law
was vigorously opposed. Delegate Pen
ma moved 20 strike out that part of the
report fayoring semi-annual confer
enoes with the Knights OF Labor. and
made a strong speech condemnatory OF
that order. Consideration of that part
OF the matter was deferred until after
the report OF the committee on confer
ence. With this exception the report
was adopted. President Gompers read
a dispatch from Chicago containing an
alleged interview with e. V. Debs, in
which he denied having asked Gompers
to aid him I'm the strike. Gompers ex-
planned that he had never stated such
a thing. Said he. when, during the
Chicago conference, asked him what
would you have the Federation Of
Labor to do?' he said. III l were In
your place ] would order the working
men OF America To walk out
A resolution against the issuance OF
money by monopolies was introduced
by Delegate McGraith and referred.
| Tho pAnlmit resolutions
mended the adoption of resolutions fav-
oring state employment agencies and
indorsing the Mcclure bill for the re-
lief OF seamen. Delegate Furmseth said
| American seamen were subject 10 a
worse system OF involuntary slavery
than is known elsewhere on earth. The
matter was referred 10 a special COM
mittee consisting OF John Nugent. w.
ID. Malone and Mrs. T. ]. Morgan, with
instructions to formulate plan to ac-
compllsh the result desired.
Al the afternoon session OF the con-
vention the grievance committee re-
ported on the grievance OF the theatrl-
cal employees against the Theatrical
Protective association of New York
recommending that the federation aid
In the organization OF the branch OF
the National alliance in opposition ia
the Theatrical Protective association.
The report was adopted. The commit
tee also reported on a disagreement
between local brewers union, No. is. OF
Chicago. and the national organization.
sustaining the national body and rec
ommendIng that the back dues Of the
local union be paid I'm installments.
Thomas j. Morgan offered an amend
ment that the matter be referred Ia
the executive council MIR. Croke moved
a substitute saying that the federation
has no Jurisdiction. The substitute was
lost and the amendment adopted.
Hon /. N. Stevens, of Denver deliv-
cred short address on Recent judi
cial decisions and their effect upon the
development OF labor organizations. -
He confined his remarks mostly to the
action OF federal courts In cases of rail-
roads In the hands Of receivers. He
said that ont OF thirty decisions he had
examined no two were at all alike. even
on questions very similar The decision
of Justice Harlan. In reversing the de-
cison " Judge Jenkins IN the North
ern Pacific railway cases. was the fair
est. lie said the system OF rccelvershlps
was based upon no law, but upon n Gus
tom arising In courts OF equity and had
long ago far exceeded the original In
tentlon lie advised the federation tC
direct n efforts In securing nationn
land state legislation defining the rights
and duties of corporations and of re-
ceiyors Of bankrupt companies.
The committee on labels and boycott,
reported several decisions In support ol
local boycotts. Among them was thC
Arena, which, II was alleged ls printed
by nou~union printers. Many dele
gates expressed regret at the necessity
Of taking action against this periodical
which ~ regarded as "A very able expo
lnont Of labor doctrines, ana the matter
wns finally referred 10 the exccutlv,
council with instructions To declare d
boycott only after all means OF bringing
the publication Into the union h0t
failed.
An invitation was received from th,
Women'a club to attend reception
tu be- given al the Albany hotel to-mor
row night. but upon the announcement
that the Albany In not n union house
the invitation wns declined Tomorrow
morning at 10 O'Clock the political pro
grummc ~ 90 come mp. The plank over
which the great fight IL 10 come IN al
follows collective ownership by IN,
lpcoplc of all means OF production an,
Idistrihutiou." THIS ls supported by IN,
soclallptlr members. and they claim thn
on u canVnHs made last night, they hay,
La majority ~ 200 votes. IL w pruhnhl,
that thc opponents of the socialist,
idea Will, In the event that they Nm,
themselves outnumbrred. try to sccur,
the adoption NJ substitute OF less rad
lcul nature.
n is believed that the discussion %
this uuration. and the vote upon It
will have "a strong bearing upon th'
election of president Gompera Ma
gulrc Prescott ana others who hav'