The Portland daily press., 1894-12-14
FEDERATION OF LABOR.
They Consider Weighty Problems at
Their Convention.


Gang of shysters Led by Scurrilous
Knaves That Gould Only Be Reformed
by Killing 1t.
Denver. Col, December l3.-In the action
of the Labor convention today, resolution
opposing land monopoly and making the
occupancy and improvement a test of
ownership wss adopted with out debate.
A silver resolution was considered. 1t has
a long preamble as an argument favoring
the views of free coinage advocates and
demanding the re-enactment of the coin
age law of 1887 upon a ratio of i6 to l. Dele
gate kelley opposed the federation by
placing itself upon record in favor of
double or single standard. Delegate Morgan
said the whole resolution was built upon
false basis. He was opposed to silver as
coin so long as silver mines are in the hands
of private parties Delegate Lloyd of Bos-
ton, made strong speech In favor of the
resolution. He protested against an inter-
national monetary conference. Delegate
Wolfson of Fall River, offered a substitute
| to the effect that the government shall
| assume ownership of the silver deposits of
| the country and then coin it. This was lost.
| The silver resolution was adopted without
| the preamble.
| The committee on the presidents address
reported endorsing the position of the ex-
ecutive council in the Railway Union strike
and recommended several matters for con-
sideration as outlined by the president. 1t
| recommended the fixing of May /, 1896, as
the date for an effort to esta blish an eight
| hour day. Opposition to the committee's IS
report was raised by Delegate Penner, be-
| cause it recommended continuation of
| negotiations with the Knights of Labor for
union. Delegate Penner wanted to have
| nothing to do with what be denominated a
| gang of shysters led by scurrilous knaves.
Such organization, he declared. could only
| be reformed by killing 1t. Action on this re-
| commendation was deferred till the re-
mainder of the report was concurred in.
| The secretary's report was adopted upon
1 the committees resolution. Resolutions
| we're introduced regarding the government
| foreclosure on the Union Pacific and oppos-
| ing the Baltimore plan of financial reform.
| A resolution was introduced to endorse the
| fisherrnen's label; on the eight-hour day; on
| Sunday work and overtime; and to sec ure
| the affiIiation of outside national ordera.
| and recognize the Painters union of New
| York.
| The resolutions committee reported ad-
verseIy on document from Carl Browne,
| the Coxeyite, requesting if Congress shall
adopt the Baltimore plan, that the fedora
| tion order its followers to demand payment
| in gold coin after May l, 1896; and adyeI sely
on ii resolution requesting Congress to en-
pIoy idle labor on public roads; and favor
ably upon one on thesessablishnent of state
employment agencies; favorably upon one
looking to the enactment by Congress of
laws looking to the sanitary and personal
| protection of seamen.
Delegate Furnseth of Chicago. talked of
the injustice practiced upon seamen. He
declared the fugitive slave law is practical
ly kept in operation by the United States
in oppression of the seamen.