The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1894-12-22

Denver, Dec. fiat the afternoon
session Of the convention Of the FEEDER
alton Of Labor, on Saturday kilograms
were received from Eugene v. Debs,
asking for financial aid To carry up the
case to the higher court The matter
was referred to the committee for rec
omrnendation.
Charges were preferred against Sam
uel Gompers by the hotel and restau-
rant employees alliance The grounds
for the charges were that the banquet
rendered in New York to John Burns
and David Holmes the English labor
leaders, was held Dec. Z in non-un-
ion hall. The convention, with one
dissenting vote, sustained President
Gompers, as he said there was not a
strictly union hall in the city Of New
York
The vote on the substitute for plank
10, providing for the abolition OF the
monopoly land holding system and
substituting the title by occupancy and
improvement, was 1,2ls aye and 3l5
nay, thus defeating the socialists
A plank fayoring the repeal of the
seamen conspiracy laws and one favor
ing the abolition OF the monopoly privi-
lege Of issuing money and subsatut-
ing the issuance direct 10 the people
were adopted.
The question of moving the head
quarters from New York was carried
by a vote OF 1-274 to $50 President
Gompers protested against the removal
of the headquarters, but without avail
John Burns made farewell address
as he was about to depart for England
The delegates assembled al 8 o'clock
this morning and transacted important
business. After roll call and adopting
the minutes. the question OF locating
the new headquarters was taken up
and all the cities withdrawn excepting
Washington and Indianapolis. The
vote stood: Indianapolis. 1,2cO, and
Washington. 500. President Gonpers
then declared indianapolis the head
quarters of the American Federation.
A resolution that II be the sense of
the convention that the headquarters
be not moved for three years, was
made by John 3. Lennon of New York.
and amended 50 as to make the time
five years by y. i. Hyseu of the Mine
Workers. The whole was referred 70
the committee on laws.
On motion Of Delegate Allen OF the
Painters and Decorators, the conven-
ton proceeded 10 the election of OIL
GERS. President Gompers called W. b.
Prescott of the typographical union 70
the chair.
Delegate Henry J. Eikof of the Metal
Polish Buffers and Platers, placed the
name of Samuel Gompers in nornina-
ton for president, and Delegate Penna
of the United Mine Workers nominated
John Mcbride Of the Nine Workers.
The German tailors and the Iajlors
and Decorators seconded the Donina-
ton OF Samuel Gompers.
Edward L. Daily of the Lasters' Pro
tective union, was nominated, but he
withdrew in favor Of Mr.. Gompers.
The election was quiet and orderly,
but there was considerable suppressed
excitement II was evident that the OPP
position 20 President Gompers was well
organized and knew its strength. The
ballot after Henry Weisrnan Of the
Bakers changed from McCraith 70 Mr..
Gompers stood: Gompers, 937; Nc
Bride, 1.162.
Samuel Gonpers made a motion that
the election Of John Mcbride be made
unanimous, but upon a vote the motion
failed by one dissenting vote.
The other officers elected were: First
vice president, p. J. Mcclure of Phil
adelphia; second vice president, James
Duncan Of Baltimore; third vice presi-
dent, Rhody Kenehan of Denver;
fourth vice president, T. J. Elderdn Of
San Francisco; secretary, a. MoCraith
of Boston. John B. Lennon Of Denver,
was reelected treasurer
President Gompers then took the
floor and said: '.The convention Of the
American Federation of Labor has
elected John Mcbride as its president
n 10 ~I.aN Y
become its president have | felt so
much relieved as when / heard the sec
rotary announce that vote. stood for
a principle and ] did not feel that I
should lay down. / preferred to be
moved down. / have not a thing, nor
word that i have said that | regret
to-day. The only difference Is that I
would put my foot down more empbat-
ically In the cause Of labor. With this
conyentioD's close cease my relations
to you as your president One thing
want 70 say and that Is, had been de
fea1ed in the Chicago convention /
would have gone from that convention
broken-hearted. Now, although turned
down by majority Of your votes,
can 20 out without a stain upon my
reputation for honesty"
He read telegram sent to John
Mcbride and said: II propose to stand
by John Mcbride, and say now to the
men who try to drag down the banner
Of the Federation Of Labor that they
viii find in me better fighter for him
than ! WIS for myself. At the close of
this convention ! hope that all differ
ences will be Laid aside and that we
Will go forth united to build up or
ganization and TO defend labor against
the common enemy. To those who yot-
ed for me wish to say thank you i
appreciate the honor. Those who voted
against me for that position want TO