The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-16
RATHER THAN HAVE A SPLIT.
Red Flag Plank Rejected by Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor.
when Leader Mcclure Was I'm Rags He
Was . Socialist; Now He Is Pros
porous Trade Unienfst-Debs Says
HE Sentence Is wrong-wfii serve
It at rerrs Haute.

socAalistie plank-was resumed in the
convention OF the American Federation OF
Labor this forenoon. Delegate Liyod. OF
Boston. moved 10 refer the plank to the
subordinate unions. Patrick McBryde
secretary OF the mnewurkers, said he
was willing TO take such action He was
Instructed 10 vote for the plank. bat he
hoped that. IL IL was voted upon. 10 would
be defeated. because he said. "our side
can accept defeat good-naturedly. and
from the displays In this convention /
doubt II the other side can"
Treasurer Lennon supported Lloyd's
motion. on the ground that the vote OF
many unions on the platform was not a
representative one. p. J. Mcclure made
strong argument against referring. He
said the question had made trouble
enough In the unions He was once a
socialist. but had become convinced OF
the folly OF the idea Mr.. Morgan said
Mcclure had reflected upon him. He
said he got his first lessons IN socialism
from Mcclure, when he was organizer
for the socialist labor party. He was in
rags" said Morgan: II was ashamed OF
his personal appearance" Amid cries of
shame" the speaker was called TO order
by the chair, who ruled that the floor was
forfeited. Morgan appealed from the de-
cision, but the chair was sustained.
Delegate Pomeroy made a vigorous
speech against socialism He said the
greatest need OF this day was the aboli-
ton OF that un-American organization,
the A. p. A. He strongly advocated the
single tax theory.
Delegate Daley. OF the Lasters union
announced that. although he was in
structed by his union to vote for the po-
htical programme entirely, the abolition
Of the preamble. he considered released
hinf from the obliga ton. and he would
vote against plank 10
Delegate Patrick Mcbride asked the
question: Considering that national
unions have individual autonomy. can
this convention obligate them to plat
form. against the wishes of their men,
bers?' The chair asked time TO consider
the question.
w. ID. Mahon. OF the Street Railway
employees. stated mat. although he had
been instructed TO vote for the plank,
he should vote against IT, He was a So
ciallst. but had no desire To cram his
ideas down anybody's throat and he OBJ
jected TO having his union torn up for the
Lee NJ. Hart. of the Stage Employees AL
lance. announced that If plank 10 was
adopted his union would withdraw from
the federation.
The president. in answer TO Mr. Nc
Bryde's question. said that resolutions
passed by the federation. though pre-
sumed to be observed by the integral
unions, could not be made obligatory.
Ngr I1xf xr<37fz frt
to re-refer, reviewed trades unionism in
England. He said: When American
workingmen have secured the unity that
exists IN England. they may begin 10 talk
of a cooperative commonwealth lie re-
ferred in detail 10 the cooperative insti-
tutions OF England. He said the introduc-
ton OF plank 10 into the platform of the
trades unions would drive away much OF
their support
Mr. Cohen. OF Denver. spoke in favor Of
the free land amendment, which be said
was the doctrine of philosophic anarchy.
The charges preferred against President
C,ofnpers by the German Walters Union
No J, and the Bartenders Union No -.
OF New York. regarding the use OF a
uon-uniop haIl in New YORK for a dinner
TO John Burns and Holmes on December
7 last. were presented. After hearing the
evidence in the case. the convention. with
one dissenting vote, sustained President
Goulpers. who. in his own defense, re-
viewed the arrahgements for the dinner
10 John Burns and David Holmes Decerfs-
her 7 in which Clarendon hall was used.
He said that upon investigation he found
there was not a hall in New York that
could be secured that employed union
men. ''The whole reason said Mr..
Compers. that these warers In Claren-
don hall are called seceders is because
they refused 70 Join that corrupt organl-
zat!on known as the Knights OF Labor"
The previous question was called upon
the motion TO refer the plank relating 20
the collective ownership OF ali means Of
production and distribution BY the people
TO the affiliated organizations to be again
voted upon II was lost
The proposition Of the government es-
tabllshtng a savings bank in connection
with the post-office department was de-
feated By large majority. and the ques-
ton then REQUIRED upon the substitute for
plank ten. providing for the abolltton of
the hand monopoly ownership and substi-
tuting occupancy and Improvement as
the only guarantee OF title. which was
adopted
plank was adopted favoring the re-
peal o. the seauIen conspiracy laws Dele
gate Morgan offered an a.5tional plank
providing for the private and corporate
ownership of all means Of production and
distribution which was laid Cd the ia
bic. plank was adopted favoTiug the
Issuance % all money direct to the peo-
pie BY the government The question q
adopting the resolutions AMI ins0rsing
the entire political platform was defeated
The result vas considered an over
vrheiuinE defeat 20 the sociahstic ele-
snenf. John Burns was introduced. ard n
a brigs speech bid the delegates of the
convention formal goodby. He gave the
fe1-lrion a word q advice. and urEed
the eliminatio q ali men who we're not
members in actual trades au1 duly ae-
creflrei aesegates lie stated that he In
tended q pat into book Sorm his iEapres-
sIaus os the labor movement "a America.
FEe c-slnuef. The responsi ailltE u TIE
Iatsr 1e-aders In the future IS greater raan
ever eonfronted the .saooT leaders 81 the
ola uor88. The darkest night remember.
always rsrece6es TIE brightest day One
result Of this conyenfssa must bs 70 aD-
r-1srh tne nomination Of men with q 1T
10 more fart IN has been exhlbfeA IN
me pas7.
Ms Eva c. Higgins. CT the wornAas