Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-11
AFTER BIG GAME.
Federation Asked to Tackle the
Administration.
INSIST oH EIGHT HOURS OF WORK

For the Employees Of the Treasury Depart
lnent, and Prepare Charges Against the
Secretary of the Treasury-Attempt to
Open the Convention to Socialist Dele
gates Sat Down Experimentation in Fa-
vor Of Keeping Contracts Inviolalyle.
New YoIK. Dec 11.-At the session Of
the American Federation Of Labor Presi-
dent Mcbride was exonerated OF the
charges that during a strike in Pennsyl.
vania he had accepted a bribe. 1t became
evident early in the day that any attempt
ON the part OF the socialists to run the
convention would be nipped in the bud.
In fact the other delegates claim that any
interference whatever on the part of the
socialists would be promptly ''squelched."
Secretary McCrach read the report of the
executive council, which hears various
grievances. The report relates to the boy
colts Of the past year and the manner in
which they were settled. Action on the re-
port was deferred until it was printed.
Stands Up for Keeping Contracts.
A letter of credentials was given to Miss
Eva Walsh, Of st. Paul, who is on her way
to Europe to investigate the labor ques-
ton there. A part of the report of the ex-
ccutive council, which is likely to cause a
breeze in the convention, refers to the re-
quest Of the Trades and Labor Assembly
OF st. Louis that the charter of the Musi-
clans Mutual Benefit association No. 5,579
be revoked because the latter organization
refused to strike to support the Theatrical
Stage Employees. The council refused to
revoke the charter, and presents these reso-
buttons for adoption in its report: 'That
no central body or state federation affili-
ated with the A. +. of L. shall have the
right to expei or suspend delegates of any
local or national union for refusing to
violate n contract existing with the cm-
ployers."
Charges Against Secretary Carlisle.
Among the resolutions handed up for
action by tho committee on resolutions
was one presented by the Pattern Makers
National league, reciting that there arc
laws restricting the employment of labor.
ers and mechanics on government work
to not more than eight hours per day, and
that it is positively known that the Off
Gals of the treasury department not only
do not enforce the law but openly violate
it, and that the officials tend to pervert
the efforts of the trades and labor organi-
cations to shorten the work day. Then it
is resolved that the executive council of
the A. f. of l.. is hereby directed to pre-
pare charges under general order No 39S
of the navy department., issued Aug. 6,
1889, to the president Of the United States
against the secretary of the treasury, who,
being cognizant of such violation, has
failed to have said law covering the eight
hour work day properly complied with"
Gives the President q Hint Also
The resolutions further declare chat
the delegates to the convention believe
it to be of paramount importance that the
head of the government must see to the
strict enforcement of the eight-hour law,
and we hold him to a strict accountable
ity." Delegate Kcnney, of Omaha, intro
duced n resolution in favor of the free
coinage of silver Mt q ratio of 16 to /, with
out comforting with ''any other nation on
earth" The committee on resolutions re-
ported in favor of the resolutions limit
ing the hours of labor Of the journeymen
horscshoers to nine hours, and the report
was sent to the committee on shorter
hours notwithstanding the horseshoers
served notice that they would force the
fight regardless Of what the convention
did.
Where Socialism Was Squelched.
Socialism came into the discussion when
the protests of st. Louis iron moulders
against the seating of Joseph Ferris car,e
up. He claimed to come from Springfield,
Ills, and the committee on credentials re-
ported against him. A motion was made
to reject the committees report, but it
was learned that if Ferris was admitted
motions would be made to seat many who
had been denied admission because they
were socialists. The amendment to reject
the report of the committee on credentials
rejecting Ferris was then voted down.
and motion was carried confirming the
report Of the committee. The convention
then adjourned.