Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1895-12-14

are many other questions, such as the
big monopolies. They will have to be
met by such body as this"
Father Ducey was then introduced
and said: Il am here because the pope
wants me to be- if some OF you do not.
In 1891 an encyclical was issued by the
pope in regard to labor. and it is my
duty as a minister to be present where
such matters arise. What Mr.. Swinton
has said is perfectly true"
STRUGGLE BEFORE 1T.
During the past year the American
Federati ton of Labor has increased ma
terially both in strength and in in11u-
ence, and at the present time it ranks
among the labor organizations of the
world as second only to the English
Trades Congress, this latter body rep
resenting an aggregate of over 5000, 900
of trade uniOnists, and having a potent
influence in the procuring and shaping
of legislation affecting the industrial
masses. Extraordinary interest at
taches to the present convention from
the fact that the struggle for supremacy
between the conservatives and radicals
will be finally decided, and whichever
party is placed in the saddle will prob
ably remain in supreme control for sew
eral years to come. At the convention
held in Denver last year the great fight
was upon the adoption of a political
platform. The conservatives and social
lists locked horns, and the result was
the adoption of the platform, plank by
plank submitted by the latter, and it's
I 4
submitted as a whole. NOtWithstand-
ing this latter fact, however, the pres
ent administration of the Federation
has kept the rejected platform nailed
to it's masthead throughout the year.
These are its declarations: Compulsory
education; direct legislation, through
the initiative and referendum; a legal
work day of not more than eight hours;
sanitary inspection of workshop, mine
and home; liability Of employers for in
jury to health, body or life; the aboli-
ton Of contract system in all public
work. the abolition of the sweating sys-
tenn; the municipal ownership Of street
cars, water works and gas and electric
plants for public distribution of light,
heat and power; the naturalization or
telegraphs, telephones, railroads and
mines; the abolition of the monopoly
system of land-holding, and substitute
ing therefor a title of occupancy and
use only. Repeal all conspiracy and
penal laws, affecting seamen and other
Workmen, incorporated in the federal
and state laws of the United Statesi
the abolition of the monopoly privilege
of issuing money, and substituting
therefor a system of direct issuance to
and by the people. At the present gath
ering this platform will again come up
for consideration, and once more will
be antagonized by the conservatives,
who are particularly opposed to what is
now famous as "plank TO-" If the plat
form goes through, President Mcbride,
whose success last year was due to the
balance of power held by the socialists,
will be reelected, while should the con-
serVatives and moderates be in the ma
! jority, it is probable that eX-President
Gompers, whom Mcbride defeated, will
again be called to the pilot house of the
organization.
THE PRESIDENCY.
The struggle for the presidency will
be one Of the features Of the convention.