Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1895-12-21
THE VOTE WAS A CLOSE ONE
The Socialist Faction Was Turned Down
on Every Point Brought Before
the Convention.

sending fraternal delegates to the In
ternational congress Of socialist work.
ers at London August next was taken
up today by the American Federation
of Labor. A motion to lay on the table
carried by vote IF So to 10.
That part Of the presidents report
which has been construed as recon-
mending separate political action by
wage workers was taken up.
Delegate Barnes of Philadelphia said
that the time had come Mhen some
other means than strikes must be en-
ployed for the working classes. The So
cialistic party. he said. is growing and
would continue to.
Delegate Gompers objected to the re-
port. He said he was surprised to hear
the socialistic delegates speak as they
had on the floor of the convention Of
the federation.
Treasurer John B. Lennon also object
ed to that part Of the report which
reads: "While drudging under the wage
system to the polls" He said he was
not under the drudgery rule and no
other honest man was.
Delegate Pomeroy offered a substi-
tute for the report Of the committee
declaring that the failure Of the Denver
convention to adopt II planks as po-
litical platform made it patent that the
federation had no platform which can
be called political. The substitute
elected spirited debate and was adopt
ed, 1857 to 214.
Immediately after the afternoon ses-
sion convened Delegate Weissman
moved that the convention go into ex-
10 bn NJ
the grievance committee, because it has
been said that the commit tee before had
kept affairs of Importance to the con-
vention back until after the election
of officers. The motion was carried.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
At 8 o'clock the doors were thrown
open and the question of nomination of
officers was taken up. Vice President
Duncan nominated for the presidency
John Mcbride, the present incumbent.
The nomination was seconded by Dele
gate Brentwood Of the Typographical
Union of Denver.
Delegate Feurachel proposed the
name of Samuel Gompers Of New York
of the International Cigar Makers
Union, and in doing so urged the advis-
ability Of his election.
This nomination was seconded by
Delegate James J. Linahan. The vote
was: Gompers 1041, Mcbride 1923. Every
socialist delegate voted for Mcbride.
Mr.. Gompers, on being introduced, said:
There is no position on earth that l
hold with as much sacredness, rever>
ence and high honor as I do that Of the
president of the American Federation
of Labor. 1 can plainly see the duty
that confronts me. If my past has
shown to you that your confidence Is
due, all can say is that will do all In
my power to keep up the past record.
am a trade unionist, and as such l
will stand or fall for that principle, and
I will try to prove worthy Of the conf
dence you have placed in me-
The retiring president, Mr.. Mcbride,
on being introduced, complimented Mr..
Gompers He pledged mis- support to
the federation, but added that never
again would he accept an official posi-
ton within the ranks of organized Ia
Dor.
Peter J. Mcclure Of Philadelphia, OF
the Brotherhood Of Carpenters ana
Joiners, was the unanimous choice OF
the convention for first vice president
and he was declared elected.
There were two nominations for sec
ond vice president Delegate O'Connell
renominated the present incumbent,
James Duncan of the Granite Cutters
National Union. Delegate Weissman
named c. E. Richers of the United car
ment Workers. The vote resulted IN IA
vor of Duncan by majority OF 62i.
James O'Connell of the 1nternationai