The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1895-12-19
Federation Has Trades Unionist
at Its Head.
The Socialist Faction Was Turned Down
on Every Point Brought Before
the Convention.

eSA ia tiOiidl COHB TESS Ol SOCidli6l WoIk-
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 Of 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 when some
other means than strikes must be em-
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
,ther 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 12 panks as po-
litlcal platform made 1t 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 20 into ex-
ecutive session to hear the report OF
| the grievance committee, because 1t has
been said that the committee before had
I rept- affairs of Importance to the con-
vention back until after the. election
Of officers. The motion was carried
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
| At 3 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 Bramwood 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 1
hold with as much sacredness rever-
ence and high honor as do that of the
| president of the American Federation
Of Labor. l 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 1
am a trade unionist. and as such I
Will stand or fall for that principle, and
| 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 his support to
the federation, but added that never
again would he accept an official POSI-
ton within the ranks of organized la
bor
Peter j. Mcclure of Philadelphia, of
the Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners. was the unanimous choice OF
the convention for first vice president
and he was declared elected.
There were two nominations -f0<-vec-
ond vice president Delegate O'Connell
| renomnated the present Incumbent.
James Duncan of the Granite Cutters
National Union. Delegate Weissman
named c. E. Richers of the United Gar
ment Workers. The vote resulted in ia
vor of Duncan by majority Of 627
James O'Connell of the International
Machinists Union was elected third
| vice president.
| John b. Lehman, of the 1ourneymen tail.
ors' union was unanimously elected treas
urer. August McGraith, of the typo.
graphical union, was unanimously re-
elected to the office Of secretary. James
Buchanan, a labor writer, was then in
troduced, and made an interesting ad
dress.
ECONOMICAL ORDER.
According to the report of the treasurer
John b. Lennon, of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor, and which was submitted
, to and approved by the committee on au
dit today that organization Is one of tn
most economically managed of its kin,
in the world. The statement shows tina
the total expenditures for the year wer
, a fraction under $4,000. of which neari
third was for supplies that brough
back dollar for dollar to the treasury
The largest disbursements were for ex
penses of Samuel Gompers. and 7. b. Nc
CURE as iraternal delegates to the Brit
n | ish trade congress. at Cardiff, Wales
Y | $500; expenses of committee sent to Wash
i ngton to promote the passage of seamen'
: bills, $673; contributed to fund for the de
s fense of Eugene v. Debs $3.50; to defens
O fund of Tazewell. ILL.,. miners, 800: cor
tributed to secure pardon of Dempsey an
Beatty. the Homestead men, $3.50; cost q
T moving headquarters from New YorI
1888; loaned to Metal Polishers' Nations
= Union, $3.50. and to the Bakers Intern1
tional Union $50.
l. The executive committee also expende
C s403.77 for the travelling expenses and 81
a | tertainment of Messrs. John Burns an
VI Holmes, the fraternal delegates from tn
,e British congress. who were in attendant
IS on the Denver convention last year an
l. afterwards made tour of the countr-
v This was about $403 more than the Bri
I ish congress expended on Messrs. Gem,
~ ers and MCGUIRE.