Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-19
LABORERS DISCUSS POLITICS
Proposals to Mend or End the Federal and
State Constitutions,
LONG RESOLUTION IS VOTED DOWN
Nashville, Tenn, Chosen by the Dele
gates ns the Place for Next
Congress After n Contest
of the Federation.

attendance at the morning session Of the
American Federation Of Labor.
President Gompers. after the unanimous
vindicatlon and endorsement which he re-
coiycd at the executive session last night,
was in cheerful spirits. His accuser Sec
retary McGraith was at his desk as usual,
but his friends we're freely expressing their
regret at his course yesterday in instigating
the charges presented by Delegate Malone
II was ordered that the selection Of the
place for holding the next annual convention
be made Immediately after the election Of
officers at the afternoon session.
The special order OF the hour was the fol-
lowing resolution by Delegate Ashe Of
Boston;
Whereas, The written constitutions of
the several states constituting the United
States and also the constitution Of the United
States provide that the supreme court OF
the United States and the supreme courts
of the several states shall exercise the
right of reviewing legislation; and
Whereas, In the exercise of the rights
so conferred the courts of the several
states and also the supreme court OF the
United States have repeatedly set aside as
null and void laws duly and formally en-
acted by the representatives of the people;
and
Whereas, The exercise of such author
ity by the aforesaid courts violates the
fundamental principles of a political or
ganization which claims to be government
of the people, by the people, and for the
people; and
whereas, No authority contained on
paper or exercised by courts can be greater
than the will of the people when formally
enacted into law; therefore,
Resolved, That we, the delegates of the
American Federation of Labor, in convention
assembled demand such amendments to the
constitution of the United States and the
constitution of the several states thereof as
will deprive the aforesaid courts of power to
set aside laws duly enacted by the legally
chosen representatives Of the people, as we
believe the proper function of courts to be
to expound and administer law, but not to
make It."
The discussion was participated in by
most Of the delegates. who reviewed the
imprisonment OF Eugene " Debs and other
labor leaders who have been prosecuted on
account of strikes. There was considerable
opposition TO the resolution. The decision
on the income tax was referred to bitterly
Some of the speakers condemned the
courts severity but most of the speakers
held that the constitutions were against the
iaboring classes more than the courts and
favored aboishing all constitutions, as 1t
was difficult to amend these instruments so
as to comply with the changes of times.
The Ashe resolution was defeated; yeas,
81; nays a.
Delegate O'Sullvan raised the point that
the resolution by Delegate Mcclure to raise
the dues had not received the requisite two
thirds vote yesterday.
The walters association presented a me-
mortal requesting that w. C. Pomeroy be
given a hearing before his alternate be
seated. Received and filed.
resolution extending aid and coopera-
tion TO the Colorado miners was adopted
COMPROMISE ON SILVER.
The committee on resolutions reported
the silver resolution of Mr. Weisman of
Brooklyn without recommendation except
to state when the previous three national
conventions of the federation voted for free
silver. 1t was an economic question, and
now that 1t has become a political question,
the committee asked that the issue be not
revived nor in any manner reconsidered and
that the resolution of Mr.. WeiSman be tabled
without debate or any motions. The Weis-
man resolution provided for the recon-
meudatiOn OF the resolutions for free sill
yer adopted at the preceding national con
Yentions.
Delegate Mahon moved to concur in the
report and made very bitter speech attack
ing even Delegate John f. Tobin who was
presiding.
Delegate O'Sulivan moved to concur in
the report and hoped tlat the controversy
would not again disturb and consume the
time of the convention
Delegates Weisman of Brooklyn and Ken
chan of Denver INDUCED in a very personal
controversy on the floor over the silver
question. The personalities were finally
directed by Delegate Kenehan to Chairman
TObn. Delegate Yarnell, made a vigorous
silver speech, and tried to offer substitute
but was prevented by motion to lay the
whole matter on the table.
The motion to table the Weisman silver
resolution, the report and motions thereon
was defeated-yeas, 93l; nays, ,S67
Mr.. Yarnell OF Colorado then offered as
a substitute resolution reafiirming the aC-
tion of the national conventions of 1893,
1894 and 1895 In endorsing the free and
unlimited coinage OF silver at the ratio of
10 to /. ex-Presldent John Mcbride and
Delegate Mahnn and others leading In the
debate for the substitute.
Weisman opposed the resolution because
OF its expression for silver, O'Connell and
others because they wanted no more no
litical issues referred to in the federation.
Delegate Lennon offered substitute for
the substitute reaiiirming the action
OF the three previous conventions
on silver and denying that in
SO doing the federation endorses or will
endorse any political party that has or may
adopt free coinage.
Mr.. Yarnell accepted Mr.. Lemons sub
stitute as an amendment.
Delegate Garland offered resolution en-
dorsing high protective tariff Ruled out
After speeches by Wesman, Woodbury..
Penna, Askew, Phillips aud Others with
Vice President oConnoll closing the debate.
as chairman OF the committee on resolu-
ticns, the previous question was ordered. and
the vote on the Yarncll silver substitute as
amended by Mr.. Lennon, was carried Yeas,
1875; nays. 302.
Recess was then taken.
On roassembling several committees re-
ported after which Delegate NJ, II. Johnson
was called TO the chair to preside during the
election. The special order for the election
vas postponed 10 consider ad seratim the
annual report OF President G0mpcrs, which
occupied most OF the afternoon
The ccmmittce's recommendation for ac-
tiOn under the different sections Of the pres
idents annual report was concurred In,
ami the report adopted as a whole.
when nominations for officers were called
for the name OF Samuel Gompers for pres-
dent was received with cheers. On motion
Of Delegate John Mcbride the secretary was
directed TO cast the entire vote Of tho CON
vCntion, 2,ii7, for him President Gompors
upon being reelected made an impressive
speech
Mcclure OF Philadelphia was unanimously
reelected vice president, but declined, after
ten years continuous service in the order.
in order to devote all his time to the BROTH
EgtEl m