The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-19
FEDERATION OF LABOR.
PdR4DOxICIL RESOLUTIONS WE'RE
ADOPTED ~ REGARD 10 LAUs.
The RIGHT of Courts to set Aside Laws De-
nied-Free Coinage eEndorsed-Gom-
pers Re-Elccted President.

CINCINNATI. Dec. 1S.-At the opening
OF this morning session Of the Conven-
ton Of American Federation Of Labor
the following resolution. introduced We'd
nesday by Delegate Ash Of Boston, came
up under special order:
whereas. the written constitutions OF
the Several States constituting the United
states. and also the Constitution Of the
United States. provides that the Supreme
Court Of the United States ana the Su-
prems Courts OF the several states shali
exercise tine rlsht Of reviewing legislation
ana.
whereas. ln the exercise Of rights con-
ferred. the courts of the several states
and also the Supreme Court OF the Unit
el States have repeatedly set aside as
null and void laws duly ana Iofinai'S
enacted by the representatives, OF lHe
people. and,
"Whereas. the exercise Of such au-
th0ritv by the aforesaid courts violates
the fundamental principles OF pohtic'i
orsanization. which claims 10 bee gov
eminent of ihe people, by the people ana
for the people. and.
Whereas. no authority contained on
paper. or exercised by courts can oe
greater tnan the win of the people when
enacted in law, therefore
4 PARADOX.
Resolved. That we. the delegates OF
the American Federation or LABOR ih
convention assembled. demand such
amendments to the Constitution OF the
United states and the constitutions Of
the several States thereof as Will deprive
the aforesaid courts of power 10 set aside
laws duly enacted hy the legally chosen
repres entatiyos Of the people. az We be-
U.s. the proper functions OF the courts
TO oxpound and administer law but not
90 make &c."
The resolution clicife1 much discussion,
fh. urononderance of opinion was that
they would Doe construed as rejecting
unou the courts OF The country. ana e~
rceiallv the Uuitod States supreme Court
and place the Federation OF Labor IN
a position before the public which IL dad
NOT wish to occupy.
Tho vote resulted I'm the defeat Of the
resolutions hv "a vote 0f 80 10 H.
DELEGATE Weisemann offered a resolution
that The former action Of the Federation
fa,orine free coinage Of silver at b 20 l..
be reconsidered and the Resolution Conn
mittcc. through which il was prese nled
TO the convention. recommended that "a
the subject was one on which working
mon Lad become divided. the best inter-
osts 0f the Federation would best be
served hy refusing 90 give it any con-
sllerti0n
The resolution precinItated heated
debate which continued until within Il
/ few minutes 0f tho hour for Adjournment
+ Of she morning session.
Tho subject was disposed Of finally by
/ the adonton-1.9a5 against 5N2-ot n reso-
I luton rcahrmins the stand taken hy
+ the American Fedcmti0n Of Labor at
its three past conventions favorine the
free and unlimited coinage of silver az
tho ratio OF l6 10 I hy the United states
without the consent or approval OF any
other nation. and dis1yowing any inten-
tiol that This action should he construed
as endorsing any political party.
TARIFF.
An effort was made to bring before
tho convention a. resolution favoring a
protective tariff That was Instantly rec
ognized as another subject fruitful OF
controversy and was greeted with a
general "Oh. don't" SO the resolution
was withdrawn
AZ the afternoon session the special
order for the annual session WAS de
ferrcd 10 hear the report of the Com.
mittea Oh Tc-idcnts Report. IL endorse,
AN the recommendations OF President
Gompors The report WAS adopted by
"a unanimous vote OF the convention.
The following officers were then elect
oi. the secretary being instructed u
every case to cast the unanimous vote q
tle convention for The nominee.
President Samuel GOmpers. of New
York: Vicc-Ircsldent. l.. j. Mcclure, o.
Fhfalen a. Second Nlce-President
James Judkin. of Baltimore. Third Vice
President. James % C0nnel. oi Chicago
Fourth Vice-presilout NJ. VI. Garland
OF Pittshurs. Secretary. Frank Morri son
OF Eloominet0n, 3D.. Treasurer. John II
Lennon. Of New York.
TO MEET lN NASHVILLE.
Tie selection OF "a place for holding thl
ncNt annual convention being in order
Delegate Henry Lloyd nominated Nash
vile. Tenn Delegate Howard. o! th
Cotton Mule-spuuers Association, who's
experience as an organizer IN the Sout
enabled him 10 speak from actual know
edge 0f condition. relating 10 that see
tlOn. secondiug the motion, made % pa
thetic appeal 90 the delegates TO eXten'
to the over-worked and unior-paid la
lorers. men women and children, or th
South. the great benefit that would b
derived from holding national conven
tion 10 the American Federation or La
hor among them In order that the
might learn Of the great good resultin.
from organization. Mr. smales. the Nash
vile delegate. extended an invitation froi
the Governor. the Mayor the busines
men. ana one signed boy 500 ladies' Kan
sas City. salt Lake CITY and ST. Lou
were also nominated The vote resulted
Nashville. l6is. Kansas cry, S5j; Sal