The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-19
CALL UP BURIED ISSUE.
American Federation Of Labor Dis
eusses Silver.
RESOLUTION PASSED DECLARING
FOR FREE COINAGE.

Another Resolution Declaring Organiza-
Supreme Court Voted Down-President
Gompers Reelected for Another Year,
Cincinnati, Decembe. lS.-At the OPEN
| ing of today's session of the convention
| of the American Federation Of Labor,
resolution was up under a special order
| which says: Whereas, the Supreme
Court of the United States and the SUI
preme courts of the several states In re-
psatedly setting aside laws !. formally
enacted blythe. representative OF the peo-
pie, have violated the fundamental prin-
ciples upon which the government Is
founded. The delegates of the American
Federation of Labor, demand suoh
amendments to the Constitution OF the
| United States and the constitution of
So veraI states as will deprive the Hfore-
said courts Of thespower to set aside
laws so enacted, as the proper function
of the courts is to expound and admin
lister law, not to make it.
The resolution elioited much Discus
sion, the preponderance Of which was
that it would be construed as rejecting
upon the courts of the public, and es-
pecially tho United States Supreme
Court, and place the Federation of Labor
in position before the public which IL
did not wish to occupy. The vote result
ed In the defeat of the resolution By the
vote of to 81.
| Delegate Weissman offered resolution
providing that the former action Of fed
GRAFTON, favoring the free coinage of sill
yer at 18 to /, be considered and resolu-
tions recommending that as the subject
was one on which workingmen had be-
como divided, the best interest of the
Federation would best be served by re-
fusing to give 1t any consideration.
The matter caused lively movement
| of the delegates to secure the floor and
| The free silver oratory filed the hall.
Delegation Yarnell offered substitute
reaffirming the former action Of the Fed
Grafton on the silver. question and again
the opportunity for oratory was freely
made use of, the benefits the working
mel would have from the free coinage
being presented in the same manner 40
ON the stump during the campaign.
Delegate John E. Lennon of the jour
neymen tailors, offered as 3 substitute to
the resolution presentsd by Delegate
Yarnell q resolution reafdrming the stand
taken By the American Federation of
Labor at It's three past conventions, IA
fvofing the free and unlimited coinage of
silver at the ratio Of 16 to by the Unit
ed States without the consent or approval
of any other nation and disavowinR any
intention that this resolution is indora-
ing any political party.
Delegate Gardner of the amalgamated
union of steel workers, introduced q
resolution favoring protective tariff.
Matters were by this time in such tan
gle that the delegates were ohoksd of:
I The previous question was called for, and
| Gompers had considerable difficulty to
keep the delegates in their seats, The
Lennon substitute was carried BY vote
of 1895 to 802.
| At the afternoon session the committee
oa the presidents report made report.
1t endorses all recommendations Of
Gompers. The report was adopted By
saunanimous vote.
rhe following officers were elected:
| President, Samuel Gompers OF New
| York; First Vice. President. P. j. Mo
Guire of Philadelphia; second vice-presi-
dent, James Duncan Of Baltimore; third
vice e-president, James O'Connell Of Chi
cngo: fourth ce-president, N. M. Gar
land of Pittsbure; secretary, Frank Nor
| rlson Of Bloomington, Ills. treasurer,
John d. Lennon OF New York.