Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-12-22
POWER OF COURTS.
Attacked by Resolution in the
American Federation.
IT FAILS OF PASSAGE, HOWEVER.
Declaration for Independent Free Coinage
at 16 to Is Acknowledgements Re-
elected Presidcnt-Next Meeting to
BE Held at Nashville, Tenn.

Cincinnati, Dec. 19.-At the opening
Of Friday mornings session of the
convention of the American Fedora
tion of Labor, the following resolution,
introduced Wednesday by Delegate
Ashe, of Boston, came up under special
order:
Resolved, That we, the delegates of the
American Federation of Labor, in con-
vention assembled, demand such amend
ments to the constitution of the United
States, and the constitutions of the sever
al states thereof, as will deprive the
supreme courts of the United States and of
the several states of power to set aside laws
duly enacted by the legally chosen repre-
sentatives of the people, as we believe the
proper function of courts to be to ex-
pound and administer law. but not TO
make it,
Resolution Defeated.
The resolution ELECTED much dis.
cussion, the preponderance of which
was that it would be construed as
rejecting upon the courts of the coun-
try, and especially the United States
supreme court, and throw The Fedora
ton of Labor in position before the
public which it did not wish to occupy.
The vote resulted in the defeat of the
resolution by vote OF A to 81.
silver Takes a Turn.
Delegate Weisemann offered reso-
luton that the former action
of the federation favoring free
coinage of silver at sixteen to
enc be reconsidered, and the
resolutions committee through which
it was presented to the convention rec
ommend that as the subject was one on
which workingmen had become divided
the best interests Of the federation
would be best served by refusing to give
il any consideration.
The matter caused lively movement
among the delegates to secure the floor,
and free silver oratory of the spread
eagle variety filled the hall. Delegates
Weisenann and Callahan INDUCED in
personalities that for a few minutes
seemed to presage a serious conflict
A motion that the whole matter be laid
on the table was lost by vote of 80 to
9S1. Delegate Yarnell offered substi-
tute reaffirming the former action of
the federation on the silver question,
and again the opportunity for oratory
was freely made use of, the benefits the
workingmen would have from free
coinage being presented in about the
same manner as on the stump during
the campaign.
Lennon Substitute Carried.
Delegate John 3. Lennon, of the
Journeymen Tailors, offered us sub
stitute to the resolutions printed by
Delegate Yarnell, resolution reaffirm-
ing the stand taken by the American
Federation of Labor at it's three past
conventions, favoring the free and I'M
limited coinage of silver at the ratio
OF sixteen to one by the United
States, without the consent or approval
of any other nation, and disavowing
any intention that this action should be
construed rs indorsing any political
party.
Delegate Garland, of the Amalga-
mated Association of Iron and Steel
Workers, offered resolution favoriny
protective tariff, but matters were by
this time in such tangle that cool
headed delegates greeted it with gen.
eral "Oh, don't" from all parts of the
hall, and Mr.. Garland good-naturedly
| withdrew the resolution before it re-
| ceived second. The discussion of free
silver, and the propriety of the conven-
ton making declaration Of any kind
with relation to free and unlimited
coinage of the white metal. continued
with more or less forensic eloquence
until within few minutes of the time
set for adjournment, when debate was
stopped by a motion for the previous
question, which was promptly second
ed. President Gompers had consider
able difficulty keeping delegates in
their seats, as there were still some
who felt disappointed at not having had
a chance to crate. But vigorous rap
ping of the gavel, followed by the
statement that the chair would not
listen to any delegate on any question
other than mode of procedure, finally
resulted in such order as permitted of
roll call on the Lennon substitute,
which carried by vote of 1885 against
302. The convention then adjourned
until $3.50 p. M, when the annual cleo
ticn of officers came up on special or
der.
Officers Chosen.
At the afternoon session the special
order for the annual election was de-
ferred to hear the report of the commit
ice on the Presidents report. 1t in
dorsed all the recommendations of
President Gompers in every instance,
and was Endorsed by unanimous vote
of the conventions. The following Off
GERS were then elected, in every case the
secretary being instructed to cast the
unanimous vote of the convention for
the nominee:
ves plssdea sm p % 3e MsS
Of Philadelphia; second vice president,
James Duncan, of Baltimore; third vice
president. James O'Connell. Of Chicago;
fourth vice president, M. NJ Garland, OF
Pittsburgh, Pa; secretary, Frank Nor,
rison, of Bloomington, ILL.,; treasurer, John
D. Lennon, Of New York.
l. Martin Fov and Gaor<ro