Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-19
FAILS TO GET THE FEDERATION OF
LABOR CONVENTION.
NASHVILLE BY A BIG MAJORITY.
PRESIDENT GOMPERs REELECTED
by ACCLAMATION.
DebsiteS Turned Down After Bitter
FfEbt-The Federation's Old stand
for Free Silver Renfiirmed
by Vote of 1,935
to Boz.


National Federation of Labor made bit
ter fight against the courts and the con-
stitutions of the nation and the states this
morning and tried to array the federation
on the side of the followers of Debs and
the American Railway Union, but, after
lively debate, they were defeated by the
vote of q to a.
The contest was made on a resolution
presented by Delegate Ashe, of Boston,
which severely arraigned the courts, fed
eraI and state for as was charged, over
riding the constitutions of the nation and
states and demanded such amendments TO
the various constitutions as should deprive
the courts of power to set aside laws duly
enacted by the legally chosen represent,
atives Of the people, holding that 1t was
the proper function of courts to eXpound
and administer laws, not make them. The
discussion was participated in by most of
the delegates, who reviewed the imprison=
ment of Eugene V. Debs and other labor
leaders. This decision on the income tax
was referred to bitterly and some of the
speakers condemned the courts severely
and others held that the constitutions were
against the iaboring classes more than the
courts and favored abolishing all consti-
tutions, as it was so difficult TO amend these
instruments properly.
The committee on resolutions reported
the silver resolution of Mr.. Weisman of
Brooklyn, without recommendation except
to state that when the previous three ma
tional conventions of the federation voted
for free silver it was an economic ques-
ton, and now that it had become polit-
ical question the committee asked that the
issue be not revived nor in any manner re-,
| considered. and that the resolution of Mr..
Wesman be tabled without debate or any
motions. The resolution provided for the
recommendation of the resolutions for free
silver adopted at the preceding national
conventions. Delegate Mahon moved not
to concur in the report, and made very
bitter speech, attacking even Delegate John
f Tobin who was presiding. Delegate
Sullivan moved to concur in the report,
and hoped that the controversy would not
again disturb and consume the time of the
convention.
A motion to table the Weisman silver
| resolution the report and motions thereon,
was defeated-yeas, 93l. nays, 1857.
Mr. Yarnell, of Colorado, then offered as
a substitute a resolution reaffirming the
action of the national conventions of 1898,
1894 and 1895, in indorSing the free and un-
| limited coinage of silver at the ratio of 10
| to l. After hot debate this was adopted
| 1885 to 3O2.
When nominations for officers were called
| for the name of Samuel Gompers for pres
| ident was received with cheers. On motion
| of Delegate John Mcbride, the secretary
was directed to cast the entire vote of the
convention, 2,447. for him. President Com
| pers upon being reelected, made an i'm
| pressive speech. --s i-.
| Mcclure, of Philadelphia. was unani-
| mously reelected vice president but de-
| clined, after ten years continuous services
fA oil u limo Tn
| Brotherhood of Carpenters Mr.. McGuire's
! declination was not accepted and was CALI
| ed out of order
| James Duncan, of Baltimore. was re-
| elected second vice president without op-
position james O'Connell, of Chicago
third vice president, and NJ Nj. Garland,
| of Pittsburg, fourth vice president.
Delegate Edward Hitch, of Baltimore.
| presented the name of FrHnk Morrison, of
| Chicago, for secretary, vice August Nc
! Craith Mr.. Morrison received unani-
] nous vote of the convention and responded
with a speech John p. Lennon, of Bloom
| ington Ill., was reelected treasurer with
| out opposition.
Ex-President John Mcbride presented the
| name of eX-Secretary McCraith, of Boston,
for delegate to the British trades congress.
| Delegates ODonnell, Boyce and others sec
onded the nomination. but McCraith de-
cIined absolutely Martin Fox, of Cincin-
| natl president of the lronmolderS' Union.
and George Mcneil, president of the Fed
| eral Union, of Boston, were elected dele
gates.
When the selection of the location for
the next annual convention was announced,
| Harry Lloyd. of Boston, presented the
claims of Nashville and urged that the
feCit ra tion do more for the South.
| Delegate Mahon, of Detroit. presented the
| claims of Kansas City, at which place they
should emphasize the Armour boycott and
organize the street railway employees and
others Delegates Lee Johnson, NJ. NJ.
Garland p. L. Duffy and others seconded
the nomination of Kansas City.
/ Delegate Whitaker. of Utah, presented
the claims of Salt Lake City. P. ]. Nc
Rryde and others secokled the nomina-
Harry White. of New York. presented
the claims of St. Louis, seconded by Dele
| gates kreyling, WeiSman and others.
At p. m, the previous question was Or
| dered for a ballot, which resulted fol-
| lows:
Nashville. 161S: St. Louis. $50: Kansas
City, 1886; Salt Lake City. 2G2.
In the contest Kansas City had been a
favorite till st. Louis and Salt Lake City
We're sprung, but there was a general de-
sire to meet IN the South. so as to inauglI-
rate more perfect and effective trades
union in the Southern states.
| The Armour special committee reported
that the Kansas City and Chicago packing
houses We're owned and operated by the
same parties and that the boycott should
be more vigorously pushed. 1t was recon-
mCrded that no trades union journal be
patrcnzed that accepted advertisements
from the Armours.