The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-12-19
LABOR LEADERS.
The Federation Votes Down the
AShc Resolution
DEN0UNClNG FEDERAL COURTS
And Calling for n Constitutional Amend
n,ent Dcprivins Them OF Their Power.
President Gompers Feeling Good Over
Ills Grsiths Friends
tteSrtt Ills Cour.e-Flght on the silver
Qucition-itesoiu Comm ittec Op.
posed TO huy Action.

CINCINNATI Ohio. Dec. 1S-ThcrO
was II full attendance at the morning
session OF the American Federation OF
Labor. President Gompcrs, after the
unanimous vindicutlon ana cndorse-
mrnt, which he received nj the exec
ut!yc session last night, was In cheer
ful spirits. Ills aCcrScr, Secretary Aug
MCCrullh, was at his degk as usual,
hut his friends were freely expressing
their regret 4, his course yesterday in
InstISai!nG the charges presented by
Delegate Mahoro.
The special order OF the hour was the
following resolution by Delegate Ashe
OF roston:
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 UnitCd States
and the suprene courts OF the several
states zhnll exGC!sc the right OF re-
viewing 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 re-
pe1;cdly set aside Us null and void laws
duly and formally enacted by the rep
rcgCntat!vcS or the people, and
Whereas the exercise OF Ruch au-
tho7ity by the aforesaid courts violates
the fundamental principles OF pOlit
ical organization which claims to be Il
government OF the people, BY the pco-
pie. and for tho people; and
Whereas, 10 authority contained on
paper. or exercised by courts can be
greater than the will OF the people
when formally enacted Into law; there
fore
Resolved, That we, the delegates OF
the American Federation OF Labor, IN
convention assembled. demand such
amendments 10 the constitution OF the
United States. and the constitutions OF
the several states thereof. as VIII de-
prive the aforesaid courts OF power 20
set inside laws duly enacted by the le-
sally chosen representatives OF the
people us we believe the proper fuIc-
tlon OF courts IS TO eXpound and ad-
minister law, but not 70 make It."
The discussion was partici pated In
by most OF the delegates who review
ed the Imprisonment OF Eugene v.
Debs and other labor leaders who have
been prosecuted on account OF strikes
There was considerable opposition to
the resolution. Th" decision on the In
come tax was referred to bitterly.
Some Of the speakers condemned the
courts severely. but most OF the speak
c:s held thai the constitutions were
against thc-lnbOrinG. ella sses more than
the courts and favored abOlishinG all
constitutions. as Il was go difficult TO
amend these Instruments so as to COM
ply with the changes OF times.
Tho Ashc resolution vas defeated:
yeas 81; nays A.
\ resolution extending MD and CO.
operation 10 the Colorado miners was
adopted.
The committee on resolutions report
cd the silver resolution OF Mr.. Wcis-
man, OF Brooklyn, without -ecommcn-
dat!On. eXCen: TO state when the pre-
vIous three national conventions OF the
Federation voted for free silver Il was
an economic question, and now that It
hnd become political question. the
committee asked that the Issue be not
revived or, n any rIarne" reconsider
ed. and that the resolution OF Nj.
We!sman be tabled without debate.
This brought on n long and some
whnt personal debate on the silver
question. The milton To lay The Wells
man resolution on the table was defeat
ed. The r0SOlations OF previous cou-
vention5 were finally rc-att!rmcd.
OGicrr, Elected.
On raassemblInS several committees
reported, after which delegate ". Il.
Johnson was called 10 the chair to pre-
side during the election, The special or
der for the election was postpuncd. to
consider se,1n,um the annual report of
President Gompcr, which occupied most
all the afternoon.
The committee recommends for action
under the different sections Of the prcsi-
dents annual report, which was concur
red in and the report adopted rs 4 whole.
When nominations for officers were
called for the name OF Samuel Gompcrs
for president. was received with cheers.
on motion Of delegate John Mcbride, the
secretary, was directed TO cast the entire
vote OF the convention. 2iiT. for him.
Prrslden; Gomrcr' upon being re-
elected, made m impressive speech.
Ex-Pres!dent John Mcbride, presented
the name OF cX-Secrctary McCratth, OF
Boston, for delegate 10 the British
Trades Congress. Delegate o'Donncll,
BOyCe. and others seconded the nominn-
t!0n but NcCrIith declined absolutely.
The names Of Harry Lloyd, OF Boston,
president Or the Brotherhood of Carpcn-
tcrs and Jolrters; Martin Fox. OF Gin
clnnati, president OF the Iron M0uldCrS
Union; George T.. NCNGill, president OF
the Federal Union OF Boston, were pre-
scented far delegates to the British Trades
Congress.
Pending the ballot, Mr.. NcNclll with
drew his name. but Mr.. Lloyd would not
consent to stand under the crcum.
stances and insisted on withdrawing H.
favor of McNeill. The rules were suS.
pended and Mcneil and Fox were elect
ed delegates,
Nashville, Tenn, has been selected
rar the next place Of meeting over St
Louis, Kansas City md Salt Lake City.