The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-19
G0NpERS 1T" AGAIN
ONCE MORE THE PRESIDENT OF
THE AMERICAN FEDERATION
OF LABOR.
SECRETARY TURNED DOWN.
ALL OF THE OTHER GENERAL Of
FICERs RE-ELECTED BY THE
CONVENTION.
FREE SILVER AT SIXTEEN TO oNI
Indorsed by the Toilers as an
Economic and Not RS a Political
Issue.

CINCINNATI, O., Dee. 1S.-There was
a full attendance at the morning ses-
sion of the American Federation of
Labor. President sGompers, after the
unanimous vindieation and indorse-
ment which he received at the execu-
| tive session last might. was in cheerful
spirit. His accuser, Secretary August
McCraith, was at his desk, as usual.
put hls friends were freely expressing
their regret at hts course yesterday in
1nstgating the charges presented by
Delegate Malone. The special order of
the hour was the following resolution
oy Delegate Ashe, of Boston,
Whereas, The written constitution of the
several states constituting the United States,
ana also the constitution of the United States
provide that the supreme court of the United
states and the supreme court of the several
states shall exercise the right of reviewing
legislation, and
Whereas, In the exercise of the rights SO
conferred, the courts of the several states
ana the supreme court Of the United States,
nave repeatedly set aside as null and void
laws duly and formally enacted by the repre-
sentatives of the people, and
whereas, The exercise of such authority by
the aforesaid courts violates the funda-
mental principles Of political organization.
winch claims to be a government of the PEG
pie, by the people, and for the people. and
whereas. No authority contained on paper,
OF exercised by courts can be greater than
the Will OF the people when formally enacted
into law, therefore
Resolved, That we, the delegation of the
american tederation of Labor, in convention
assembled, demand such amendments to the
constitution Of the United States and the con-
stltutlons of the several states thereof. as will
deprive the aforesaid courts of power to set
aside laws duly enacted by the legally chosen
represe natives of the people as we believe
the proper function Of courts to be to ex-
pound and administer law, but not to make II
The discussion was participated in
by most OF the delegates, who reviewed
the Imprisonment of Eugene ". Debs
and other labor leaders, who have been
prosecuted on account of the strikes
There was considerable opposition to
the resolution. The decision on the In
come tax was referred to bitterly. Some
OF the speakers condemned the courts
severely, but most of the speakers held
that the constitutions were against the
laboring classes more than the courts
and favored abolishing all constitr,
tlons, as it was SO difficult to amend
these instruments so as to comply
with the changes of the times
The ,Ashe resolution was defeated.
yeas, 21; nays, A.
The committee on RESOLUTIONS reporf-
ed the silver resolution of B. Weis-
man, OF Brooklyn, without recommends
ations except to state when the pre-
vicus three national conventions Of the
federation voted for free silver. it was
an economic question, and now that il
has become political question. the
committee asked that the issue be not
revived, nor In any manner reconsid-
cred, and that the resolution of MIR.
Welsman be tabled without debate or
without any notion. The Weisman
resolution provided for the recommends
alton of fha f1,.
adopted at the preceding national con-
! ventions
Delegate YarnelI, made a vigorous
speech and tried to offer a substitute.
but was prevented by a motion to Law
/ the whole matter on the table. The mo-
ton to table the silver resolution, the
| report and motions thereon, was de-
feated. Yeas, 81; nays. 81
FREE SILVER INDORSED.
Mr.. Yarnell then offered as a sub
stitute a resolution Peadfirnaing the ac-
tion of the national conventions of 1898,
1884 and 1895, in indorsing the free and
unlimited coinage Of silver at the ratio
of 16 to l. Delegate Lennon offered a
ing the action OF he three previous
conventions on silver, and denying
that in so doing the federation indorse
! or will indorSe any political party that
has or may adopt feer coinage. After
debate by Penna, Askew, Phillips and
| others, with Vice President O'Connell
/ closing the debate, as chairman of the
! committee on resolutions the previous
question was ordered and the vote on
| the Yarnell silver substitute as amend
ed by Mr.. Lennon was carried-yeas,
1885; nays, 302. Recess.
| On assembling, several committees
reported, after which Delegate NJ. Z.
i, Johnson was called to the chair to pre-
| side during the election. The special
erdersfor the elections was postponed to
consider, ad seriatirn, the annual re-
pert Of President Gornpers, which oc-
cupied most Of the afternoon. When