The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
GOMPERS LEADS
THE ORGANIZATION
Re- Elected President of the
American Federation
Of Labor.
All Officers Retained Except the
Secretary. Who Gives Way
ior Morrison.
First Vice. President Mcclure Not
Permitted to Decl ne to Further
Serve.


mornings session oil the convention of the
Federation of Labor a resolution was in
troduced by Delegate Ashe of Boston de-
mandlng amendments to the constitution
OF the United States preventing the re-
viewing and setting aside of laws duly
enacted by the representatives. of the
people.
The resolution elected much discussion,
and was defeated by vote of A to 81.
Delegate Lennon of the Journeymen
Tailors offered a substitute resolution
reatfirmlng the stand taken at the past
three conventions favoring the unlimited
coinage of silver a. 16 to l. lemons sub
stitute was carried by vote of 1885;
against 302.
A resolution that the American Fedora
tion OF Labor extend Its moral and finan-
clal support to the Colorado miners was
approved.
Delegate Weisemann offered resolu-
tion that the former action of the fedora
tion favoring free coinage of silver at 16
to 1 be reconsidered, ald that as the work
ing men had become divided on silver the
best interests of the federation would be
served by refusing to give it consideration.
Delegate Varnell offered a substitute, re-
affirming the former action on the silver
question.
AT the afternoon session the spec ial
order for the annual election was deferred
to hear the report of the committee on
the presidents report. It indorsed all the
recommendations of President Gompers
Ill every instance and was Endorsed by a
unanimous vote OF the convention. The
following officers were then elected, in
every case the secretary being instructed to
cast the unanimous vote Of the convention
for the nominee:
President, Samuel Gompers CT New
York; first vice president ?. J. Mcclure
OF Philadelphia; second vice-presid ent,
James Duncan OF Baltimore; third vice.
president, James OConneIl of Chicago;
fourth vice. president, NJ. M. Garland OF
Pittsburg, Pa; secretary, Frank Morrison
of Bloomington, ILL.,; treasurer, John D.
Lennon of New York.
The only change in the list of officers
from those chosen at the last convention
was IN the secretaryship.
In re sponse to an enthusiastic call from
the delegates, President Gompers made a
short address to the convention, thanking
1t for its testimonial Of confidence and
stating that in view of recent circum-
stances, his practically unanimous re-
election was one OF the greatest, if not the
greatest, satisfaction of his life.
Mr.. Mcclure, the first vice-president,
declined to be a candidate, stating that
after ten years of Service, in which time
he had seen the organization develop to a
point where he knew it was out Of all
danger, and in view of the fact that his
own organization demanded all of the
time be had to give to it, he must with
draw in favor of younger men who could
probably serve the federation better than
he could. The delegates refused to enter
tain his declination and unanimously re-
elected him, and when they called on him
for speech, he simply rose TO his feet
and said, II am not satisfied"
Martin Fox and George E. Mcneil were
elected fraternal delegates to the British
Trades Union Congress which is to assem-
Bile at Birmingham, England, on the first
Monday in September, 1897, and John B.
Lennon and Horace M. Eaton chosen as
alternates. The selection of place for
holding the next annual convention being
in order, Nashville, Tenn, Kansas City,
Salt Lake City and st. Louis were nomi-
mated. On rollcail the vote resulted:
Nashville 1918, Kansas City 338. Salt Lake
City 262. 81. Louis 25O.
The committee on the eight-hour move
ment handed in their report which in
structed the executive council to do every-
thing In its power to attain the end aimed
at that the entire constituency of the A.
+. OF l.. strive for the plishment OF
universal eight-hour work day and that
aid would be furnished in sustaining the
contest in this'respect now on in the State
OF UTAH. The report was ordered printed
and will come up for action later.
The special committee report on
the Kansas City Armour Packing Com
pany, including the Armour Company in
Chicago, as they were satisfied the two
concerns were under one head and work
ing together in the fight against organized
labor, will come before the convention at
future time, with all OF the committees
recommendations.
1t was moved that when the convention
adjourn it be to reconvene at 7:30 o'clock.
Delegate Phillips of New York protested
that such action would be bad example
for an organization fighting for an eight
hour workday to set, and his protest met
with such an unanimous outburst of
approval that the motion was withdraw n.
The convention adjourned, 10 meet to-
m m n q a .90 n,