Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-10-18


pectfully submitted to the candid consid-
GRAFTON of ALL The fact that these resolu-
tions were passed long, and in some in
stances years, before This campaign open
ed. adds to their significance.
The American Federation of Labor is
the largest and most powerful labor or
ganization in the world. Enrolled in the
various organizations affiliated in this
grand army of labor are fully l,5oO,OoO
skilled workmen, from every state and
territory in the union. The constitution
of the American Federation of Labor
prohibits the discussion or consideration
of any political issue. The unanimous
passage by three great national conVen-
lions of the resolutions which follow have
therefore a marked significance. Their
action has but one meaning.
With the organized workmen of Ameri-
ca the restoration of silver to It's constitu-
tional use as money is not political Is.
sue. 1t is the unanimous declaration OF
their adherence to an economic truth. 1t
is their official protest against a con
spiracy of which they are conspicuous
victims.
1t is but the plain statement of fact
to assert that if the American Federation
of Labor were to meet in national con-
vention tomorrow it would again affirm
the truths SO grandly expressed in the
following official tons from three
national conventions of the American
Federation:
Resolutions Adopted at Chicago in 1893.
Preambles and resolutions adopted at
the Chicago convention of the American
Federation of Labor, December, 1893:
Whereas, Certain legislation known as
"The Repeal of the Sherman Bill" has
recently been passed by the federal gov
eminent; and
Whereas This legislation has failed to
improve the financial or commercial con-
dtion of the country, but, on the con-
trary, has intensified the distress that
has recently prevailed in all of the indus
tries throughout the United States; ana,
Whereas The resolutions adopted at
the silver convention held in Chicago on
August / and 2, 1898, voice the sentiments
of the masses of the people of this coun-
try; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That we heartily indorse
said resolutions and recommend to the
members of congress and the United
States senate, that they pass free coin
age silver bill a the ratio of sixteen
ounces of silver to one ounce or gold, as
one of the means of relieving the present
monetary strngency, and of return TO
national prosperity Be it further
Resolved, That the secretary or the
American Fedora ton of Labor be in
structed to Immediately forward to the
United States senate and house or repre-
sentatives a copy of these resolutions.
Resolutions Adopted at Denver in.l 894.
The following resolutions were adopted
at the convention of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor held at Denver Col, De-
cember, 1894:
Resolved, That it is the deliberate
Judgment of the American Federation in
delegate convention assembled, that con-
gress should re-enact the law of 1873
which provided for the free and unlimited
coinage of both silver and gold at the
rate of 16 to /, thus restoring the Amerl-
can law of coinage a.Nit was until 1873,
when silver was demonetized without de-
bate and without the knowledge OF the
American people, and that this should be
done at once without waiting for the
cooperation of any other country IN the
world.
Resolved further, That a copy of the
above and foregoing, under the seal or
the federation, be sent by the president
of the federation to the president OF the
United States and to the vice president
of the United States, and to the speaker
of the house of congress, to Secretary
Carlisle, to the chairman OF the hnanee
committee of the house and to each men,
Der of the house and senate.
Resolutions Adopted at New York in 1898.
The following resolution was adopted
at the New York convention of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor, held Decem-
Der, 1896:
Resolved, That we reaffirm the position
taken by the federation convention held
at Denver; that IS, we favor the free ana
unlimited coinage of silver at the rate OF
16 to /, and that copy of these resolu-
tons, printed in the report of 1894, page
20, be forwarded to the president and the
chairman of the committee of finance of
both houses of congress.
Samuel Gompers' Letter Favoring Free
Silver.
The following letter. written by Mr..
Samuel Gompers, president of the Amer
lean Fedora ton of Labor, in 1893, is or
special significance, and is commended
to the attention of all. In the light of the
history of the past few years, when the
fo1 of ana
sold bonds in order to maintain the gold
reserve, his predictions are indeed pro
phetic.
The letter is as follows:
American Federation of Labor,
IA Clinton Place,
New York Aug. 49, 1898.
Mr.. f. b. Thurber. Care Thurber, Wyland
81 Co., West Broadway and Reade
Street, New York City
MY Dear Sir: | have the honor to ac-
knowledge receipt of your favor of the
18th, and have perused its contents with
much interest.
You say that can render real service
to the laboring men of our country by
declaring strongly in favor of the repeal
of the purchasing clause of the sherman
silver act, and l assure you that it causes
me no little regret that in this instance |
am compelled to express dissent from
this sentiment which you state IN your
letter.
The Sherman law was not passed in the
interest of silver nor in the interest of the
laboring people of the country. 1t was
enacted (as the author himself declared)
to prevent a free coinage bill from pass
ing congress. With. one so fully equipped
TO discuss the question of finance as you
are, feel almost abashed to adduce any
arguments in contravention of any opin-
ION expressed by you, but even at the
risk of appearing presumptuous l ask
YOU to consider the following few facts:
silver was practically demonetized in
1873. and was again made an important
part of our system of currency in 1878
The last great PANIC commenced in 1873.
Immediately after the demonetization of
silver; the panic was practically ended in
1879. the spring after resumption of
silver currency The panic has again re-
occurred this year, when we are again
threatened with the Reconsideration of
silver.
To issue a currency based upon gold
alone would imply that the government
must at AL times keep in its treasury
such a supply of that metal as would be
sufficient to redeem any and all of its GER
tificates, or else these certificates be dis
honored.