The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-12-26
ooMPERs REELECTED.
Again Honored by the Federation or In
bor-Deciaration for Free Coinage.


convention OF the American Federn-
ton of Labor. the following resolution.
introduced Wednesday by Delegate
Ashe. OF Boston. came up under speciai
order;
''Resoived. That we. the delegates or the
American Federation OF Labor, In con-
vention assembled. demand such amend.
ments TO the constitution OF the United
States, and the constitutions or the sever
al states thereof. as VIII deprive inc
supreme courts OF the United States ana OF
the several states OF power to set ASIDE laws
duly enacted by the legally chosen repre-
sentatives OF the people. as we believe the
proper function OF courts TO be 10 ex-
pound and administer law. but not 20
make H."
The resolution ELECTED much dis
cussion. the preponderance of which
was that IL would be construed as
rejecting upon the courts Of the coun-
try, and especially the United States
supreme court, and throw The Fedora
ton of Labor in position before tho
public whkh IL did not wish to occupy.
The vote resulted in the defeat of tho
resolution by a vote of "A To 2l.
Delegate Weisemann offered a reso-
luton that the former action OF the fed
Grafton favoring free coinage OF silverat
sixteen TO one be reconsidered, and the
resolutions committee through which
it was presented 10 the convention rec
ommend that as the subject was one on
which workingmen had become divided
the best interests of the federation
would be best served by refusing TO give
IL any consideration.
A motion that the whole matter be laid
on the table was lost by vote OF 80 TO
V31. Delegate Yarnell offered a substi-
tute reafiirming the former action of
the federation on the silver question,
and again the opportunity for oratory
was freely made use of, the benefits the
workingmen would have from free
coinage being presented in about the
same manner as on the stump during
the campaign.
Delegate John b. Lennon. of the
Journeymen Tailors. offered as sub
stitute 10 the resolutions printed by
Delegate Yarnell, a resolution reailirm-
ing the stand taken by the American
Federation OF Labor at It's three past
conventions. favoring the free and un-
I limited coinage OF silver ut the ratio
| o: sixteen 20 one by the United
| States, without the consent or approval
| OF any other nation, and disavowing
! any intention that this action should be-
| construed as indorsing any political
party. The discussion OF free sill
yer, and the propriety OF the conven-
ton making a declaration OF any kind
with relation 10 free and unlimited
coinage OF the white metal, continued
/ .,af, A.,
until within few minutes Of the time
set for adjournment, when debate was
stopped by motion for the previous
question, which was promptly second
cd. The Lennon substitute was car
ried by vote of 1895 against 302.
Atthe Thursday afternoon session the
special order for the annual election was
deferred TO hear the report OF the com
Inittee on the presidents report. Ii in
dorsed all the recommendations of Press
ident Gompers in every instance, and
was indorsed by 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 nominees:
President. samuel Gompers. OF New
| OF Philadelphia; second vice PRESIDENT.
! James Duncan, OF BALTIMORE. thiru wee
| president, James OConnell, OF Chicago;
/ fourth vice president. M. Nj. Garland, of
| Pittsburgh, Pa; secretary, FRANK Nor
rison, OF chicago. ILL.,; treasurer, John ID.
! Lennon. OF Bloomington. Ill.
Nashville, Tenn, was selected as the
location for the next session, the vote
being: Nashville, 1918; Kansas City,
1896; Salt Lake City, 2G2; st. Louis. $50.
IN.
OF the American Federation OF Labor
opened promptly at nine o'clocls Sat-
urday morning. with nearly oil dele
gates present.
The committee on presidents report
recommended that the action OF grant
ing of charter TO the American Fedora
ton of Musicians, which now has a
membership OF nearly 5000. be Endorsed,
and the recommendation was unani-
mously concurred in.
Committee on reorganization recon-
mended that the National Association
OF Electrical Workers be granted
utilization. and cooperation OF the
American Federation OF Labor in the
work OF organization. and the recon-
mendation was concurred IN.
| GcHslueIatlon ol tue report OF tne
special committee on the eight-hour
movement was taken up. the convention
acting on each recommendation sepa-
ratcly, and indorsing ench unanimously
until the one favoring a committee OF
two TO go to Washington was reached.
Mr. Lloyd moved that the two repre-
sentatives TO visit Washington 10 work
| for the eight-hour bill be selected by
the convention instead OF being appoint
eel by the executive council; carried
by the close vote Of yeas, 81: nays, 80.
When the committee on law reported
In favor OF removing the headquarters
from indianapolis there was n long
| fight preciptated. IL required two
thirds vote 10 strike out "lndiapspolis''
from the constitutional provision for
the location Of headquarters. and only
/ N u,uforitV vote Naa necessary to m