The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1897-12-17
CONTRACTS TO LABOR
SHOULD NOT BE ENFORCEABLE
By THE Law
Labor Federationists object to the Su-
preme Court Ruling Which Makes
Slaves Of Workmen

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Dec. 16.-When
the American Federation of Labor met
today the committee on resolutions in
troduced a resolution urging the Fed
GRAFTON Of Labor to give its earnest en-
couragement to the proposed legislation
country. The resolution was discussed
by several delegates and finally referred
to the state branches without recon-
incubation. Delegate Elderkin offered
a resolution reclting that as the supreme
court In the decision Of the Arago casN
has held that specific enforcement. Of
contracts to labor is not inhibited by
the constitution of the United States.
he American Federation Of Labor APP
peals to "all lovers Of their kind to watch
for and If possible prevent any legisla-
ton by any state legislature or by con-
gress which shall in any way give force
to the principle laid down in this decis-
ion."
The resolution also urges upon con-
gress ito blot from the present statutes
the provision which now makes this
principle enforceable upon seamen and
fishermen"
One Of the most important reports of
the session was that Of the special COM
mittee on convict labor. It was the
sense OF the committee that the employ
ment OF convict labor should be pri-
MARTY for self-support, and at the far
thest for the making of goods which
should be used In state institutions.
The Southwick bill, which is to be in
PRODUCED before congress, embodies the
idea Of the committee and it is recon-
mended that 1t be sanctioned by the
federation. The adoption Of the COM
mittee's recommendation of the South
wick bill was moved. but it was OBJ
jected to by some that the bill does not
provide that the law shall cover United
states prisoners as well as state pris-
oners, and another reading was called
for. The hour for adjournment having
arrived the second reading was post
poned until the afternoon session.
The negro question occupied the major
portion Of the afternoon, and heated
discussion was brought on by resolu-
ton introduced by Henry Lloyd, reaf-
firming the declarations Of the fedora
ton that all labor, without regard to
color, Is welcomed to its ranks and de-
nouncing as untrue, in fact, the reported
statements Of Booker T. Washington,
that the trade unions were placing OBJ
stacles in the way of the material ad-
vancement Of the negro and appealing
to the records of the federation conven-
tions as complete answers to such false
assertions.
This resolution caused much spirited
discussion.
Delegate Jones of Augusta, Ca, spoke,
claiming that the white laborer could
not compete with the negro labor, though
organization would improve conditions
materially. President Gompers took
part in the discussion, explaining that
the movement was not against the negro
laborer, but against the cheap laborer
He also made the point that the capital
lists would profit by the failure of negro
laborers to organize, thus making the
negro an impeachment to labor move
ments.
c. p. Frahey, Nashville delegate, in
sisted that the negro was not the equal
of the white man socially or industrially.
James O'Connell and p. J. MCGUIRE
spoke on the resolution.
The latter insisted that Booker r.
Washington was attempting to put the
negro before the public as the victim Of
gross injustice and himself as the Moses
Of the race. M. d. Ratchford insisted
that drawing the color line would be an
almost fatal blow to the organization.
Being recognized again, Mr.. Jones
asked whether there should be any
efforts made in the east to organize Chi
nese where they conflict with union
labor Mr.. Gompers ruled that the dis
cussion must cease.
The resolution which had caused the
heated debate was adopted and the dele
gates went into executive session.