Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-12-16
FOR CAUCUS REFORM.
Ralph M. Easley Issues a Call for a
National Conference.
American Federation Convenes at Nash
vllle-Lnbor League to Fight Paxon-
Chicago Has IA Vigilance Commit
tee to Aid Police.

New YORK, Dec. 13.-The following
acall was given out last night by Ralph
M. Easley, secretary of the Civic Fed
GRAFTON of Chicago, who has been act
ing for large number of reform and
aquasi-political organizations the past
three weeks:
A conference, to bring together men with
practical ideas from all the large cities. espe-
cally from states where substantial progress
has been made in caucus reform The pro-
gramme will include speeches by men OF na-
tional reputation in both political parties, rs
well us reports from practical men Us to the
working OF various laws now governing pri-
mary election caucuses Considerable atten-
rtion will be given to the question, How to Get
Voters Out to the Primaries" after fair laws
are secured. Believing that our caucus or pri-
mary election customs and laws lie mt the very
root and source OF our entire elective franchise
system and that the misrule Of our larger cities
Is due in large measure to the defects In such
practices and customs it therefore follows
that to purify this system is to take
long step in the direction of hon
esty, economy and efficiency in every
branch OF the public service, and
further believing that the enactment Of laws to
prevent corrupt caucus practices and throw
the safeguards Of regular election around the
scaucus or primary will encourage many good
,citiZens TO take part therein, we, for the pur-
pose OF discussing and discovering, as far as
possible, the precise defects in the various sys-
items which now obtain and their remedy, and
to take such action as may seem wise in the
premises, do hereby join In calling conference
of persons interested in said questions to con-
vene in the city Of New York on the 18th and
18th days Of January 1893 We deem 1t desir-
able that the conference be made up of men
from all parts Of the country, and without re-
gard to party or fractional Affiliations
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Dec. IS. Nearly
all the delegates to the convention of
the American Federation of Labor
have arrived. The attendance is not
expected to be exceedingly large, but
there will be a full representation.
The examination of credentials of del
,egates was very nearly completed yes
terday and the report will be ready
when the convention meets. All the
members of the executive council have
arrived. The federation met in the
hall of the house of representatives.
this morning. The first order of bust
ness was the address of welcome by
William Aimison, of the Nashville
Typographical union. The response
was made by President Gompers and
the business of hearing reports was
then begun. That of the committee on
credentials was taken up first and after
it was disposed of the presidents re-
port, the treasurers and secretary's |
were read. 1t is expected definite ac-
ton will be taken in reference to the
Institution of postal savings banks by
the general government. Ed Hrsch,
delegate of the International Typo
graphical union; Audray j. Carey, of |
Massachusetts, and Willard Lloyd, del
'egate from the Illinois federation, will |
push this matter and obtain, if posi- |
bile, the Endorsement of the federation.
NATIONAL BOARD OF TRADE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-The national |
board of trade, which numbers among |
its members the principal boards of |
trade and kindred commercial bodies |
sof the country, met here to-day to or
iganize for it's regular session, which |
"opens tomorrow. A number of impor-
tant matters will be brought up for
consideration. The Chicago board of
trade will advocate law to govern
the sale and manufacture of mixed
flour, measure somewhat similar in
scope to the regulations governing the
sale of oleomargarine and filled cheese.
The Boston chamber of commerce, it
is understood, will advocate a new
pooling BILL while the work of the
monetary commission probably will
receive Endorsement.
LABOR LEAGUE AGAINST PAxsoN.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 13.-The United
Labor league, at a meeting yesterday
afternoon, passed a resolution author
izing the officers of the league to send
a protest to President Mckinley against
the appointment of eX-Chief Justice
PaXson as a member of the interstate
commerce commission. The grounds
for the protest grew out of an opinion
rendered by Mr.. PaXson, when he was
chief justice of the supreme court of
this state, in relation to the Homestead
strike. The protest will state that Mr..
PaXsons appointment will be an insult,
not alone to organized labor in this city
y
and state, but to every workingman in
the United States.
A VIGILANCE COMMITTEE IN CHICAGO.
CHICAGO, Dec. 13.-Because of the
large number of holdups and highway
robberies that has taken place within
the last three weeks, the citizens of
the west side have organized a vigil
lance committee to assist the police.
The chief plank in the platform of the
new organization is that, when posi-
BILE, every footpad shall be killed as
soon as he reveals himself, unless he
happens to have the drop on the mem
Der of the vigilance committee. In
such case, arbitration is advocated.
The committee numbers about 400
men.
Embezzled S26, 900 In Nebraska.