The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-16
DENOUNCE PAXSON.
Federation of Labor Delegates Unani-
mously Oppose His Nomination.


Nashville, Tenn. Dec. 16.-When the
American Federation of Labor met yes
terday. te1egraphic Invitations to hold
the next meeting of the federation in
Kansas City, Mo, were received from
officials of that city.
The roll was called for an expression
on laws for the time of labor day and
rate of wages for street labOrerS in diff
ferent cities of the country.
Responses were made by many dele
gates.
Several resolutions were adopted,
among the most important one to send
fraternal delegates to Canada to confer
with labor trades of Canada.
Permission was granted the president
of the Textile Trades union to address
the convention.
A communication was read from the
Atlantic union stating that they are on
a strike and asking that their position
be heard by a representative.
Several delegates spoke on the sub
ject of strikes that are imminent through
out the country advising immediate and
definite action.
The afternoon session was marked by
| many vigorous speeches, especially was
this the case in regard to the protest
offered against the appointment of j.
H. PaxsOn, to be Interstate CONNER
commissioner.
Mr.. Gardozo, a representative of the
French government, investigating the
steel industries in the United States,
was presented and spoke briefly, eX-
planning the purposes of his visit.
The discussion of the appearance of
an advertisement in the Federationist
of Siegel-CoOper & Co, was resumed,
George Warner leading in the fight
against the carrying of the advertise
ment, insisting that it was better to
have the paper refused admission to
the mails than to longer insert the ad-
vertisement. Much discussion followed
in which several members opposed the
violation of a contract, and at last the
matter was referred to the executive
council.
Then came the stir of the afternoon.
when a resolution was taken up, pro-
viding for a protest on the part of the
executive council against the reported
proposed appointment of J. H. Paxson
| to be interstate commerce commission
er.
The resolution charged that Mr.. Pax
| son resigned the high office of chief
justice of the supreme court of Penn
sylvania, by telegraph for the purpose
OF accepting an appointment as recelV-
er of the Philadelphia & Reading rail-
way and assisting in wrecking that COM
pany," that he has always shown an
intense hatred for organized labor and
has ION every occasion when oppor-
tunity presented itself used his official
position to injure the interests of wage
earners as instanced by his action in
descending from the supreme court
| bench for the purpose of acting as
] committing magistrate in the case of
the Homestead strike in order to throw
the weight of his judicial position in the
balance against wage earners."
The protest was referred to the COM
mittee on resolutions. This action was
followed up by P. J. Mcclure in a caus-
tic speech, and amid much applause he
moved that the president of the feder-
alton be instructed to telegraph the
president, of the organizations most vi
olent protest against the runored ap-
pointment of Paxson. This motion was
enthusiastically supported by many
| speakers and was carried unanimously.
A public meeting, well attended was
held last winch president
| Gompers and many others made ad-
| dresses