The San Francisco call., 1897-12-17
American Federation on
Legislation for
BARRIERS.
An Appeal From the Decision
of the Supreme Court in
the Arago Case.
Congress Urged by Resolution to
Blot From the Statutes an
Injustice to Seamen,
Special Dispatch to THE CALL

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Dec. 16.-When
the American Federation of Labor met
to-day the committee on resolutions in
troduced a resolution urging the fedora
ton 10 give its earnest encouragement to
the propo>ed legislation on behalf of the
union BARRIERS Of the country. The reso-
luton was discussed by several delegates
and finally referred to the State branches
without recommendation.
Delegate Elderkin offered a resolution
reciting that as the Supreme Court in the
decision OF the Arago case has held that
specific enforcement of contracts to labor
are not inhibited by the constitution of
the United States the American Fedora
tion of Labor appeals to "alI lovers of their
kind to watch for and, If possible, prevent
any legislation by any State Legislature
or by Congress which shall in any way
give force to the principle laid down in
this decision"
The resolution also urges upon Congress
ITO blot from the present statutes the
provisions which now make this principle
enforciole upon seamen and fishermen"
One of the most important reports OF
the session was that of the specia! COM
| mittee on convict labor. 1t was the
sense OF the committee that the employ
ment IF convict labor should be primarily
for self-support and at the furthest for
the making of goods which should be
| used in State institutions.
The Southwick bill, which is to be in
| trodaced before Congress, embodies tn g
| idea of the committee, and it is recon-
mended that it be sanctioned by the fed
GRAFTON.
The adoption of the committees recon-
| mendation of the Southwick bill was
moved, but it was objected to by some
| that the bill does not provide that the law
| shall cover United States prisoners as we'll
as State prisoners, and another reading
was called for. The hour for adjourn
ment having arrived, the second reading
| was postponed until the afternoon session.
Inc negro question occupied the ma jor
| portion OF the afternoon session, anu a
! heated discussion was brought on by a
resolution introduced oy Henry Lloyd re-
| affirming the declarations of the fedora
ton that ali labor without regard to
/ color is welcome ed to its ranks, and de-
nouncing as untrue in fact the reported
statements of Booker T. Washington that
| the trade unions were placing obstacles in
! the way OF the material advancement of
| the negro and appealing to the records of
| the federation conventions as complete
answers to such lse assertions.
1
This resolution caused much spirited
| discussion. Delegate Jones of Augusta,
| Ga, spoke, claiming that the white
! aborer could not compete with the negro
| laborer, though organization would i'm
prove conditions materially.
President Gompers took part in the dis
| cussion, explaining that the movement
| was not against the negro laborer, but
against the cheap laborer and that the
textile workers OF the East had been COM
| PEELED to contribute out of their means to
teach IabOrers In the South the benefits OF
organization. He also made the point
that the capitalists would profit by the
| failure OF negro Iaborers TO organize, thus
making the negro an impediment to labor
movements.
c. P. Frahey, Nashville delegate, in
| sisted that the negro was not the equal of
the white man socially or industrial!y.
He grew warm in speaking OF President
Gompers' remarks regarding the negro in
the labor movement, ami stated that the
| president had not revoked the commits
sion of national organizer who had
patronized a non-union white barber
| shop In preference to a union negro bar
ber-shop. The organizer had simply been
allowed 10 resign, and no publicity had
| been given the matter
James o Connell and P. J. Mcclure
spoke of the resolution. The latter in
sisted that Booker T. Washington was at
tein nptlhB W put the negro DeIore the
| public as the victim of cross injustice and
| himself as the Moses of the race NJ D.
Ratchford insisted that drawing the color
| line would be an almost fatal blow 10 the
organization. Being recognized again,
| Jones asked whether there should be anv
efforts made in the East to organize Chi
nese, where they conflict with union la Dor.
Gompers ruled that the discussion must
cease,
The resolution which had caused the
heated debate was adopted, and the dele.
gates went in "xo@u "" session.