The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-21
CAGES BILL DENOUNCED
Labor Protests Against Perpetu-
ating the Gold Standard.
,GOMPERs is SUSTAINED
The Federation Approves the Bill for
Postal Savings Banks-The Per Cap
ita Tax Increased and the
Constitution Amended.

:. Nashville Tenn, Dec. 20.-When the
Federation of Labor met to-day reso-
xlution relative to legislation on the pos
tai savings bank system was presented
by the committee on resolutions. The
resolution, which Endorses the bill pend
ling before congress favoring the estab-
lishment of postal savings banks with
a clause relative to national banks
! stricken out, was adopted. a resolu-
fion expressing the approval of ma
xtional legislation for the publication of
sprimary elections was adopted.
At the afternoon session the st. Louis
sconvention and President Gompers' ac-
zion in regard TO 1t continued to be dis
cussed. James o. Connel said he at
shended the convention, though he did
not, in fact, sign the call. He also
rlaimed that men who had been most
active in attempting to disrupt the
movement during the miners strike
were being paid out of funds contrib
ufed by the American Federation or
Labor. In answer to question he said
none of the men he referred to had re-
manned on the scene after the in1unc-
tions were issued. but the organizers
had remained.
Ernest Kreft said if anything threat
ened the Federation at the St. Louis
meeting, it was the presidents duty TO
have gone there and protected the
Federation.
c. ]. Burnett then offered a resolution
approving the reasons given by Presi-
dent Gompers for not attending the st.
Louis convention. which was adopted.
A strong discussion over the COM
mittee resolution indorsng independent
political action and declaring against
hnjunctions was participated in by Nc
CURE the author of the resolutions,
KTeft. Yarnell and Brenneek, and after
defeating an amendment offered by
Kreft, the resolution was adopted.
The resolution in regard to the free
lcoinage of silver at 16 to / was taken
up and a substitute on the Gage bill
was adopted as follows:
Resolved, That we declare ourselves
most positively opposed to the Gage
financial bill. recently introduced in
congress by the secretary of the treas
ury 1t is a measure that, II adopted
as a law. will only .all-the more firmly
rivet the gold standard on the. people
of the country and perpetuate It's dis
astrous efforts In every form.
Resolved, That we pronounce the
Gage bill an undisguised effort to re-
tire our greenback currency and all
government paper money with View
TO the substitution of national bank
notes in their stead and thus fasten the
national bank system for years upon
the American people"
A. resolution calling for the removal
of the Federation headquarters from
Washington was reported unfayorably
and the report adopted.
The fraternal delegates from foreign
countries were given privileges of voice
and vote in conventions. An effort 10
change the time of the annual conven-
hion to the third Monday in September
of each year was defeated. The con-
vention decided to increase the per cap
5ta tax to cents and the change goes
into effect Feb. /. 1898 An amendment
10 the constitution requiring officers
hereafter TO be elected on the last day
of the convention was adopted. The
convention Will complete all business
Tomorrow and adjourn.