The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-21
Federation of Labor Closes Its
Eighteenth Convention.
PER CAPITA TAX INCREASE
In View of Work to be Done
ChiId-Laborer Question.

TIT -1-urAANd-44 ENCA ~ 4-aC~- ~ q
practically unanimous vote, az the closing
session OF the eighteenth annual conven-
ton Of that organization. The conyen
ton, which has been in session for eight
days. adjourned sine die at O'Clock De-
troit, Mich, was decided upon as the next
place of meeting. During the election OF
president. W j. O-Brien of New York was
IN the chair. George E. Mcneil Of Bos-
ton placed Mr.. Gompers in nomination
He said he might never again attend
convention OF the Federation and ne want
sd the honor Of naming Mr.. GOmpers for
the place He said:
Mr.. Gompers has been tried and found
true He cannot be corrupted. When We
get a good man in place We should keep
him there
The greatest applause followed Mr. Nc
NeilTs remarks
John Kirby of Ouray, Colo. said the
miners OF the west were looking more 10
Mr.. Gompers 10 aid them in their strug-
giles than any one else-
There were no other nominations. and
Henry Lloyd of Massachusetts moved that
the vote OF the convention be cast for Mr.
Gompers. This was done amid great
cheering Isaac Cowen. the Socialist of
Cleveland. objected and his vote "as re-
corded against Mr.. Gompers-
Mr.. Gompers declined TO make any re-
marks upon his reelection
With the exception of the fourth. fifth
and sixth vice president and the three
fraternal delegates, the rest Of the old Of
ficers were reelected without any oppOsi-
ton. The remainder OF the ticket follows:
First Vice Presidential MCGUIRE OF
Philadelphia
Second Vice President-James Duncan,
Baltimore
Third Vice President-James O'Connell,
Chicago.
Fourth Vice President-John F. Mitchell,
Indianapolis.
Fifth Vice President-Max Morris, Den
Yer.
Sixth Vice President-Thonnas L Kidd.
Chica go.
Secretary-Frari1 Morrison, Chicago
Treasurer-John B. Lennon, Blooming
ton, Ill.
FraternaI Delegates-To the Union Con-
gress Of Great Britain. Thomas F. Tracey,
New York, of the Cigarmakers' Union,
and James J. OrConneI. Chicago, Of the
Machinists' Union; TO the Trade and La
Dor Cangress of Canada, John F. o. Sulli-
van of Boston, OF the Massachusetts state
branch
The convention spent most OF the day
in amending its constitution and provid-
ing means for widening the scope OF its
work The Federation increased the per
capita tax upon members OF trades union
organizations from three-fourths OF one
cent to five cents per month. the money to
be used in the support OF the Federation
President Gompers himself objected to
this, but the delegates were strongly in
favor OF it. on every hand they declared
that an increased revenue was needed 70
carry on the work OF organization so as
TO strengthen the la-oor cause.
The resolution Of J. F. O'Sulfivan Of
Boston, looking 10 a bill in congress To
impose an internal revenue tax against all
factories employing women and children
over time. was killed. The committee on
laws reported against the measure on the
ground that il would legalize the employ
ment OF children as laborers. In support
Of his resolution MI O'Sullivan said that
he had been before the legislature OF Mas
sachusetts when lawyers argued the con-
stItutionsEty Of an act 70 tax factories
which employed children He said that
these lawyers all agreed that such a tax
was constitutional and that it was gener
ally agreed that there was only one way
20 stop factory keepers from hiring chill
dren. and that was 20 tax chem out OF
existence. Mr.. O'Sullivan proposed that
such factories be made 20 pay an internal
revenue tax OF 50 per cent on their gross
products.
George E Mcneil said he had some
doubts as 20 the efficacy OF such a law.
And fureher," said he. 1t viii simply
license the employment OF children. We
will be put in the light Of recognizing
what we know 70 be an evil"
Mr.. O'SuIlivan said ne believed that the
employment OF children could be classed
under the women workers % the land 4
they identified themselves with The trades
uniors He was certain. TOO, that women
would never receive equal pay with Men
until they showed a strength unite1
enough 20 force it upon their employers
Isaac Governs resolution asking tha- the
discussion by affiliated unions OF the
King-Blachford and Eyer plans OF hnsn-
cial federation be raised by the Fedora
ton. was killed without discussion and a
number % measures not OF general inter
est were disposed Of
Before adj1ur1ing. ne Convention list
ened 10 farewell addresses by The British
d4lesatss William Inski2 and William
Thorn.
VANDERBUT> LOOK WESTWARD
To a Combination With the Worth
western aud Union Pacific.