Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-21

president of the American Federatlon
of Labor by a practically unanimous
vote, at the closing session of the eigh-
tenth annual convention of that or
ganization. The convention which had
been in session for eight days adjourn
ed sine die at o'clock. Detroit, Mich,
was decided upon as the next place of
meeting.
During the election of president, VIM.
J. O'Brien, of New York, was in the
chair George E. Mcneil, of Boston,
placed Mr. Gompers in nomination. He
said he might never again attend con-
vention of the Federation and he want
ed the honor of naming Mr.. Gompers
for the place. He said:
MIR. Gompers has been tried and
found true. He can not be corrupted.
When we get a good man in a place we
should keep him there"
The greatest applause followed Mr..
McNell's remarks.
John Kirby, of Ouray, Col, said the
miners of the west were looking more
to Mr. Gompers to aid in their strug-
giles than any one else.
There were no other nominees and
Henry Lloyd, of Massachusetts, moved
that the vote of the convention be cast
for Mr.. Gompers.
This was done amid great cheering.
Isaac COWan, the socialist of Cleveland
objected, and his vote was recorded
against Mr.. Gompers. Mr.. Gompers
declined to make any remarks upon his
reelection.
With the exception of the fourth,
fifth and sixth vice presidents and the
three fraternal delegates, the nest Of
the old officers were re-electd without
any opposition. The remainder of the
ticket follows:
First vice president, P. J. Mcclure,
Philadelphia.
Second vice president, James Duncan,
Baltimore.
Third vice president, James O'Con-
nell, Chicago.
Fourth vice president, John F..
Mitchell, Indianapolis.
Fifth vice president, Max Morris,
Denver.
Sixth vice president, Thomas /. Kidd
Chicago
Secretary, Frank Morrison, Chicago
Treasurer, John B. Lennon, Bloom
ingtOn, Ills.
F'raternal delegates to the Union Con-
gress of Great Britain: Thomas f..
Tracy, New York, of the Cigarmakers'
Union, and James O'Connell, Chicago,
Of the Machinists' Union.
To the Trade and Labor Congress of
Canada, John F. O'Sullivan, Boston, Of
the Massachusetts State branch.
The convention spent most of to-
day in amending it's constitution and
providing means for widening the
scope of it's work The Federation in
creased the per capita tax upon men,
bers of trades union organizations
from three-fourths of a cent to five
cents per month, the money to be used
to support the Federation.
President Gompers himself objected
to this, but the delegates were strongly
in favor of it. On every hand they de-
clared than an increased revenue was
needed to carry on the work of organ
iZation so as to strengthen the labor
cause.
The resolution OF J. F. O'Sullivan, Of
Boston, looking to a bill in Congress
to impose an internal revenue tax
against all factories employing women
and children overtime was killed. The
committee on las reported against
the measure on the ground that it
would legalize the employment of chill
dren as laborers In support of his
resolution, Mr.. O'Sullivan said that he
had been before the Legislature of Mas
sachusetts when lawyers argued the
constitutionality of an act to tax fac
tories which employed children. He
said that these lawyers all agreed that
such tax was constitutional, and that
it was generally agreed that the only
way to stop factory keepers from hir-
ing children was to tax them out of
existence. Mr.. O'Sulliyan proposed
that such factories be made to pay an
internal revenue tax of so per cent. OF
their gross products.
George z. Mcneil said he had some
doubts as to the efficacy of s,lcl a law.
"And further" said he, ''it will sim
ply license the employment of chill
dren. We will be put in the light of
recognizing what we know to be an
evil"
Mr.. O'Sullvan said he believed that
the employment Of children could never
be checked until the women workers Of
the land united themselvesswith the
trades unions. He was certain, too.
that women would never receive equal
pay with men until they showed a
strength united enough to force it upon
their employers.
Isaac Governs resolution asking that
the discussion Of affiliated unions of the
King BlatchfOrd and Eyer ians of
financial federation be reco. amended
by the American, Federation was killed
without discussion. and a member OF
measures not of general inteaest were
disposed of.
Before adiourning the convention
listened to farewell addresses sbv Dele
gates William Inskip and William
Thorn.