The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-21
GOMPERs RE.ELECTED.
And Detroit Selected for Next Meet
ing Place of the Federation.

ing R1aeS OF the E6QGE8G1Ous
Kansas City, Mo-, Dec. 21.-Samuel
Gompers was reelected president of the
American Federation of Labor, by a
practically unanimous vote, at the clos
ing session Of the eighteenth annual
convention Of that organization. The
convention which had been in session
for eight days adjourned sine die at
6 o'clock last night. Detroit, Mich,
was decided upon as the next place or
meeting.
During the election of president, Will
liam ]. 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 a
convention of the federation and he
wanted the honor of naming Mr..
GomperS for the place. He said:
Mr.. Gompers has been tried and
found true. He can not be corrupted.
When we get a good man in place
we should keep him there
The greatest applause followed Mr..
McNeilPs remarks.
miners of the west were looking more
to Mr.. Gompers to aid them in their
struggles 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
socialist, of Cleveland, objected and his
vote was recorded 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 officers were reelected without
any opposition. The remainder of the
ticket follows:
First vice president-P. ]. Mcclure,
Philadelphia.
Second vice president-James Duncan,
Third vice president-James O'Connell,
Chicago.
Fourth vice president-John F.
Mitchell, Indianapolis.
Fifth vice president-Max Morris, Den
yer.
Sixth vice observation-disclosures I. Kidd,
Chicago.
Secretary-Frank Morrison, Chicago
Treasurer-John B. Lennon, Bloom
ingtOn, Ill.
F'raternaI delegates-To the Union
Congress of Great Britain: Thomas F.
Tracey, New York, Of the Cigar Makers
union. and James O'ConneIl, Chicago,
of the Machinists' union To the Trade
and Labor Congress of Canada: John
O'Sullivan, Boston, OF the Massachusetts
state branch.
The convention spent most of the day
in amending its constitution and pro-
Viding means for widening the scope of
it's work. The federation increased the
per capita tax upon members of trades
union organizations from three-fourthS
of a cent to five cents per month, the
ton.
President Gompers himself objected to
this, but the delegates were strongly
in favor of it. On every hand they de-
clared that an increased revenue was
needed to carry on the work of organic
alton 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 chill
7rpT
mittee on laws reported on the measure
on the grounds that it would legaliZe
the employment of children as labOrerS.
In support of his resolution Mr.. O'Sul-
Ivan said that he had been before the
legislature of Massachusetts when law
yers argued the cOnstitutionality of an
act to tax factories which employed
children. He said that these lawyers all
agreed that such a tax was cOnstitu-
tional and that it was generally agreed
that the only way to stop factory keep
ers from hiring children was to tax
them out of existence. Mr.. O'Sullivan
proposed that such factories be made
to pay internal revenue tax of so per
cent on their gross products.
George E. MCNEIL said he had some
doubts as to the efficiency of such a
law. And further" said he, cit will
dren. We will be put in the light of
recognizing what we know to be an
evil"
Mr.. O'Sullivan said he believed that
the employment of children could never
be checked until the women workers
of the land identified themselves with
the trades unions. He was certain, too,
that women would never receive equal
pay with men until they should show
a united strength to enforce it upon
their employers.
Isaac Governs resolution asking that
the decision by affiliated unions of the
King Blachford and Eyer plans of
financial federation be recommended by
the American federation was killed with
out discussion and a number of meas
ures not of general interest were dis
posed of.
Before adjourning, the convention
listened to farewell addresses by the
British delegates, William Inskip and
William Thorn.