Evening star., 1898-12-02
PROGRAM COMPLETED
Business Outlined for American Fed
Grafton of Labor.
CHANGE RELATIVE TO BOYC0TTS
Movement to Commit Organization
to PoiticaI Action.
EMPLOY MENT OF WOMEN
EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN

The program of business to be brought
before the coming annual convention of the
American Federation of Labor, which will
begin in a few days at Kansas City, Mo.
was completed last evening by President
Gompers and Secretary Morrison. 1t is eX-
pected that this, the eighteenth convention
Of the A. F. of L., will be the most import
ant assemblage of representative wage
workers ever convened in this country
Delegates will be present who will represent
sixty-six national organizations, eleven
state federations and eighty local central
bodies, comprising an aggregate constitu
ency of nearly 1,9G0,e00 organized workmen
One of the most important subjects to be
considered by the convention is a PROPOSE
ton submitted by the Central Labor Union
of Cleveland, Ohio, which recommends that
all trades unionists of America render
their moral support and financial support to
the socialist labor party. AS a prelude to
THIS proposition the same organization will
submit a resolution that the section of the
constitution of the American Federation OF
Labor, which prohibits the discussion of
party politics in the convention of thai
body, be altered TO read: Discussions upor
any subject affecting the interest of the
toiing masses shall be in order, but nc
political policies shall be indorsed except
those bearing on the class-conscious propa,
ganda for abolition of the wage system
The purpose of these propositions is to
commit the American Federation to def
mite political action. and substitute social
ism for trade unonism.
Question of Boycotts.
The National Union of United Brewing
Workmen will submit proposition that no
boycott shall be valid unless after the ma
tional organization of the craft interested
fails to adjust the differences and the boy
colt Is Endorsed by the president or execu-
tive council of the American Federation of
Labor. 1t is also proposed that no boycott
shall be indorsed If 1t Injuries the sale of
the products of members of unions affiliated
with the American Federation of Labor,
because In the manufacture of a finished
product, raw material, tools or machinery
are the products of non-union labor. or be-
cause the package is a non-union product.
or because of its being transported, handled
or sold by nOn-union labor, or because the
product was made in buildings erected
wholly or in part by non-union labor.
If this proposition is adopted ii will be a
radical change of policy relative to boy
colts. While it would relieve the brewers
from the effect of a boycott placed upon
material necessary in the manufacture of
Deer, those who are engaged in the exempt
ed industries will be seriously handica pped
IN any effort to successfully enforce a boy
colt, II restricted as desired by the brewers.
A measure will be submitted which pro-
Vides that, in case of strike or lockout if
financial assistance is required, the eXecu-
tive council, if it deems the organization
entitled to receive aid, shall make an
Sessment not exceeding = cents per mem
ber week upon those affiliated with the
federation The assessment to remain in
force not longer than five continuous weeks
unless ordered by vote of the national
unions.