The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-21
GOMPERS IS REELECTED
A Practically Unanimous Vote
for the Labor Leader.
TRIED AND FOUND TRUE
Nearly All OF the Old onicers VIII Serve
Acknowledging the Scope for
the Work of the Federation
OF Labor.

hansaS lily, Lee. O.-Sdmuel GOmperS
was to-day reelected president of the
American Federation OF Labor by a prac-
tically unanimous vote at the closing OF
the 18th annual convention Of that organ-
~ization. The convention. which had been
In session for eight days. adjourned sine
die at 6 O'Clock. Detroit was decided upon
as the next place of meeting.
During the election of president. Will
liam j. O'Brien OF New York was in Che
chair. George f. Mcneil OF Boston placed
Mr.. Gompers In nomination. He said he
might never again attend a convention
Of the federation and he wanted the hon.
or OF naming Mr.. Gompers for the place.
lie said:
NJ Gompers has been tried ami found
true. He cannot be corrupted. when we
get a good man in n place we Should
keep him there
Great applause followed Mr.. McNeirs
remarks. John Kirby OF ouray. Colo.
said the 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 great cheering.
Isaac Cowan. the socialist, OF Cleveland.
objected and his vote was recorded
against Gompers. Mr.. Gompers declined
to make any remarks upon his reelection.
With the exception OF the fourth. fifth
and sixth vice presidents and three fra
ternal delegates. the rest OF the old OFF,
GERS were reelected without any opposi-
ton. The remainder Of the ticket is as
follows:
First vice president. p. ]. Mcclure: sec
ond vice president. James Duncan, Balti-
more: third vice president. James O'Con-
nell. Chicago; fourth vice president. J. D..
Mitchell; secretary. Frank Morrison. Chi
cago: treasurer. John H.. Lennon. Bloom
irgton, Ill. Fraternal delegates to the
Union Congress of Great Britain: Thomas
f. Tracy, New York. of the Cigarmakers'
uion. and James O'Conneil OF the Ma
chinists union. To the Trade and Labor
Convention of Canada James +. OSul-
Ivan Of Boston. OF the Massachusetts,
state branch.
The convention spent most OF the day
in amending it's constitution and provid-
ing means for widening the scope of it's
work. The federation increased the or
capita tax upon members OF trades union
organizations from three-fourths of 1 per
cent. to 8 cents per month. the money TO
he used to support the federation. Presi-
dent Gompers himself objected to This.
but the delegates were strongly I'm favor
Of IL. on every hand they declared that
an increased revenue was needed to carry
on the work OF organization so as TO
strengthen the labor cause.
The resolution of j. T.. O'Sullivan Of
Boston, looking to a bill I'm congress 10
impose an internal revenue tax against
AL factories employing women and chill
dren overtime. was killed. The committee
on laws reported against the measure on
the ground that II would legalize the EN-
ployment OF children as laUorers. In sup
port of his resolution Mr.. O'Sullivan said
that he had been before the legislature Of
Massachusetts, when lawyers argued that
such n tax was constitutional, and that
II was generally agreed that the only
way to stop factory keepers from hiring
children was to tax them out of exist
ence. Mr.. Sullivan proposed that such
factories be made to pay an internal reve-
nue. tax of 20 per cent. on Iheir gross re-
ceipts.
George T.. Mcneil said he had some
doubts as to the efficacy OF such a law.
"And further" said he. "it will simply H.
cense the employment OF children. 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 showed a strength united
enough to force II upon their employers.
Issac Cowan's resolution asking that
the discussion by affiliated unions OF the
King Blanchford and Eyer plans of off,
cial federation be recommended by the
American federation. was killed without
discussion. and a number of measures not
OF general interest were disposed OF.
Before adiourning the convention listen
ed TO farewell addresses by the British
delegates, William Inskip and William
Thorn.