The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-17
CONDEMNED THE TRUST
The Federation of Labor De-
nounces the Tobacco Combine.
THE SOCIALIST QUESTION
b Entire Afternoon Devoted to Its
Discussion-The Federation Re-
fused to Indorse Any Kind
OF Politics.

Kansas Cty. Dec. 16.-The fight on
President samuel Gompers of the
American Federation OF Labor. which
was talked of by the minority at the
opening OF the annual convention. has
mot developed any strength.
This mornings session was taken up
sby a fight for recognition between the
Factions OF the Painters union.
The faction which broke OF from the
,msin body of the Federation of Labor
tat Buffalo in 1894 Is headed by John
fBarrett. The other faction is headed
Ply ]. II. Sullivan OF Baltimore Of the
Irregular Painters and Decorators union,
which is recognized by the federation.
The fight opened to-day on a demand
from the Barrett faction that the sui
Ivan contingent be barred from the
, present his side Of the case. but a re-
cess was taken without action having
been taken.
! The convention adopted resolutions
again condemning the tobacco trust.
The resolutions which were passed af-
ter a spirited debate. in which the dele
gates set forth the alleged wrongs
against organized labor practiced by
the trusts are as follows:
Recognizing the fact that the par
Dalyzing hand of the trust in making
binrosds upon the rights and privileges
| Of labor and humanity II the most Sc
rioue menace To Industrial well being.
: public tranquility and the perpetuity
Of our republic. we hereby pledge our
moral and material support TO all other
. independent manufacturers to help
them in their fight. our fight and the
night OF humanity against the ~bliehting
curse OF trust ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
To give practical effect to these
sentiments we hereby request and urge
upon all Of the Federation
Of Labor and all patriotic citizens who
are OF tobacco to purchase
and use only the chewing and smoking
tobaccos and cigarettes OF Independent
factories. who use the label Of the To-
bacco Workers union.
BE IL further resolved. That the sec
rotary of the American Federation OF
Labo be and hereby Is instructed To
have forwarded n copy OF these resolu-
tons to every union affiliated with the
American Federation OF Labor"
Immediately upon the opening Of the
convention this afternoon the socialist
question came UP. The first and most
important tDfldllfl IttpiullOn WIS lndN
offered by the Cleveland Central Labor
union. of which Max Hayes. the social
list. - The representative. The gist Of
this resolution was to the effect that
the constitution of the Federation be
changed so as to admit OF the indorse-
ment OF no political party. eNcept that
bearing on the 'class-conscious propa-
ganda for the abolition OF the wage
system" This Is socialism pure and
simple. The committee on laws did
not concur In this resolution or I'm a
second resolution indorsing the social
democracy. IL recommended the wild
est scope of discussion OF all economic
questions bearing upon the system OF
trades unions. but called attention To
the fact that the federation had always
refused to indorse any kind OF politics
and recommended that the rule be
When IL was seen that the socialist
resolutions We're To be defeated. Max
Corey of Chicago asked to be allowed
90 offer a substitute resolution. carry
ing with II the essential points OF So
cialism contained In the other resolu-
tionsA President Gompers at once ruled
that the substitute would not be in or
der until the Central resolutions had
been disposed of. Then n discussion
arose.
s. y. DonneIIy Of New York support-
ed the committee's report. declaring
that politics n socialism should have
no place In the deliberations Of the fed
Grafton.
Isaac MscCowan OF Cleveland de-
Tended socialism, vehemently arraign-
i'm the systems OF politics and So
ciety.
John r. Tobin OF Boston introduced
this resolution as an amendment 20 the
report:
Resolved. Tha; this convention. be
lieving thai the labor problem will be
solved only when the lands and means
of production and distribution are held
as common property. and that the
trades union movement, together with
political action on class lines. are the
best methods To reach this end. we
therefore commend trades u~nionists to
vote only for such parties as stand for
the principles enunciated herein"
The reading was greeted with great