The Mena star., 1898-12-21
The A. F. of L. Increases the Per Capita Tax Upon Members of
 Trades Unions.
A CRUSADE ID ORGANIZE LABORERS.
The Southern states and Women Workers tn Ese Looked After--Usuliivan's Reso- Iution to Get Congress to Impose Tax Factories Employing Women and Children Killed by the Convention-

Kansas City, Mo, Dec. 20. The American Federation of Labor conven- tion spent most of to-day in amending it's constitution and providing means for widening the scope of its work. The federation increased the per cap ita tax upon members of the tr ades union organizations from three-fourths of one per cent. to five cents per month, the money to be used to support tho federation. President Gomoers him self objected to this, but the delegates were strongly in favor of it. 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.
 During the next year the federation proposes to make a crusade for the or ganization of the laboring classes of the southern states and of women workers These problems have, during the convention, been argued over and over and sifted by the most thorough only relief that can be offered to wom- en and children who work in the fac tories and stores is by uniting them with the trades unions so that they can demand equal wages.
 The resolution of J. F 0'Sullivan, of Boston, looking to bill in con- gress to impose an internal revenue tax against all factories employing women and children overtime was killed by the convention. The committee on laws reported against the measure on the ground that it would legalize the employ ment of children as laborers In support of his resolution Mr. O'Sul- livan said that he had been before the legislature of Massachusetts when le e~yers argued the .ss.. liz; Y of an act to tax factories which em- ployed children. He said that these lawyers all agreed that such a tax was constitutional and that it was generally agreed that the only way to stop factory keepers from hiring chil- dren was to tax them out of existence Mr. OSullivan proposed that such fac tories be made to pay an internal rev enue tax of 30 per cent. of their gross products.
 George E. McNeill said he had some doubts as to the efficacy of such law. And further said he, it will simply license the employment of children We will be put in the light of recog- -nizing 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 them selves with the trades unions. He was certain, too, that women would never receive equal pay with men un- til they showed a strength united enough to force 1t upon their employ CTS.
 The convention was unable to settle the controversy of the printers and tho machinists as to which craft should have jurisdiction over the men who re- pair linotype machines. The problem has been sent back to the craftsmen themselves for reconsideration.
 During it's long session the fedora tion has handled the widest range of economic problems and the discussion brought out will be very beneficial to the trades union movement. It is the determination of all the delegates to add impetus next year to the organiz- ing of labor in all branches, whether skilled or not.
 Samuel Gompers was reelected pres ident of the federation for the eight eenth time. The election was practi- cally unanimous
 Detroit, Mich, was chosen as the place for holding the next convention
 Brother and Sister 10th Insane.