The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-15
DEMANDS ANlNCOME TAX
FEDERATION OF LABOR CRITICIsES
SUPREME COURT DECISION.
Protest Against Passage of the Anti
ScalpinS BiiI-Speeches by Com
pers and Others.

KANSAS CITYssMo., Dec. 14-At the an
nual convention OF the American Federation
of Labor to-day the delegates listened with
great interest TO talks by William Thorne
and William Inskip, delegates from the
British Labor Congress and to a response
by President Samuel Gompers. The burden
Of Mr.. Thornes talk was that labor should
strive constantly for better organization and
to WELD power in politics In England,
said he, one great element of organized
labors power was the fact that political
positions were held by so great percentage
of unionists
Delegate lnskip urged not only a stronger
organization, but stronger friendship be-
tween American and British unionists.
What was needed, he said, was not only a
federation of trades organizations but fed
Grafton with other Englsh-speaking
countries. The sentiment was heartily
cheered. Mr.. Inskip went on to ex-
press his belief in the principle
of arbitration of all difficulties, and
enumerated instances of the settlement of
British strikes by arbitration which had
been alone possible from the fact that arbi-
tration in England was constructed on so
thorough basis.
President Gompers said there was some
misrepresentation as to the conditions of the
workers of our country. A greater percent
age of mechanical labor, outside the agr-
cultural element, he said, were organized in
America than on any part of the globe.
Small conventions were not necessarily an
indication of lack of strength. While he de-
clared that unioniStS were active in DEFEND
ing their principles in politics, citing the
fact that seventeen union men were mem
bers of the Colorado State Legislature, MIR.
Gompers. nevertheless, urged increased ac-
tiVity along this line.
Upon the employment of women Mr.. Com
perS said: The American Federation of La
Dor has always stood for the organization
and recognition of those women who are
compelled of necessity TO work. But" said
ways demand. equal pay for equal work. "
These sentiments were greeted with tu-
multi of applause.
AT the afternoon session resolution pre-
scented by Adrian NJ. Jones. of Chicago pro-
testing against the adoption of the anti
scalping bill recently passed by the ma
tional House of Representatives was adopted
without discussion. The resolution protests
against the passage OF the bill, or similar
measures, as being a blow az the liberty
of individuals" and classes it as 'legisla-
ton conceived in the interests of gigantic
combine and trust" lit is the sense of this
convention" continued the resolutions THAI
a ticket purchased from any transportation
company should, in all equity and justice,
belong 10 the purchaser and he should have
the same right to dispose OF II as Of any
other lawfully acquired property. A copy
of the resolutions will be sent to each mem
Der Of Congress.
The income-tax resolution offered by S. i.
Kent, Of Nebraska, was not adopted, but
this substitute was unanimously Endorsed:
Resolved, That the American Federation
of Labor is of the opinion that the decisions
of the Supreme Court on the income tax
are not in accord with the Constitution or
the spirit of the American people. and that
the Federation demands of Congress a Law
making tax on incomes q feature of fed
eral taxation"
Convict labor came in for a share of the
conventions attention. The resolutions con-
referred to the executive council, with in
structions that it take such steps as may
check it's encroa chments upon the interests
The convention emphatically reaffirmed the
boycott on the American Tobacco Company,
declaring it 10 be a monopoly and trust,