The herald., 1898-12-14
RESOLUTIONS GALORE
INTRODUCED BY FEDERATED
LABoRERS
SOME WISE AND SOME FOOLISH
Among the Former Is One Denounc-
ing the So-called Policy of Ex-
pansion and Colonization
Associated Press Special Wire,

KANSAS CITY, Dec. l3.--The Eigh-
teenth Annual Convention of the American
Federation of Labor had hardly gotten
downsto business this morning when re-
cess until o'clock was taken. A flood OF
resolutions, touching IA wide range OF sub
jects, were introduced by various dele
gates.
One resolution of particular interest was
offered by Delegate Butler of New York,
general treasurer of the National Garment
Workers union. 1t called upon the United
States government to give its clothing to
union shops for manufacture, instead OF
sweat-shops. The resolution was given to a
committee. 1t is said it will without doubt
be adopted, and a telegram was sent at
once to Washington making the demand set
forth in the resolution.
James O'Connell OF Chicago, grandmaster
of the Machnists' union, offered Il resolution
giving the Machinists' jurisdiction over all
men employed mechanically in the care of
linotype machines. There has been a con-
troversy between the printers and machln-
particular labor. This resolution was re-
ferred to a committee. A hot fight on it is
expected when the resolution shall be re-
ported back to the convention.
James Duncan, representative OF the In
ternational Granite Cutters, made a re-
port of his attendance as a delegate to the
British trade congress of Great Britain
last August. Mr.. Duncan declared that the
English trade unions had made splendid
progress in securing legislation tending to
reforms along different lines.
G. j. Kent of Lincoln, Populist labor
commissioner for Nebraska and a personal
friend of William j. Bryan, introduced an
anti-expansion resolution. The preambles
embrace all the general arguments made
against the extension of the power of the
United States beyond the western hemis-
phere, and denounce the "so-called poll
cies of imperialism, expansion and coloni-
zation."
The most revolutionary measure was in
troduced by j. L. OSulivan of Boston,
1t asks congress to impose an anual tax
of so per cent of the total products of any
firm or factory which employs women and
children over eight hours per day, or en-
ploys children under the age of IA.
When the convention opened for the af-
toInoon session Mr.. Gompers read tele-
gram from Washington announcing the
passage OF the seamen's bill and the fact that
it had gone to the president for his sigma
ture
L. j. Elderkin, secretary of the National
Seamen's union, announced that the bill
was a victory for organized labor and would
be of very great benefit to the seamen, al
though it was only compromise measure.
The report of the executive council of the
federation read to the convention by James
Duncan declares for the unqualified indorse-
ment of the bill now pending before con-
press, granting the referendum to the resi-
dents of the District of Columbia The re-
port also called attention to the indiscrm-
mate Use of the boycott by various trades
unions without the recognition of the fed
Grafton. 1t declared that hereafter no boy
colt would be recognized by the federation
until it had been laid before the executive
council for investigation and for the coun-
ellis Endorsement