The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-17
OPPOSED 70 SUBSIDIES.
FEDERATlON OF LABOR ADOPTS
RESOLUTIONS AGAINST THEM.
neelarss 1t WIN Not Give subject
Consideration Until Great Ship
building Concerns Recognise
the Eight-Hour Day Law.

DETROIT, Mich, Dec. 1.-THE American
Federation of Labor this afternoon regis
tered an emphatic disaprrovai OF govern
uient subsidies to American shipowners'
and later declared almost unanimously
against the principle and practlce
Of subsidy legislation. The depate
lasted three hours. and the speeches
were the most vigorous Of any heard In
the convention during the week It has been
in session, but only two OF the severai
speakers supported the subsidy idea.
The convention declined to adopt reso.
luton concerning the Idaho miners ana
military difficulty which declared tnat I'VE
do hereby emphatically condemn and de-
nounce President Mckinley, Gov. Steun-
enberg, and all the officials concerned IN
the outrage" and called also upon the
working people to s'sever their connection
and refuse any support to the Republican
and Democratic parties" etc. A substi-
tute for the latter resolution was adopt
ed. which, after reciting that innocent men
had been incarcerated, without reference
to their constitutional rights. ETC., pro-
tests against and condemns alleged inhu-
man actions by the authorities. and d.
reefs the executive council Of the fedora
ton to mako full investigation and place
the responsibility where 1t properly be-
longs"
The question OF a declaration on the
question OF ship subsidies was raised by
the bringing In Of two resolutions, one
from the boilermakers and iron ship
builders fAvoring subsidy legislation, the
other opposing ship subsidies. The reso-
buttons committee offered, as substitute
for both, q resolution declaring that since
the natural resources of America Offer
abundantly everything necessary to build
Ing q ships much more cheaply than In
Resolved, That while we favor an in
IN nj ma ri ina ma n "a
opposed to any and all subsidies, believ-
ing the Industry able to take care for IT.
Vice President Duncan offered the fol-
lowing addition to the committees SUBJ
stitute resolution:
Resolved further, That we are decid-
eddy opposed to all legislation of this
kind, and will not give it consideration
until the great snipbuilding firms Of the
country. which would be its greatest bene-
hciaries. Withdraw their opposition to ous
elght-hour work day legislation and cease
their discrimination against the employ
meht of union men,;
After considerable further discussion.
Mr.. Duncan's amendment was accepted
by the resolutions committee. and the
resolution, as so amended, was adopted
by the convention with but three adverse
A general declaration against subsidies
and reciting their alleged baneful effects
on benefciaries, legislators and taxpay-
ers, was adopted by about the same vote
"
The question of boycott action against
! concerns which employ part union and part
ncnuniOn craftsmen caused considerable
contention in today's meeting Of the
American Federation Of Labor. The mat
ter was brought out through consideration
Of resolution declaring that the boycott
against Swift & Co. Is universal. and ap-
plies to the Swift Packing Company and
the establishments in cities where the cor
Germ employs union labor, as well as
those where It does not. Treasurer Len
non offered, however, the following addi-
ton to the resolution:
Resolved. That union men should not
remain in the employ of any concern which
has been declared unfair by the American
Federation of Labor"
Mr.. Lemons amendment was defeated
by very large majority. and the resolu-
ton was adopted.
The adverse report of the committee on
organization on a proposition for sepa-
rate national for the paperhangers was
adopted, on a roll call vote; yeas, 1854;
nays, GA
A resolution to place the Buffalo Pan
American exposition on the unfair" list
was sent. with ether similar declarations,
to the executive council