The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-16
TURN TO THE BALLOT
DIFFERENTIATION OF THE FEEDER
ALTON OF LABOR IN SEEKING
PROPER RECOGNITION
LAWS ARE NOW IMPERATIVE
Local Bodies of Labor Throughout
the United States Urged to Act for
the General Relief by the Exer-
else of Their Rights at the Polls
Separation of Trades Causes
Prolonged Discussion.


DETROIT, Mich, Dec. ia resolu-
ton recommending members of labor
bodies 10 use their election ballots indie
pendently OF the predominating parties
was adopted this afternoon by the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, after first elm
mating a declaration of suspicion against
labor men who might advocate the in
terests Of the present political parties. A
provision for submitting the question to
a referendum vote of all the affiliated
organizations was also stricken out
Considerable Of the time Of the after
noon session, which was the only one held
today. was occupied by discussion of a
movement to more clearly define the
working duties of the respective crafts, in
order to avoid conflicts which exist be-
tween the organizations whose working
in the respective callings Is more or less
allied and interviewer.
The resolution for independent political
action, as amended in committee and
adopted, reads as follows:
Whereas, The various reports submit
ted by our trades union officials are in
effect that, so far our efforts by Pc
t1tions and interviews with the legisla-
government are concerned, little has been
accomplished by the above mentioned
methods; for where a so-called labor law
is passed it is either declared unconstitu-
ttonal by the courts or allowed to remain
until enforced a dead letter on the statute
books:
Resolved, That this federation recon-
mends that the various central and local
bodies of labor in the United States take
steps to use their ballots, their political
power. on independent lines, as enunci-
ated In the principles and declarations Of
the American Federation Of Labor.
A resolution III ging all union labor men
to more clearly define their craftsmen
duties was warmly argued on as being
one of the most important and pressing
questions before the world Of labor.
| Among the speakers was P. J. Mcclure.
He held that the resolution was INSULT
cfent to cover the matter, since it con-
| tanned nothing to prevent trades organ
fzat1ons from claiming Jurisdiction over
branches of employees not strictly Of their
own calling. He doubted whether the
question could be settled by the conven-
ton
Secretary Frank Morrison deprecated
the idea of the convention trying to die
tate where the work Of various crafts be-
gan and ended.
The resolution was referred to the COM
mittee on organizations pending reports
from the grievance committee as to
similar troubles
SEPARATION OF TRADES.
A question along the same lines was
brought forward in reporting a resolution
acknowledging paper hanging as a sep
arate trade from the painters. Non-con-
currence was the committees recommen-
dation. Speeches were made in favor Of
specializing the paperhangers, and grant
ing them federation charter which
should free them from any domination of
the painters. The latter contended that
the two crafts ought to continue united
In one labor organization. The discussion
of this lasted past adjournment hour, and
the convention by a close vote refused
to remain In session longer.
During the afternoon action was unani-
mously taken toward bridging the chasm
between the rival painters organizations.
The executive council was directed to call
joint convention Of the two beIligerents
within six months, and special commit
tee of three to be appointed to act with
the joint meeting. and finally settle the
questions on which they have failed to
agree, a new charter to be issued and
the charter Of the present federated
painteras' body to be revoked immediate
ly after the joint meeting.
Other resolutions were adopted as fol-
lows: Approving Cleveland clerks short
er hour efforts, and sanctioning shorter
hours for clerks generally; protesting
against use of government employees ina
I rine bands) for private purposes; indors-
ing eight-hour demand for boiIermakers:
! directing the president Of the federation
to lobby against convict labor laws: for
election of senators by popular vote; ask
ing introduction of bills in Southern leg
I islatures by enactment Of which convict
labor would no longer be used