The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-12-22
Ballots to Be Used Independently
of Political Parties.
THE OTHER RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
The Election of Senators by Popular
Vote Urgcd-A National LAW for
Reducing the Hours of
Labor Favored.

litical parties was adopted yesterday
afternoon by the American Fedora
ton of Labor, after first eliminat-
ing declaration of suspicion
against labor men who might adj
vocate the interests of the pres
ent political parties. a pro-
vision for submitting the question to
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 yesterday, was occupied by the
discussion of a movement to more
clearly define the working duties Of
the respective crafts, in order to
avoid conflicts which exist between
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 sub
mitted to our trade union officials are
in effect that so far as our efforts by
petitions and interviews with the
legislatures of the varius states and
the federal government are con-
cerned, little has been accomplished
by the above mentioned methods; for,
where a so-called labor law is passed,
it is either declared unconstitutional
by the court or allowed to remain,
statute books.
"Resolved. That this federation
recommends 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 cnunciated in the principles
and declarations of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor
\ resolution urging all union labor
men to more clearly define their
craftsmen's duties was warmly ar
gued upon as being one of the most
important and pressing questions be
fore the world of labor. Among the
speakers was =. j. Mcclure. lie held
that the resolution was insufficient to
cover the matter, since it contained
nothing to prevent trades organi-
cations from claiming jurisdiction
over branches of employees not strict
ly of their own calling. lie doubted
whether the question could be settled
by the convention. Secretary Frank
Morrison deprecated the idea of the
convention trying to dictate where
the work of various crafts began and
ended. The resolution was referred to
the committee on organization, pend
ing reports from the grievance com.
mittee as to similar troubles.
A question along the same lines was
brought forward in reporting a reso-
luton acknowledging paper hanging
as a separate trade from the painters,
Inconvenience was the committed
recommendation. Speeches were made
in favor OF specializing the paper
hangers and granting them fedora
ton charter which should free them
from any denomination of the
painters The latter contended that
the two crafts ought 10 continue
united in one labor organization.
The discussion of this lasted past adj
iournment hour and the convention,
| by close vote, refused to remain in
session longer.
During the afternoon action was
unanimously taken toward bridging
the chasm between the rival painters
organizations. The executive council
was directed to call a joint conven'
ton of the two belligerenIs within
six months, and a special committee
of three, to be appointed, TO act with
the joint meeting and finally sci lie
| the questions on which they have
! failed to agree, a new charter to be
! issued to the new national and the
| charter of the present federated body
to be revoked Immediately after the
| Joint meeting. Other resolutions were
adopted as follows: Approving Cleve-
| land clerks shorter hours efforts and
shortening working hours for clerks
| generally; protesting against the use
| of government employees (marine
band) for private purposes; inlorsing
| eight-hour demand of boilermakers;
directing the president of the fedora
ton to lobby against convict labor
| laws; for election of senators by
] populdT Nolts uNhllP introduction OF
bills in southern legislature. by en-
actment which convict labor would nc
longer be subjected to lease; directing
executive council TO confer with
cracker baking trusts in an effort to
induce them TO recognize union labor;
for appointment OF next mining in.
spector of Missouri from the ranks OF
the zinc and lead miners; denouncing
anti-ticllet scalping laws; favoring a
national law for reducing hours oil
labor; directing that the executive
councillors represent the federation
at meetings of the various branches OF
railway employees, with view to
closer alliance with the federation
Several resolutions relating TO orgaui
2ation of new bodies were also
adopted.
The Brakes Failed to Work.
Cleveland, o., Dec. 18.-A passenger
train collided with pony engine on