Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-12-21
A. F. OF |. MEETING.
Ballots to Be Used Independently
Of Political Parties.
The OTHER RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
The Election OF Senators by Popular
Vote Vrged-A National Law for
Reducing the Hours Of
Labor Favored.

| eS'"" Us Se""tVTb ny TOpulu
Vote Urged-A National Law for
Reducing the Hours Of
Labor Favored.
Detroit, Mich, Dec. l6.-A resolu
ton recommending members of labo
bodies to use their election ballots in
dependently of the predominating pc
litical parties was adopted yesterda,
afternoon by the American Fedora
ton of Labor, after first elminat
ing II declaration of suspicion
against labor men who might ad
yocate 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 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 so-called labor law is passed,
it is either declared unconstitutional
by the court or allowed to remain,
until enforced, a dead letter on the
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 enumerated in the principles
and declarations of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor"
A 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. He held
that the resolution was insufficient to
cover the matter, since 1t contained
nothing to prevent trades organi-
cations from claiming jurisdiction
over branches Of employees not strict
ly of their own calling. He 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
forward in reporting a reso-
luton acknowledging paper hanging
IS u SEPARATE trade from the painters.
was the committees
recommendation. Speeches were made
n favor Of specializing the paper
hangers and granting them fedora
ion charter which should free them
from any denomination Of the
PAINTERS. The latter contenGcd that
he two crafts ought to continue
lnited in one labor organization.
rhe discussion of this lasted past ad.
ournment hour and the convention,
~ close vote, refused to remain in
cssion longer.
During the afternoon action was
unanimously taken toward bridging
he chasm between the rival painters |
ORGANIZATIONS The executive council |
vas directed to call a joint conyen-
ion of the two belligcrenis within
TX months, ana q special committee
II three, to be appointed, to act with
he Joint meeting and finally settle
he questions on which they have
allied to agree, new charter to be
ssued TO the new national and the
harier of the present federated body
o be revoked Immediately after the
oint meeting. Other resolutions wer,
dopted as follows. Approving CIeye-
and clerks shorter hours efforts and
working hours for clerks
generally; protesting against the use
( government employees (marine
and for private purposes; in1orsing
ight-hour demand Of boilernakers;
Erecting the president Of the fedora
ion to lobby against convict labor
TVS; for election of senator's by |
opular vote: asking introduction OF
ills in southern legislatures by en-.
ctment which convict labor would nc
niger be subjected TO lease; directing
council TO confer with
racker baking trusts in an effort to
lduce them TO recognize union labor;
II appointment of next mining in
,ector OF Missouri from the ranks Of
ne zinc and lead miners; denouncing
scalping laws; faroring a
ational law for reducing hours Of
bor; directing that the executive
r