The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-16
Declaration by Delegates on Many
Questions Affecting the Unions
Comprising the Federation.
STRIKE OF PiTTsBURG PRINTERS
AND LINOTYPE OPERATORS
Walked Out Because the Machinists
Would Not Become Members OF
Typographical Union.

DETROIT, Dec. ia resolution recon-
mending members OF labor bodies 10 use
their election ballots Independently OF the
predominating political parties was adopted
this afternoon by the American Federation
of Labor, after first eliminating declara-
tion of suspicion against laboring men who
might advocate the interests OF the present
political parties. A provision for submit
ting the question to referendum vote OF
all the affiliated organizations was also
stricken out. Considerable time OF the az
ternoon session, which was the only one
held to-day 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 indie
pendent political action, as amended In
committee. reads:
Whereas, The various reports submitted
by our trade union officials are IN erect
that so far as our efforts by petitions and
interviews with the legislatures OF tie
various States and the federal govern
ment are concerned, little has been ac-
complished by the above mentioned meth
ods; for where a so-called labor law is
passed, it is either declared unconstitutional
by the courts or allowed to remain until en-
forced a dead letter on the statute books.
Resolved. That this federation recon-
mends that the various central and local
bodies of labor i'm the United States take
steps to use their ballots. tneir political
power, on independent lines. as enunciated
i'm the principles and declarations OF the
American Federation OF Labor.
A resolution urging all union labor men to
more clearly define their craftsmen's du-
ties was warmly argued as being one or
the most important and pressing questions
before the world of labor. Secretary Frank
Morrison deprecated the idea of the con-
vention trying to dictate where the work OF
various crafts began and ended. The reso-
luton was referred TO the committee on
organization, pending reports from the
grievance committee as TO similar troubles.
A question along the same line was brought
forward in reporting resolution acknowl-
edging paper hanging as separate trade
from the painters. Non concurrence was the
committees recommendation
Among the resolutions adopted were the
following: Approved Cleveland clerks
shorter work-day efforts. and sanctioning
fewer hours for clerks generally; protesting
against use of government employees Gaia
rine Band) for private purposes; indorsing
eight hours demand OF boilermakers; di-
recting the president of the federation TO
lobby against convict labor laws; for cleo
ton of senators by popular vote; asking
introduction of bills in Southern legisla-
lures by which enactment convict labor
would no longer be subject TO lease; di-
recting executive council to confer with
cracker baking trusts In an effort 10 induce
them to recognize union labor; for appoint-
ment of the next mining inspector In Mis-
souri, from the ranks OF the zinc and lead
miners organization; denouncing anti
ticket scalping laws; favoring NATIONAL
law for reduction of hours Of labor: direct
ing that the executive councillors represent
the federation at meetings OF the various
branches Of railway employees. with view
TO closer alliance with the federations.
Several resolutions relating TO the organiza-
ton of new bodies were also adopted.