Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-26
CALL OFF THE Boxcorrs.
American Federation OF Labor Take
lmpOrtant Slep. ~.


can Federation of Labor convention
yesterday decided to call OFF all exist
ing boycotts. The action was taken
because the convention believed the
trades unions abused the boycott and
used it so frequently as to annul it's
effectiveness.
The action was taken after a fight
and succeeded only when the con-
vention decided unions could replace
the names of firms on the unfair list"
and continue the boycotts If they so
desire. The order goes into effect on
Feb. /.
After that date the organization de-
string TO boycott or place the name Of
firm on what is known as the 'un-
fair list" will notify the secretary OF
the federation of their desire to con-
tinue the boycott and the name of the
firm or corporation will again be placed
on the unfair list"
The reason given for the temporary
abolishment of the boycott is that
there have been SO manv boycotts lev
led the unfair list" has become so
large the boycotts are no longer heed
ed. 1t is believed many of the boy
colts will be called off permanently
by the temporary adjustment of the
unfair list The committee recon-
mended that no organization attempt
to levy more than one boycott at q
time. +
Another attempt on the part of the
same committee to lessen the number
of boycotts and make the existing ones
more effective was made during the
afternoon, but was unsuccessful. The
committee introduced resolution de-
claring many unions were levying boy
colts without sufficient proyocatio and
that their action was bringing the Fed
GRAFTON of Labor and the boycott into
bad repute. As a remedy the commit
tee suggested that no union be allowed
to levy q boycott without first an
nouncing its intention to the federation
or some central trades assembly. These
bodies. it declared. would do their best
to arbitrate difficulties, and that in case
thev did not succeed in so doing, the
boycott could be resorted to as last
resort. The resolution aroused much
opposition, and the best the committee
could do was to have it referred to the
incoming executive council.
The convention adopted resolu-
tion in support OF woman suffrage, iu-
PRODUCED at the request of Susan B. An
thony. The resolution requested that
congress submit TO the legislatures of
the different states for action Il six
teenth amendment to the constitution
enfranchising women. and, upon the
| acquiescence oftwo-thiris OF the states,
adopt the amendment 49,
The convention decided that in the
future it would not permit the use of
any article represented rs union made
unless it bore a union label.
The request of the piano makers for
charter was referred to the executive
council. The Farmers International
union was recognized by the conyen-
| ton and the executive council ordered
to grant it a charter.
! The officers elected and their organi-
cations are as follows:
| President-Sampel Gompers, Cigar
| makers.
First Vice Observation-Disclosures j. Nc
| CURE, Carpenters
| Second Vice observation-disclosures Dun
I cand, Granite Cutters.
Third Vice President--James O'Con-
nell. Machinists.
Fourth Vice President--John Mitch
ell, Miners.
Fifth Vice President-NIax Morris,
/ Retail Clerks.
Sixth Vice President-rhos, I. Kidd,
Wood Workers.
SecretaryFrank Morrison, Printers.
Treasurer-John Il. Lennon, Tail
ors.
Thomas !. Kidd of the Wood Workers
is the only representative of Chicago
Z among the officers of the federation.
John B. Lennon and w. c. Pearce were
elected fraternal delegates to Great
Britain. w. ID. Mahan was selected to
represent the federation at The Cana
dian Trades Congress. Louisville was
selected as the place for holding the
next convention.