Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-20
BELL WINS OUT At DETROIT
Federation Of Labor Grants Request Of the
Omaha Delegate,
SUSPEND BALTIMORE PAINTER FACTION
Federation Takes stand Against All
= wars of Conqucst-Oppose' Increase
in Standing Army Beyond
Twenty-Fiye Thousand.

DETROIT, Dec 19.-The significant fea-
ture of the eighth day OF the Federation OF
Labor convention was a stand taken today
in opposition to all wars of conquest. The
delegates, representatives OF probably 1,500
600 members of labor unions, voted unani-
mously that "such wars, whether waged in
Africa, the Philippines or elsewhere"
greatly cndanger the liberties of the con-
quercd peoples The declaration closed with
a reiteratlon of a sentiment previously
adopted in another form:
That we are opposed to any increase OF
the standing army Of tho United States be-
yond $4,000 officers and enlisted men"
The executive council Of the federation
out these sentiments.
w. II. Bell of Omaha, who had been re-
fused seat as a delegate, was permitted to
make a ten minute speech in behalf of the
painters of the unaffiliated or Lafayette"
faction He argued that the charter of the
Baltimore" faction ought to be suspended
while negotiations for amalgamation are
pending. The convention regarded the prop
osition as reasonable and complied with his
request, in spite Of strenuous opposition by
Delegate Sullivan, secretary OF the "Balti-
more" faction.
The convention voted to raise the salary
of the president from s1,S0O to s2,1OO and Of
the secretary from $1,000 to 81 500.
Discuss Trust Problem.
When the open session was resumed at 3
O'Clock lengthy report was read upon
President Gompers' annual report. Nearly
all the sections of that document were ap-
proved by the committee IT agreed with
Gompers that trusts are to be considered a
natural outcome of commercial competition
and that the only reasonable way in which
organized labor can meet and overcome
such evils is in a natural way. The report
advised asking for legislation, not for sweep
ing the trusts away, but insisting that they
shall not have control OF the governmental
machinery of city and state.
An amendment to this portion of the re-
port was adopted by the convention calling
upon the trades unions and workingmen
generally to study the development of trusts
and monopolies with a view to Matchmaking
them.
AS to President Gompers' expression upon
"our new possessions and miitarism'' the
committee deplored "the ever-spreading en-
croachments being made. on civil and re-
ligious liberties" which it regarded as "a
step backward in the evolution of freedom
which is fraught with great danger"
The committee stated that when the Porto
Ricans and Filipnos are deprived of their
right to selfgovernment then freedom is in
great danger. Lovers Of political and in
dustrial liberty were urged to unite in de-
fense of such inalienable rights. The dec
larations made by these in authority con-
cerning forcible extension of territory for
the alleged purpose of extending CONNER
cial interests were stated to be only a
means for subjugating the Inhabitants The
a6ODted thn
mittees resolution against such extensions.
Charge Slavery in Hawaii.
The American Federation of Labor a'so
declared against slavery within the jurisdc-
tion of the United States in the following
language: ~, .
I'VE reaffirm our previous resolution on
this question, namely: That there must be
no slavery or serfdom, by ownership or con-
tract, tolerated under the American flag and
that we will make any one whose actions
shall in any way initiate against this prin-
ciple of human freedom, responsible for such
action in every legitimate manner open to
u.s."
1t was stated that 10000 slaves are now
working under contract in the Hawaiian ISL
ands, that evasion of the contracts commits
them to prison, that their time in prison is
S'NNNh
the act admitting Hawaii TO the United
States domain provided for continuation of
these contracts, provision for repeating this
feature having been voted down by the sem
ate. The convention adopted the declara
tion unanimously.
A proposition for the establishment OF a
court of five arbitrators to be appointed by
each annual convention to settle all questions
Of Jurisdiction between the various federated
bodies, was rejected.
Resolutions were adopted urging the gov
ernment to provide more seaworthy life
boats; requesting placing CT union labels on
schoolbooks and endorsing the granite cut
ters contention for an eight-hour day.
The convention then went into executive
session under special order en- the request to
relieve the linotype tenders from jurisdiction
of the Typographical union.
The debate between the printer and ma
chinist delegates as to whether the linotype
machine tenders should be transferred to
the machinists' jurisdiction resulted in the
appointment of committee of nine to arbi-
trate the matter, consisting of three mem
bers of the Typographical union, three from
the machinists and three from other trades.