Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-14
FAVOR ORGANIZING FARMERS
Federation of Labor Appoints Committee to
Aid New Movement,
INQUIRE PRtsDEs FOR THE FIRST TIME
Afternoon Session il Devoted to EN-
pressions of FrnternaI Greetings
between the British, Canadian
and American Organizations.

and American Organizations.
! DETROIT, Mich. Dec. 13.-Most Of the
speeches of this afternoons session of the
Federation OF Labor were devoted to eX-
pressions of fraternal greeting between the
British, Canadian and American organiza-
tions The speeches were earnest, eloquent
and able and we're frequently applauded
throughout. There were no references to
diplomatic alliances or other political ques-
tions, except as relating to securing OF labor
legislation. The new movement for or
ganizing the farmers was encouraged by
the appointment OF a committee to assist
it,
Fred G. Kennedy OF Binghamton, N. Y,
was given the privilege of the floor to speak
about the new movement for unonlzing the
farmers. Mr.. Kennedy held that the gem
eral impression that there is no reason
for forming farmers unions is wrong. Said
he:
LAS soon as the storekeepers in the coun-
try districts are educated to keep union
made goods by the demands of the farmers
for them the success of organized labor will
be assured"
Several delegates spoke heartily in favor
| vi lue plOJSCI anu SpeCldl committee was
appointed to aid in pressing it.
: p. j. MCGUIRE first vice president of the
Federation, presided for the first time this
afternoon The special order was greet
ings from the foreign fraternal delegates.
+ Alexander Wilkie one of the British dele
gates, said, concerning the progress of the
British worker since unionism became
power that 80 per cent of the difficulties
between the English employer and workman
| are now settled by meetings of the trade
union representatives with the employers
The British workman, said Mr.. Wilkie, was
also awakening to the need of having dis
tinctively labor candidates in the political
campaigns. The speaker expressed surprise
to find no women delegates in the conven-
tion. His statement that they always had
several in the English trade congresses was
received with applause.
He quite agreed with Susan B. Anthonys
sentiments, expressed yesterday, but Miss
Anthony ne contended, could best aid the
rights of working women by organizing
them into the labor unions, the most demo-
cratic bodies in the world. He felt bound,
however, to confess that in certain English
school elections in which women property
owners were permitted to vote, they were
'too easily welded by the wies OF the po-
litical canvasser." Mr.. Wilkie predicted that
labor co-partnership, already quite common
in England, would make as great strides
in the next century as trades unionism had
in this.
Value of Trade UniOnism.
James Haslam Of the British miners
union said that across the sea, as we'll as
in America, the old economic doctrine of
letting things slide and regulate themselves
was rapidly giving place to intelligent
ideas, and that the value OF trades unionism
was consequently becoming more apparent
There were too many weakened working
men in both countries; otherwise, the eight
hour day might be accomplished without
the aid of legislation.
Greetings from Canada were spoken by
David A. Carey.
"It was through the medium OF trades
unionism alone" said Mr.. Carey, that the
peoples Of three countries have become far
more united Efforts of former Canadian
labor leaders to prevent the Canadians from
affiliating with the United States organiza-
tions had been defeated and there were no
stauncher friends of the united labor move
ment than those in Canada Concerning
progress In the use of union labels, Mr..
Carey said that although a bill in the label
interest had passed the Dominion house. 1t
was killed in the senate, where the men,
bers he characterized as fossils" are seated
for life. And with all respect due to their
good services as statesmen" added the
speaker, sometimes their lives last lit
tie too long for the good of the people,"
Laboringmen, however, are getting more
representation in the provincial and Domin-
ion legislatures and when the principles OF
trade unionism were to be tested Canada
would never be found wanting.
Vice President Mcclure, responding,
gloried in the sentiment that although each
of the nations represented has its separate
flag and distinctive patriotism, that oceans
and frontier lines were obliterated under the
banner of trade unioniem under which all
toilers could stand, regardless of national !
ity, creed, color or sex.
while the political parties are talking
about expansion" said MCGUIRE 1--WE will
advocate expansion on broader lines. In
stead of limiting the amount of clothes, |
food and other necessities and luxuries of
the worker, we want expansion until he has
a house full While the consumptive power
is kept down to the minimum and the pro-
ductive power has no limit, while these last |
we'll advocate that kind of expansion"
Only business OF routine character was |
transacted during the remainder OF the ses-
sion.
Delegate BELL Is Unseated.
The troubles of the painters had the floor
In the forenoon session of the Fedora
ton. Further debate was finally cut off |
by demands for the previous question on
adoption of the credentials committee report
and w. II. Bell, the delegate of the Omaha
Labor union, was refused seat in the
convention. The convention voted viva voce
and the commttee's recommendation was
concurred in by large majority.
James S. Kneeand, president of the affil-
lated or Baltimore faction, for the painters
made a long argument against seating Bell
on account of his being a member of the
Lafayette faction" of painters, which Is
affiliated with the knights of Labor Knee
land contended that any getting together OF
the painters factions was still as impossible
as ever. He said that one reason for past
failures to unite was because Bell and other
Lafayette faction leaders had refused 10
agree to the condition of afiliation with the
federation. Kneeland cited Boston prece-
dent In which knights of Labor were refused
seats in federation convention and urged
that they continue to be kept out.
e. A. Agard OF Fairbury, ILL.,. member OF
ri Of