Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-13

Effort Made in American Federation Of
L.bor to Unseat W. H, Bell
GIVEN CHANCE TO STATE HIS POSITION
Entire Afternoon Used In Discussing
observation-disclosures the ContrO-
ycrsy Bctwecn Baltimore nud
Lafayette Painters Unions.

DETROIT, Dec. 12.-The question of the
seating Of single delegate occupied the
American Federation OF Labor convention
the greater part OF today's session. The i'm.
portance of the action to be taken in this
matter is in the fact that by II the fedora
tion expects to establish a precedent either
of strict upholding of its constitutional pro-
visions in regard to admission of delegates
or of lenienCy in seating in its conventions
members Of labor organizations not afili-
ated with the federation. The case in point
is that of member Of n non affiliated labor
union who seeks admission as delegate from
the Central Labor union of Omaha.
The committee on credentials reported
against the seating of Fred Kennedy. mem
Der of the New York Farmers union who
was present as the alternate delegate from
the Central Labor union of Binghamt H.
n. Y. Application for a federation charter
for the Farmers union had not been made
month previously, as required by the con
stitution. The report was concurred in.
Fight the Omaha Delegate.
The afternoon proved entirely too short
for the arduous discussion engendered by
the next recommendation of the credentials
committee II was to the effect that w. II.
Bell, delegate of the Omaha Central Labor
union, be not seated. Mr.. Bell is president
of painters union in Omaha, which is
allied with the So called Lafayette faction, ="
the branch of the craft which has no afIilia-
tion with the federated division, the Brother
hood of Painters and Decorators OF Amer
lea known as the Baltimore faction The
committee reported that the Omaha Central
Labor union had violated the constitution
of the federation, which prohibits the seat
ing of any delegate from any union which
contains organizations which are recedent
from the American federation
motion to nonconcur in the commit
tees recommendation was ruled out of order
by Vice President Duncan An appeal was
taken from the chairs decision and the first
roll call vote of the convention was taken.
The ruling was sustained by vote of
l 500 to 1899
long acrimonious debate ensued on a
motion to concur in the report and Mr.. Bell
and James S. Kneeland of the federated di-
vision of the painters were given leave to
state their positions. Bell made an exhaust
i've plea in his own behalf The hour of
adjournment arrived before he had finished
and the session was extended half hour
to hear him through. He asserted that he
$500 affiliated labor men in his
who would resent taxation by the
federation if denied representation. Bell
urged that other central labor unions were
on the floor under similar cir
cumstances.
Several eloquent speeches were made by
leading members of the federation, many
Of them urging that the time was ripe for
a strict upholding of the constitution in
admission of delegates. Some charged that
the executive council of the federation had
been too lenient in permitting membership
TO the Omaha central union, while knowing
that it included a body of seceders. Ad-
ournment was taken before a vote was
reached
During the afternoon the delegates had a
half hours diversion, listening to Miss
Susan B. Anthony, who made an appeal to
he federation to join in a petition to con-
yress to refer to the state legislatures for
a proposed sixteenth constitu-
onal amendment, providing for enfran-
,hisement of women.