Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-16
INDEPENDENT USE OF BALLOT
Federation Of Labor Outlines Political Ac-
ton for Local Unions.
EFFORT TO SETTLE PAINTER TROUBLE
Convention Takes Unanimous Action
Toward bridging the Chnsm
Between the Rival Painters
/ National Organizations.

DETROIT, Mich, Dec. IA resolution
recommending members Of labor bodies 10
use their election ballots independently OF
the predominating political parties was
adopted this afternoon by the American Fed
GRAFTON Of Labor after first eliminating a
declaration of suspicion against labor men
who might advocate the interests Of the
present political parties. A provision for
submitting the question to a referendum
vote of all the affiliated organizations was
also stricken out.
Considerable Of the time of the afternoon
session, which was the only one held today,
was occupied by the discussion of a move
ment to more clearly define the working
duties of the respective crafts in order to
avoid conflicts between the organizations
whose working in the respective callings
is more or less allied and interviewer.
The resolution for Independent political
action, as amended in committee and
adopted, read as follows:
whereas The various reports submitted
60 our trade union officials are In effect that
so far our efforts by petitions and inter-
views with the legis latures of the various
states and federal government are con-
cerned, little has been accomplished by the
above mentioned methods; for where a So
called labor law IS passed, 1t Is either de- @
clared uncons titutional by the courts or al
lowed to remain unenforCed, "A dead letter
on the statute books.
Resolved That this federation recon-
mends that the various central and local
bodies of labor in the United States take
steps to use their ballots, their political
in the principles and declarations of the
American Federation of Labor!
Defining Crnftsmen's Duties.
A resolution urging all union labor men to
more clearly define their craftmen's duties
was warmly argued upon as being one OF the
most important and pressing questions before
the world of labor. Among the speakers
was p. j. Mcclure. He held that the reso-
luton was insufficient to cover the matter,
since it contained nothing to prevent trades
organizations from claiming jurisdiction over
branches of employees not strictly of their
own calling. He doubted whether the ques-
ton could be settled by the convention.
Secretary Frank Morrison deprecated the
idea of the convention trying to dictate
where the work of various crafts began and
ended. The resolution 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 a resolution
acknowledging paper hanging as a separate
trade from the painters. Non concurrence
was the committees recommendation.
Speeches were made in favor of specializing
the paper hangers and granting them fed
Grafton charter, which should free them
from any domination of the painters. The
latter contended that the two crafts ought
TO continue united in one labor organization.
The discussion of this lasted past adjourn
ment hour and the convention, by close
vote, refused to remain in session longer.
To Bridge Chnsm Retween Painters.
During the afternoon action was unanl-
mously taken toward bridging the chasm
between the rival painters organizations,
The executive council was directed to call
a Joint convention of the two belligerents
within six months and special committee
of three to be appointed to act with the
joint meeting and finally settle the questions
on which they have failed to agree, new
charter to be issued to the new national
and the charter of the present federated
body to be revoked Immediately after the
joint meeting. Other resolutions were
adopted as follows:
Approving Cleveland clerks shorter work.
day efforts and sanctioning shorter days
for clerks generally, protesting against use
of government employees OMarine band) for
private purposes, endorsing eight-hour de-
mand OF boilermakers, directing the presi-
dent of the federation to lobby against con-
vct labor laws, for election of senators
by popular vote, asking introduction of bills
in southern legislature, for enactment by
which convict labor would bt no longer sub
1ected to lease, directing executive council
to confer with cracker baking trusts in an
effort to induce them to recognize union
labor, for appointment of next mining nspec-
tor of Missouri from the ranks of the zinc
and lead workers, denouncing anti-scalping
laws, favoring a national law for reducing
hours of labor directing that the executive
councillors represent the federation at meet
ings of the various branches of railway en-
pioyes, with view to close alliance with
the federation. Several regulations relat-
ing to the organizing Of new bodies were also
adopted.