The times., 1899-10-19

The executive council Of the American
Federation of Labor met yesterday at
headquarters at Typographical Temple All
the members Of the council were present
except P. J. MCGUIRE, who is detained in
Philadelphia on business concerning the
Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of
America.
The subcommittee appointed Tuesday to
report upon the dispute between the Boot
and Shoe Workers Union and the boot and
shoe workers of Brockton submitted the
following, which. after considerable discus
sion, was unanimously adopted:
The executive council of the American
Federation of Labor, having taken into
consideration the entire subject, decides
That the call for and the holding of the
convention of the Boot and Shoe Workers
Union at Rochester, N Y, was legal and
proper.
1T being evident that an extraordinary
exigency in the life of the Boot and Shoe
Workers Union existed at the time of the
convention, in our opinion the course puT-
sued in the adoption OF the constitution
and the carrying out thereof, was justified
by the circumstances. No good reason,
however was submitted in the evidence
for even temporarily changing the system
of eleCting officers by the referendum, but
in view Of the fact that the convention al
most unanimously elected the present Of
feers the result is binding upon every
member
I'VE are of the opinion that the revoca-
tion Of the charters Of the Brockton Shoe
Workers Unions was legal, but in the in
terest of the shoe workers themselves, and
the success and permanency of the organi-
zation, We regard as impractical the or
der of the general officers of the Boot and
Shoe Workers Union to continue the boot
and shoe workers of Brockton as members
at large" We therefore decide that the
general officers of the Boot and Shoe
Workers Union rescind their action revok-
ing the charters of the Brockton local
unions"
The executive council deems the sug-
gestiOn of the Brockton boot and shoe
workers for the holding of another con-
vention al an early date inadvisable.
letter was received from the Fed
Grated Trades Council, of San Francisco,
regarding the enforcement of the slave
like conditions prevailing in Hawaii,
and the effort of the Hawaiian capital
lists and Government to lure Italian and
Portuguese laboreTs to Hawaii 1t was
resolved that the widest publicity be given
to this condition of affairs. and to warn
worlmen of Italy and other countries
who may be applied to, to avoid being
ertrapped into contracting themselves into
practical slavery. II was also decided to
bring the matter to the attention of the
President
The application for charter for the
Steam Filters National Association was
approved.
President Gompers was instructed to
proceed to Milwaukee at the earliest pos
sible time for the purpose of finally set
Ting the dispute between the coopers and
other interests in that city.
President GompeFs was also directed to
| devise plan by which the workers Of
Cleveland and other sections of the coun-
try may be more thoroughly organized in
the trades union movement.
The controversy between the wood car
vers' and the wood workers unions. of
| Chicago, was referred to President Com
pers for adjustment In connection with
Vice President Kidd, on the occasion of
the formers visit to Chicago en- route to
Milwaukee.
1t was decided to renew the application
to the President for the extension of Ex-
ecutive clemency to Ephraim w Clark.
confined in Thomaston, Ne, prison, upon
a charge of mutny.
Several matters of internal grievances
/ between local organizations were dis
cussed and adjusted
circular letter announcing the hold
ing of the nineteenth annual convention
of the American Federation was issued by
the council. The meeting will be held at
Detroit, Mich, beginning Monday, Decem-
Der il next.
The executive council will probably con-
clude its work today