The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-09
FEDERATION OF LABOR
REPORT OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
head TO DELEGATES.
Lively Fight Expected on Monday Be-
tween Printers and Machinists
over an Old spu

ILL., NY, Oec- c-Ine AMER
lean Federation of Labor began its third
days session with vigor and got down to
business this morning. After the prelimi-
n~aries, an appeal from the Federation Of
Labor of Porto Rico was read for freedom
OF speech. assembly and press, and that
a committee visit the island for the pur-
pose of investigation and organization, and
a telegram from the W.. c. T. T., asking
assistance in putting down the liquor traf-
fc. The reading of the report of the ex-
ecutive council took an hour or more, after
which reports of committees were called
for. Only one. the resolutions committee,
was prepared to respond.
The report of the executive council re-
viewed the action of national and inter-
national unions for the past year. The
report criticised the failure of the Georgia
Legislature to pass the child labor bill
and recommended renewed efforts at the
next session; criticised the treatment of
street-railway employees at ST. Louis dur
ing the street-railway strike in that city.
the action of the La Resistencia of Tampa,
Fla. and reaffirmed the right of American
citizens to work without h~indrance, and
cited the reduction or the working hours
of granite cutters to eight hours and in
GAtdEtd Na5N ~ - -
the United States and Canada The re-
port was referred.
A resolution was adopted, fixing the limit
of time to June i, 1901, for the expulsion
or dual and seeding local organizations by
the Chicago Federation of Labor, and
other central bodies. a resolution IN
structing the federation TO assist the In
ternational Association of Machlnists In
bringing about a change in the department
rules whereby there shall be but one class
under which machinists are employed VINO
ChoH raonfv~o tha ufnnInp1 rnfa of VT0OQ
was adopted.
a resolution also was adopted instruct
ing the State branches of the federation
IT, each State TO petition the Legislature
for a change in the Constitution providing
for the submission to the people OF con-
stitutional amendments on petition OF
voters, and instructing the executive coun-
eli to ask for like amendments TO the fed
eral Constitution.
The greater portion of the afternoon ses-
sion was taken up by the form presenta-
ton of fraternal delegates John Wfer,
general secretary of the Fifeshire Miners
Association of Scotland, Pete Curran.
chairman of the general Federation OF
Trade Unions of Great Britain, and David
A Carey, of the Canadian Trades Union
Council, and a short response by President
Gompers. Walter Vrooman. founder of
Ruskin Hall in oxford, Eng. and Trenton,
Mo-, made an address in behalf OF the
movement i'm which he is engaged.
A resolution was adopted in espon TO
the greeting of the w. c.. L. u. at Wash
1nStOn. that the f"e06ratOn accept the SOOU
will OF that body and extend hearty CO.
operation in the good work in which they
are engaged" and asking that the w. -.
L u. i'm turn manifest sympathy with or
gained labor by giving patronage TO union
labels in every trade.
John A. Hunter. who was one of the fra
ternal delegates to the last British Trades
Union Congress-, then read his report as
such delegate. Under suspension OF the
rules adjournment was then taken until
Monday morning
Just before adjournment a number OF
resolutions were presented by title ana
referred, among them being one against
the anti-scalping bill, one to encourage the
establishment of local unions of the Retail
Clerks International Protective Associa.
ton. one for a government department. of
labor, the head of. which shall have a place
in the Cabinet, one to secure the passage
by Congress of a bill to restrict immigra-
ton, with a view to preventing the growth
of the sweating system, and one reaffirming
adherence by the federation to the principle
Of self-government by each craft or trade,
and a number recommending ooycotts
against specified firms. Consideration or
and passing upon these resolutions and
other business will Occupy the attention
of the convention all of next week, Mr..
Gompers tonight stating to the Associated
Press representative that final adjourn
ment will be taken one week from tonight.
y banquet was given tonight by the Cen
trail Labor Union of Louisville TO the dele
gates and their friends, and the press rep
resentatives.
a lively fight will be precipitated in the
convention Monday between the machinists
| and printers. Some time since the Inter-
national Machinists' Union asked the ma
chinisJs who work at the Linotype ma
chine to resign from the international
Typographical Union and join the ma
chinists' union. The typographical union
had in the meantime passed a law COM
Polling the machinists, as well as the Oper-
ators, to join their union. They resisted
the request of the machinists. The latter
have now introduced a resolution demand
ing that the machinists affiliate with the
regular macEinistS' union.