The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-12-18
UNION POINTS THE WAY
It Promises Toilers Amelioration Now
Emancipation Later.
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP NOT FAVORED
4 Bitter Pfonouncement Against Trusts Vo.ed
Down. Resolution Calling Fer Eight
Hour Legislation in States Where
None is in Operation.
None is in Operation.
(By the Associated Trcss.)

Louisville, Dec. 13.-In the American
Federation of Labor convention today two
resolutions chanpioned by the radical
element were voted down BY overWhelm-
ing majorities. One was q bitter pro-
noCncement against trusts AID monopolies
in general, and the other a declaration
in favor Of the cooperative common
wealth and government ownership and
control OF all means Of production and
distribution. For both Of them much
more moderate substitutes were adopted
after long and acrimonious debate.
The opponents Of the resolutions
claimed that socialism is the only solu-
ton of the industrial problems.
President Gompers and his colleagues
who opposed the resolutions, took the
ground that the Federation should not
be committed to any political party and
that the government ownership PROPOSE
ton is at this time an impracticable the
org with no definite plan for development
nto a working system.
The substitute for the resolution
favoring the cooperative commonwealth
was adopted, AGO TO iS5 and was as fol-
lows:
we cheerfully accept and desire ali
the assistance and usefulness which
may or can be given the trade union
movement by all reform forces. The as
pirations, hopes and aims Of the trades
union members are very similar 70 the
expressed wishes OF the greater body OF
Socialists, namely, that the burdens OF
toll may be made lighter and that each
worker shall enjoy the complete benents
OF that which ne produces; that men and
women shall receive a greater amount
Of liberty; that the years to come may
be made brighter than the past or pres
ent, are the ideals OF US all. But we take
the position, nevertheless, that because
Of personal, local, national or other rea-
sons the workers OF our country reach
different conclusions as 20 the method OF
reaching the desired end, even though
there may be little difference among US
as TO the desirability of reaching that
end. We assert as forcibiy as we are
capable Of asserting that the trade union
movement is the true and legitimate
channel through which the tOllers should
seek not only present amelioration but
future emancipation. We hold that the
trade unions throughout our country ana
Canada do not now, nor do we beileVe they
will in the future declare against the
discussion Of any question IN their meet
ings. either Of an economic or of a polil-
cal nature, Jul Ci4SS az, dho
Justly. committed against the indorse-
| ment or Introduction of race preJud1ces,
religious differences or partisan politics.
We declare it TO be the inherent duty
Of our several unions to publish in their
journals, to discuss IN their meetings ana
the members thereof to study in their
homes all questions OF a public nature
which have reference to their lnouslrlal
| or political liberty; but We as firmly de-
! clare that it is rot within the conStltu-
| ticnal or any other power of the the
| American Federation Of Labor TO legls-
! late resolve or specify 10 which political
| party members of our unions shall belong
CT for which party they shall vote.
A resolution against trusts, offered by
Max Hayes, of Cleveland. was amended
by the COMMITTEES and adopted py the
| convention as follows:
Resolved. that this convention reaf-
| firms its position upon the trust ques-
| ticn BY urging the unorganized working
peoDle to organize in their respective
trades as the best means Of resisting the
encroachments of trusts and inonopoiies.
We also renew the recommendation that
trade workingmen generally study the
| DEVELOPMENT of trusts and 1nonorolies,'
A resolution advocating that members
oe organized labor shall ratronize only
such wine. LIQUOR or beer dealers as sell
products bearing the union label was
tabled.
Resolutions adopted include:
FayorinG shorter hours for BARRIERS.
Extending sympathy TO the Iron Mould
ers' Union Of North America.
Favoring pensioning Of Civil Service
employees disabled in service.
Calling for eight hour legislation II
States where none is now in operation.
Disappearing of the importation of lace
makers to Zion. Ills, for work in al
established industry.
Protesting against the further placing
Of army hat orders with any non-unioI
concern.