The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-14
UNION POINTS THE WAY
It Promises Toilers Amelioration Now
Emancipation Later
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP NOT FAVORED
A Bitter announcement Against Trusts Vo.ed
Down. Res .Iu!ion Calling For Eight
Hour Legislation in States Where
None is in Operation.
(By the Associated Pross.)

Louisville. Dec 13.--In the American
Federation of Labor convention today two
resolutions championed by the radical
element were voted down by overwhelm-
ing majorities. One was a bitter pro-
nouncement against trusts and monopolies
in general, and the other declaration
in favor of the cooperative common
wealth and government ownership and
control of ali means of production and
distributions 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
tion is at this time an impracticable the
DRY with no definite plan for development
into a working system.
The substitute for the resolution
fayoring the cooperative commonwealth
was adopted, 4,169 to 4S5 and was as FOL
lows:
I'VE cheerfully accept and desire all
the assistance and usefulness which
movement by all reform forces. The as
niratiops. hopes and aims of the trades
union members are very similar to 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 Dement'S
of that which he produces; that men and
women shall receive greater amount
of liberty that the years to come may
he made brighter than the past or pres
emf 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 TO 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 forcibly as we are
-fsapable of asserting that the trade union
movement is the true and legitimate
channel through which the toilers should
seek not only present amelioratlon but
future emancipation. We hold that the
trade unions throughout our country and
Canada do not now, nor do we believe they
will in the future declare against the
discussion of any question in their meet
ings either of an economic or OF polltl-
cal nature; but they are, and we tnlnk
Justly committed against the lndorse-
ment or introduction of race preJudlces,
religious differences or partisan pontlcS.
We declare it to be the inherent duty
of our several unions to publish In tnelr
journals, to discuss in their meetings ana
the members thereof to study in their
homes all questions OF public nature
which have reference to their Industrial
h,af O
clare that it is not within the constitu-
tional or any other power OF the the
American Federation of Labor to legis-
late resolve or specify to which political
marty members of our unions shall belong
or for which party they shall vote
resolution against trusts, offered by
Max Hayes, of Cleveland was amended
nv the committee and adopted by the
convention as follows:
s.ResoIved. that this convention reaf-
firms its position upon the trust ques-
ton by urging the unorganized working
people to organize in their respective
trades as the best means of resisting the
encroachments of trusts and monopol1es.
We also renew the recommendation that
trade workingmen generally study the
deyelopment of trusts and monopolies.
resolution advocating that members
of organized labor shall patronize only
such wine. liquor or beer dealers as sell
products bearing the union label was
tabled.
Resolutions adopted include
Favoring shorter hours for BARRIERS.
Extending sympathy to the Iron Mould
ers' Union of North America.
Favoring pensioning of Civil Service
employes disabled in service.
Calling for eight hour legislation in
States where none is now in operation.
rnfea..r. re.r;r,cr of the ilnnnrt alton of lace