The Saint Paul globe., 1900-12-11
Union labor At NORK
PROCEEDINGS IN YEsTERD.y.s
FEDERATION CONVENTION
AT LOUISVILLE
THEY CUT OUT THE POLITICS
Resolution That the Organization as
"a Body Support the Referendum
in the Next Campaign
Turned Down.

AOO4O 11-11IIy OCC.- IU,-llQn10u1aC0lY
following the call to order today the res
olutions committee of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor submitted its report
The first resolution commended by the
committee was one reaffirming its favor
able position on the initiative and ref
erendum, which was adopted by the con-
vention by vote of 81 to 56 after con-
siderable debate.
Following in rapid succession were
recommended and adopted resolutions re-
questing support, by congress, of bill
for higher education; of the bill in favor
of an eight-hour day for all post
Office employees, to. be introduced at the
coming session of congress and in favor
of municipal ownership of public utili-
ties.
Other resolutions adopted were those
making boilermakers and iron ship build
ers- eligible as assistant United States in
spector of boilers; for reasonable of
service in sailing vessels and examina-
ton in seamanship,' of officers of ocean
steamers; for executive clemency for e.
w. Clark, imprisoned for mutiny on the
high seas restricting the towing of
barges and cargo-carrying vessels on the
lakes and the Atlantic coast.
The executive committee reported un-
favorably on a resolution for the estab-
lishment of department of commerce
and industry and its action was sus-
tained. The report of the auditing COM
mittee was then presented and accepted.
Special committees were appointed on
the eight-hour day, compulsory arbitra
ton, and on organization in Porto Rico.
The resolutions committee reported un-
favorably upon the following resolution:
POLITICS TURNED DOWN.
Whereas, The right of direct Iegis-
lation is one of the leading political de-
mands of the American Federation of La
Dor; and whereas, we can never hope to
acquire this right as long as we continue
to divide our strength at the ballot box;
therefore, be it
ton of Labor, as an organization, take
such steps as are necessary to go into
the next national campaign with this sin
gle demand, upon which all lovers of
freedom and justice can stand
1t was expected that a contest against
this report would be precipitated by the
radicals, but there was no objection and
the report of the committee was accepted
and the resolution was killed.
A resolution was referred to the COM
mttee providing for the establishment of
a national labor press bureau at Wash
ington. The labor press will hold its an
nual election Of officers tomorrow.
AT the afternoon session the convention
heard the report Of the committee on or
ganization which favored a resolution
providing for the appointment soon as
possible after adjournment of the COM
mittee of four permanent organizers for
the ensuing year in the Southern, inter-
mountain and Pacific coast states and
the territories.
Other resolutions favor national or
ganization in the fishing industry, among
the leather workers, rubber workers and
wood, wire and metal fathers and up
holsterers.
A resolution extending sympathy to the
striking telegraphers on the Santa Fe
railroad system was adopted.
The question Of trade autonomy was
raised by a resolution by the steam and
hot water filters asking a constitutional
charter in place of the Plumbers union.
The organization committee recommend
ed that committees of three from each
union be appointed to confer with like
committee of the American Federation,
which was concurred in.
THE UNION LABEL.
The committee on labels recommended
that all school books used in public
schools of the various states should bear
the label of the Allied Printing Trades
council, and the recognition of the union
labels of the Boot and Shoe Workers,
Tobacco Workers, Journeymen Horse
shoers and lumber trades. These rec
concentrations were adopted by the con-
vention.
A partial report of the committee on
boycotts contained recommendations for
reference to the incoming executive
council Of large number of resolutions
for the placing on the unfair list of
specified firms and corporations on &C
count of labor troubles with Their en-
ployes.
In the midst of a fight on a resolution
favorably reported by the committee on
local and federated bodies providing for
the affination of locals with charter
ed local central bodies, in accordance
with the articles of the constitution of
the federation, adjournment was taken,'
the sdbject to be brought up for final
settlement at II o'clock tomorrow.
A resolution was presented and re-
ferred just prior to adjournment that the
federation support the action of the ma
tional irrigation committee in urging
congress to make an appropriation for a
system of Irrigation in the arid region
of the West and Southwest.