The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-12-14

The convention also adopted resolutions
/ favOring shorter hours for BARRIERS, and
extending sympathy and moral support
TO the Iron Moulders' Union Of North
America
A resolution against trusts, offered by
Max Hayes Of Cleveland, was amended
by the committee and reported to the
| convention as follows:
Resolved. That this twentieth con-
vention of the American Federation Of
Labor, r,e-afirm its position on the trust
ques ton, by urging the unorganized
working people to organize in their re-
spective trades as the best means Of
resisting the encroachments of trusts
and unonopolies. And we also renew the
recommendation that trade working men
generally study the development of trusts
ard monopolies."
Mr.. Hays took the floor to protest
against the change in the resolution He
was rer.ied to by Treasurer Duncan, who
SAID the committee had deemed a moder-
ate resolution along practical lines much
wiser than a radical illumination against
trusts. Mr.. Hayes position was con-
demned by a number Of delegates as
tending to transform the Federation of
/ Iacor into a political organization. Dele
! gate Agard Of St. Louis said he did not
! believe trusts should be denounced in
+ discriminatory but the question should
be studied carefully and the truth sifted
out
John Mitchell, president Of the United
Mine Workers, resented a statement
made by Mr. Hayes to the effect that if
the Mine Workers would strike again
they coluld secure a still greater in
! crease Of their wages. There has not
/ been one important step taken by the
Mine Workers" said Mr. Mitchell. chat
! hat not been bitterly opposed by the So
/ cialist Labor party Of Pennsylvania. To-
day our people earn as good wages as
any Of the crafts; during the past twen-
/ ty years we have increased our wages 40
/ per cent, and this has been done through
/ the efforts Of trade unionism. If the be-
/ levers in Socialism can point to a pract-
cal solution of the industrial problem,
an not so biased as not to be ready to
join them"
Upon a roll call the resolution as
amended by the committee was adopted
by a large majority.
TIE convention adopted a resolution
! favCring congressional legislation for the
/ pcnsioning Of civil service employees who
are disabled in the service Of the govern
ment.
The committee reported adversely On
three resolutions fayoring a cooperative
commonwealth and public ownership and
/ control of all She means of production
] rff frff TrrrR
sutute disclaiming all political intentions.
The substitute for the three resolutions
fayoring the cooperative commonwealth
was as follows:
I've cheerfully accept and desire all
the assistance and usefulness which may
or can be given the trade union move
ment by all reform forces
The aspirations. hopes and aims Of the
trade 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 workers shall enjoy the com2lete
/ benefit Of that which he produces: that
men and women shall recaive a greater
amount Of liberty; that the years TO
come may be brighter than the past or
present are the ideals OF US all But
We take the position, nevertheless, that
because of personal. local, national or
other reasons the workers Of our ooun-
try reach different conclusions as to the
method Of reaching the desired end. even
though there may pc little difference
among rs as 20 the desiraaility Of reach
ing that end
We assert as forcibly as we are capa-
! bic OF asserting that the trade union
movement Is the true and legitimate
channel through which the toters should
seek not only present smeloration but
future emancipation. We hold that the
trade unions throughout our country and
Canada 90 not now. nor DO we believe
they VIII in the future. declare against
the discussion of any question in their
/ meeting. either Of an economic or Of a
political nature. but they are ana We
think, justly committed against the en-
d-rsemeur or Introduction Of race pTe5ud-
ices. religious differences or partisan pol
flies. we 6ec'a- cit TO be the Inherent
duty Of our several unions 20 publish in
their journals, To discuss IN their meet
ings and the members thereof 20 study
IN lheir homes all questions q pub .ic
nature which have reference 20 thetr IN
dustrial or political l1aerty. but we as
firmly declare that ID Is not within the
constitutional Or any other power OF the
kr--.-g,s, s.--7--, -s.l-, rafs A7~fz1r