Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-12-14
labor SRONS 7AE CABINET,
American Federation Refuses to Ask
Power at Washington.
THE CONVICT PAROLE LAW.
1t IL Discussed, but No Action IL Taken
Against It-No Restriction to Imml-
grafton to He Demanded-The Refer
endum System. IN

Louisville, KY, Dec. 1S.--The execu
tive committee Of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor to-day reported tt
the convention a preliminary plan t
better the conditions of the laborine
tlasses of Porto Rico. The incoming
council was instructed to expend s., 0O(
N investigating conditions and distrib'
uting labor literature, printed in Span
Ssh, in that island, the object being tt
form unions that shall become alliec
with the labor bodies in the states
Resolution No. SO, recommending that
governmental department of labor
should be formed, was the subject Of
considerable debate. The latter por-
ton Of the resolution, providing that
the departments cabinet officer should
be bona-fide trade-unionist, caused
the trouble. Vice-President A. j. Dun
can, Treasurer J. B. Lennon and Dele
gate Andrew Furuseth recommended
that the clause relating to the ap-
pointment of -trade-unionist be strick-
ell out, claiming it would be sui
cidal to demand that the department.
be created and at the same time to die
tate the appointment. The men favor
ing the resolution presented strong ar
guments, under the leadership of
Thomas T. Kidd, Max Hayes and Dele
gate Klapetzky. The resolution was
killed by a vote of IS to A..
Refuse to Ask Paro'e Laws Repeal.
Resolution No. 1870, calling for the
repeal Of the convict parole law in
the state of Illinois, On the ground
that it worked Injustice to portion Of
the working class, was reported upon
adversely by the committee on resolu,
lions, and the Illinois delegates pro-
tested vigorously against the commit
tees report being accepted, John NJ.
Hunter and W. D. Ryan of the miners
being particularly bitter. Tbs COM
report, however, carried the
day, but Mr.. Ryan and the delegates
from Illinois say the parole law will
certainly be repealed by the next Leg
islature of Illinois. The convention
took adverse action on a resolution in
the executive council to pre-
pare and endeavor to secure the pas
sage of bill in congress which would
restrict immigration. Resolutions ad-
vocating reduction of the tax on beer
to it's former levy of 81 barrel were
not concurred in, the committee stat
ing that it could not conceive that
the brewery interests of the country
need or desire any assistance from the
Federation of Labor" ~.,
Fight Over Federation Elections.
Resolution No. 1855, providing for the
election of federation officers, intro
duced by Max Hayes, was strongly de-
Tended by him, and President Gompers
took the floor to say that he had al
ways been in favor of the initiative
and referendum, and he was willing
that Delegate Hayes and others should
submit proposition to elect fedora
ton officials by the referendum sys-
tenn. If they could devise any scheme
which promised success they would
have his heartiest support. Thomas |.
Kidd, speaking for the woodworkers,
said that the referendum system was
a failure in his own Or
ganization. After a heated debate a
was taken on proposition to
refer the matter to the executive COM
mittee, with instructions to take the
whole matter under consideration and
report back to the next convention.
The cigarmakers voted against the
proposition, as did the woodworkers
The International Typographical union
voted for the proposition. The propo-
sition was lost, but the matter was fin
ally referred to a committee of three
to report to this convention. Miss
King, a delegate from Petersburg, Ind,
who occupied the chair for a short
time early in the convention, is talked
If as possible candidate against Sec
rotary Frank Morrison.
Two Slain In Train Wreck.
O1aan N " Dec 1d-Two MAN