Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-12
FEDERATION OF LABoR.
Deals with the Question of Unions
in Porto Rico.

Louisville, KY, Dec, l2.-The Ameri-
can Federation of Labor convention TO-
day adopted a declaration recommend
ing 20 an affiliated unions, whose trade
or calling is pursued In Porto Rico thdl
they take prompt action for the purpose
OF disseminating Information IN PORTO
Rico necessary To give the Porto lucdhs
opportunity to become allied with me
national or international trade aSsoci-
atiOns in America.
10 was also recommended that the
American national unions have their
constitutions translated into the Span
i.h language, and that the incoming
executive council Of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor take action promptly
TO carry out the plans and purposes Of
the American labor movement In Porto
Rico appropriatng $1,000 TO carry this
resolution into effect.
The convention concurred In resolu-
tions previously presented declaring
i t.rab.e opposition TO the ANTI
scalping' bill now before the commit
ou foreign and interstate commerce
in both houses OF Congress.
An animated discussion arose over "a
resolution for a labor portfolio In the
cabinet. upon which the committee re-
ported adversely The original reso-
luton declared that 10 Is the sense Of
this convention that a governmental
department OF labor should be formed
the head OF which should have a place
I'm the cabinet OF the President Of the
United States" and that said cabinet
officer should be a bona fide trade
unionist
Vice President Duncan opposed the
resolution ON the ground that the
distinct stipulation for a bona hIe
trade unionist' would prove "a source
OF weakness and probably defeat the
purposes of the convention Ca framing
this measure.
Delegate Turnsette of san Francisco
opposed the recommendation that a
cabinet officer le taken l.0m any par
ticular class OF society, on the ground
that the American form of government
is not the parliamentary form and that
the cabinet members are the personal
advisers OF the President.
Delegate Warner OF New York said
his experience had not led him to put
much confidence in the average labor
representative IN places OF trust and
responsibility In some OF the state gov
ernmcnts.
% would sooner see Mark Hanna" Ice
said, representing our Interests than
some OF .ng .llor representatives. wnO
hold positions IN some States
Treasurer James b. Lennon, Of
Bloomington, ILL.,. said he hoped To see
the time when a trade unioniSt would
be President OF the United States. but
he opposed the adoption OF the reso.
ton as prescribing too narrow bOun-
daries Tor the appointment of cabinet
officer
The adverse report of the committee
was conCurred In 10y vote OF Is to A.
thus killing the resolution.
The convention took adverse action
on a resolution instructIng the eEecu-
tive council To eudcavor TO secure the
passage of a bin 10 Congress which
will restrict immigration.
bin introduced IN the House of
Representatives by Representative
William Aston Chanler, OF New York,
designed to correct abuses suffered by
seaman In the merchant marine, was
endorsed by the convention.
Resolutions advocating reduction Of
the tax on beer 10 its former levy of 81
per barrel were concurred in, the COM
mittee stating that II could not con-
ceiye that the brewery interests Of the
country needed or desired any assist
ance from the Federation Of Labor
The following resolutions were con-
Cur!Cq in:
fayoring an amendment OF the law 10
provide for only one class under which
men shall be employed in the United
Stats nayyyards. at the standard rate
OF wages as received by the various ma
tions IN the district IN which nayyyards
are situated favoring free school books
IN all the public schools OF the coun-
try.
William u, Mahon, OF Detroit, who
was the fcderation's delegate 20 the
Canadian labor congress al Montreal,
read his report OF the proceedings of
the Canadian body, after which the
convention recessed until afternoon.