The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-20
Western Federation Of Miners
Adopts Resolution.
WOULD BIND MEMBERS
PLAN TO MAKE VOTING COM
PULSoRY.
Governor Steunenberg of I6abo is
Formally Denounced for His
Stand During Recent Strike
Western Labor Union Elects Of
fcers and Scores Mckinley.

Denver, May IA resolution was
adopted by the Western Federation Of
Miners convention today recommend
ing that ali local affiliated unions make
1t compulsory on their members to ex-
ercise the elective franchise Further
evidence of the federation intention
OF going into politics was shown in
the adoption OF the following:
RESOLVED. That a political commit
tee be. elected by the eighth annual
convention Of the Western Federation
or Miners to confer and correspond with
the officers OF all labor organizations,
local and national, with view to fur
Iherlng each cause of labor through
the only sensible and logical means at
our command, tn ballot box"
10 Teach Economics.
a resolution was adopted providing
Tor the ava ointment of a commission
to investigate the advisability and
practicabiity Of establishing n college
Tor the PRONUNCIATION OF. true economic
and political theories, similar TO like
colleges on the continent of Europe.
said commission to report to the fede-
ration at its next annual convention.
Il proposition to increase TIE aDDro-
pflatlon o. funds by assessment of
members FOR cooperative mining was
rejected.
Delegate Rides resolution. which had
been suggested by his constituents, the
Out ango, Colo, Mine and Smeltermen's
union, looking to the establishment of
a cooperative Smelter at Durango, was
ADOPTED. A committee was appointed
10 investigate the proposition and re-
port at the next convention.
\ law form for the licensing Of all
engineers employed at or around mines
was adopted. w. r. Phelps was in
dorsed for organizer should the fede-
ration decide TO place an organizer in
the field.
Bounty for Mrs Corcoran.
The convention voted a bounty of
500 a month to the wife Of Paul Corco-
ran and appropriated $50 a month to-
ward the support of the families of
ten other union miners who are i'm
prlsoned at San Quentin, Cal. Letters
assuring sympathy and aid We're or
dered 20 be transmitted to the prison
ers wives COrCOran was one OF the
active participants in the Occur d'Alene
strike, was imprisoned by General
Merriam and afterwards sentenced to
the Idaho penitentiaty for seventeen
years.
The federation adopted a resolution
dlspoding for the present with the plan
TO build a miners home.
Steunenberg is Scored.
IN reference to Governor Steunen-
berg of Idaho, the following resolution
was adopted:
Whereas, On the 2rd day of May.
1899, Frank Steunenberg, governor of
Idaho, declared martial law in Sho-
shOne county of said state, which has
been continued and still continues ar
irT-a7.ily without r-aoer,rf- and
Whereas, The said governor arbi-
trarlly and without reason decided that
each person seeking employment in
said county must make application for
q permit TO do so to one Of the agents
OF said governor; and
Whereas, In making said application
the applicant must renounce the West
ern Federation Of Miners; and
Whereas, The said governor of Ida
no has by such arbitrary act violated
the fundamental principles of right
justice and humanity guaranteed TO
the people ny the constitution of the
United States, which are the rights TO
pursue life. liberty and happiness
without dictatiOn from any one whom
sOever. therefore.
Resolved, By the Western Fedora
ton of Miners, in convention assem-
bled that we condemn the arbitrary
\ action of the said governor of Idaho as
assumption worthy of the tyrants of
the middle ages, and that such a man
is unworthy of the respect and sup
port of liberty-lOVing people; and be
IL further
Resolved, That we urge the voters
of Idaho to refuse to support said
Frank Steunenberg or any one who
may give support to him to the end
that the state of Idaho may be purged
OF the unjust, inhuman and freedom
subverting administration of said
Frank Steunenberg, Bartlett Sinclair
and Attorney General Hays, and all
who have supported said administra-
ton and its unjust actions in said
county"
After Justice Goddard.
Resolutions were also adopted calling
upon Colorado labOring men to work
for the defeat at the polls of Justice
Goddard OF the Colorado supreme
court. should he come up. This action
is on account of the decision of the
Colorado supreme court on the eight
hour Law.
Letters of sympathy to the Wardner
men now in San Quentin prison were
presented and approved.
The Western Labor union adopted
resolutions which go into details of the
Occur d'Alene difficulties, reeiting the
story from the miners standpoint and
denOuncing President Mckinley, Cen
eraI Merriam, Governor Steunenberg,
Bartlett Sinclair and others for the
part taken in the affair.
Labor Union Picks Officers.
The Western Labor union is finishing
up its routine work much more rapidly
than was anticipated and the election
of officers today may be the prelude
TO final adjournment.
Daniel Mcdonald Of Butte Mont.
was unanimously elected president. c.
p Nash of Spokane was chosen vice
president TO sUcceed John Troxel of
Cripple Creek. the vote being also
unanimous. When the selection of sec
rotary treasurer was reached there was
a spirited contest between four or five
candidates. NJ. j. Geiger was re-elect-
ed. A resolution Was adopted for the
payment of $500 to Mr.. Gieger for past
services.
One Name Kept Secret.
A member OF the executive board was
chosen by z rising vote, whose name
is withheld. for the reason, it is IN
derstood. that he is at 9 sent in the
Occur d'Alenes, representing the union
there. There are stin four more mem
bers of the board to elect
After the close Of the convention here
the executive board Will so To Butte
10 adjust the Hennessy department
store difficulty, and WI stop at Ogden
on the way to organize local union
there.