Evening star., 1901-12-06
CONTESTS FOR SEATS
Federation ofLabor Convention Hears
Pleas of Delegates.
MANY RESOLUTIONS OFFERED
Color Line Drawn by Action at
Yesterdays Session.
SEPARATE UNIONS URGED


SCRANTON, Pa, December 6-The first
hour of the second days session of the
American Federation of Labor this morn
ing was taken up by the calling Of the roll
and the reception of a large number OF
resolutions. The resolutions were not read,
but were at once sent to appropriate COM
mittees. In the temporary absence of
President Gompers, First Vice President
Duncan of Boston presided.
There are several contests over the seat
ing of delegates yet undecided One of the
most important is brought by Francis Di
Spagna of the Mosaic Workers Union
against the seating of D. S. Wood, presi-
dent of the Ceramic Mosaic and Encaustic
Tile Workers International Union.
Di Spagna's fight against President Wood
is not personal. but one over the question
of Jurisdiction in laying ceramic tiles. The
Mosaic Workers Union claims the sole
right to lay such material, and took the
question before the Louisville convention
of the federation last December. Mr.. Di
Spagna claims that the matter was referred
to the executive council of the federation,
which body advised him to try to adjust
the difficulty with the Tile Layers Union
He states that he has made every endeaVor
TO that end, but has failed, and the present
convention will decide the case.
The credentials committee is trying to ar
range all disputes amicably so as to avoid
any friction in the convention.
Sixty Resolution Introduced.
The resolutions introduced numbered sixty
They covered many questions affecting the
laboring man. Four of them demanded the
re-enactment of the Chinese exclusion act,
one commended President Roosevelt for the
position he took in his message with refer
ence to the Chinese question and large
11a.Ir rry an
Max Hayes of Cleveland introduced a
resolution providing for the admittance of
minors under eighteen years of age into
unions at a reduced per capita tax
Delegate Dietrich of Washington, d. c.,
presented a resolution protesting against
subsidy legislation by Congress and
another resolution called for the
five to draft a memorial to Con-
gress to prohibit the granting of injunc-
tiOns by courts against organized labor.
Other resolutions provided for boycotts
against concerns located in various parts
of the country, giving seamen the full right
TO quit any merchant vessel on which the
service has been obnoxious to him, and for
universal labels.
Address by Edward Mcsweeney
After the resolutions had been referred to
the proper committees a recess was taken
until the arrival of Edward +. McSweeney
deputy commissioner of immigration, at the
port of New York, who addressed the dele
gates. He reviewed the history of emigra-
ton from the time of the downfall of the
Roman empire to the present and then ex-
planned the method of enforcing the emf
grafton laws. The spirit Of the law he
said, is being violated by the wholesale
He recalled the railroad wreck in Michigan
last week, in which a large number of
emigrants were killed, and asserted that
these emigrantS were doubt under con-
tract to work in California, to which state
they were en- route when their lives were
crushed out.
Speaking of the Chinese exclusion act.
Mr.. McSweeney said the Japanese should
also be excluded from the United States,
because they are more undesirable than
are the Chinese. In conclusion he said that
the emigration laws should be revised and
reconstructed from the beginning by ex-
perts. All the pending legislation before
Congress to remedy the present evils will
only make more confusion. Labor contrac-
tors, he said, are each year perfecting their
method for the bringing of aliens to this
country and the bureau of immigration is
now being extended.
Mr.. McSweeney concluded his address at
12:15 O'Clock, when a recess was taken un-
til pm.
Color Line Drawn.
The negro question came before the con-
ventiOn in the shape of a report from the
committee on credentials William E. Seal
was elected by the Central Labor Union of
Richmond to represent it at the convention.
1t appears that the Richmond central body
workmen belonging to colored tobacco
workers unions in Richmond.
Henry Fisher, president of the National
Tobacco Workers Union, instructed
by two local colOred unions of Richmond
to oppose the seating of Seal, on the
ground that the organization he repre-
sented drew the color line. The committee
heard both sides and recommended that
Seal be seated, nd also recommended
that the executive lard of the American
Federation of Labor be instructed TO form
separate negro central union in Rich
mond- The recommendations We're ac-
cepted by the convention without opposi-
tion.
The contest between the American Fed
Grafton of Musicians and the Detroit Cen
trail Labor Union over the seating of the
latter's delegate was settled by the Central
Labor Union being recognized. The de-
cision in this case was accompanied by
recommendations looking toward an ami
cable adjustment of the differences be-
tween the Central Labor Union and the
musicians union in Detroit.
The reading of the annual report of Presi-
dent GOmpers consumed three hours Sec
retary Morrison's report and that of Treas
urer John B. Lennon were also read They
were referred to committees.
President Gompers' Report.
The annual report of President Gompers
showed a net increase of 313 local unions for
the year and a gain of 3G4. 40 members
From national and international unions and
the federation direct there were issued 4O56
charters for newly-formed unions and
charters surrendered unions disbanded
number 11oO On October ~ last there
were affiliated with the federation; Ma
tional and international unions 81: city
central labor unions, 32T; state federations
of labor. 20; local trades unions. 800. There
were four strikes of a general character
during the year. About these the report
says: That of the river and dock workers
of San Francisco was a distinct victory
The purpose for which the strike of the
Amalgamated Association of Steel and Iron
Workers was inaugurated was not
achleNed, ana II was terminated upon
conditions less advantageous than
perhaps could have been obtained
Ohcers of the International Association of
Machlnists report that their strike has
very largely succeeded in establishing the
nine-hour rule in the trade. They claim
the settlements reached have given 60,OOO
machinists shorter work day, 1900 9TH
ers are affected by compromises reached