The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-05
FEDERATION OF LABOR
QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE DIS
CUssED IN THE CONVENTION.
Nineteen Resolutions Submitted for
Consideration - Color Line
May Cause Trouble.

SCRANTON, Pa, Dec 4.-To-night the
hotel corridors. especially that of the Jer-
myn. where the headquarters is located.
are crowded with delegates from all over
the United States and Canada campaigning
for and against the various measures that
are scheduled to come up in the big con-
vention of the American Federation of La
Dor which will open here tomorrow.
The Pacific coast delegation, headed by
John T. Morgans. of Portland, is fighting
for the re-enactment of the Chinese exclu-
sion laws with amendments to make its
provisions apply TO all Mongolians and it's
operation unlimited as to years.
Delegates from the shipbulding trades
are making "A vigorous campaign for a de-
mand from the federation that the govern
nent build its own ships and not let out
the contracts to private parties. who pay
less wages and exact more labor than does
the government
Almost every delegate is taking active
interest In the trades autonomy matter.
and OF all the subjects billed for discus
sion IL promises to provoke the most talk
ing The miners and stationary engineers
and fremen are at war over the jurisdiction
OF engineers and firemen at collieries; the
brewery workers and teamsters are in con-
fiict over the drivers of brewery wagons;
the wood workers and carpenters propose
TO thresh out their long standing feud about
the jurisdiction over men employed in car
penter shops, and the typos and machinists
are dlsputing over linotype machinists and
80 on
The color line will also be the subject of
what gives promise of being an animated
discussion. 1t will be brought before the
convention in the shape Of a protest
against the seating OF William f. Seal,
delegate from the Central Trades and La
Dor Council of Richmond. Va. The Ameri-
can Federation of Labor specifically pro-
vides in its constitution that the color line
is not TO be drawn by an organization hold
ing a federation charter. The Richmond
Trades and Labor Council has a clause in
its constitution specifying that the dele
gate Of the council must be "a male or fe-
male. white. over twenty-one years Of
age.
In Richmond are two locals of the to-
bacco workers. composed exclusively of
negroes. Being barred from representation
in the Richmond council they federated
directly with the Virginia State Union.
and thus attained membership in the
American Federation of Labor. They are
also members of the Tobacco Workers In
ternationaI Union. Through the latter or
ganizatiOn they projected a fight to have
the federation take away the charter Of
their efforts the Tobacco Workers Union
has directed its president Henry Fischer.
of Louisville, To protest against the seat
ing OF the Richmond Trades and Labor
Council delegate.
The resolutions submitted for the con-
ventiOnS consideration number nineteen in
all. In addition TO several on adherence
to trade autonomy and one on Chinese ex-
clusion they declare for the creating of a
defense fund by levying 10 per cent. per
capita tax: against tenement and home
work among tailors; against the Progress
sive Cigarette Makers Independent la
bells; for boycotts on the tobacco and
bakery trusts, and other alleged unfair
institutions: for eight-hour day for
postoffice clerks; for obligating members
10 demand the union label on everything
manufactured by union labor; against any
local declaring a boycott until the cen
tral body approves OF II; for the proper
tiOnal preferential ballot system; for the
appointment Of a committee TO induce the
masons and bricklayers 10 affiliate; for
a law making il capital crime TO attempt
TO kill the President OF the United States
Vice President or any members OF the Cab
, met: establishment OF a bureau of or
ganization; for the organization of glass
bottle workers OF Illinois and Indiana.
The convention viii open at 10 a. m. to-
morrow at ST. Thomas Hall.