The age-herald., 1901-03-11
REGULAR MEETING
 OF TRADES COUNCIL
Important Changes Made in
 the Constitution
TWO COMMITTEES REPORT
Representative Leath Advocates Law Devotina School Moneys Col leeted from White Tax Payers
 to Educate White Children

The Birmingham Trades Council held it's regular meeting at Bricklayers' Hall yesterday. The adoption of a new constitution and bylaws was the most important matter acted on. Presi- dent F. J. Williams was In the chair and Secretary D. U. Williams and Treasurer Harry White at their desks The attend ance was large.
 J. II. .Leath, for the legislative com mittee, reported the passage of the me chanics Hen. law, which will protect me chanics and material men. and law pro- tecting the union label and providing punishment for its fraudulent use. The only step necessary Is to send the label to the Secretary of State with a dollar registration fee, and then If 1t is used by any one without authority the offender can be punished by fine of not less than $50 nor more than $500, and additional inn prlsonment. MT Leath advocated the adoption of a measure that would be con- stitutional to be devised by the conven- tion which will provide that white chill dren shall enjoy the taxes paid for school purposes by the white taxpayers and ne- gro children the taxes paid by the ne- groes He said that Superintendent Aber- crombie's report showed that 94 per cent of the school fund was paid by the whites and per cent by the negroes Under such a law all the white children of the State would have seven or eight oIu aIx year. ..
 Present Conditions.
 Under the present conditions, he said, many white children were cut off from school by factory walls, while negro chill dren were enjoying the advantages af- forded by the white mans money, the school reports showing that the numer- ical difference between the attendance of white and colored children is very small In favor of the whites, and that in South Carolina the pioneer cotton mill State of the South, the school reports show that there are 5000 more negro children in school than white.
 The striking printers acknowledged the following donations to the strike fund :: Building Trades Council, $1O; Electrical Workers, s5; United Mine Workers of America, Local 664, Pratt City, $25; Jour neymen Tailors, s4.
 The following communications were read International Brewery Worksrs' Association, in regard to Jurisdiction; i; filed. Utica (N. Y) Coal Handlers Union, asking aid; $1 subscribed. Textile Work CTS of Jamestown, N. Y., announcing a victory; filed. Strike committee of Metal Polishers, Buffers and Platers, No. 13, and Stove Mounters of St. Louis, solicit ing donation for strike fund; filed
 The following delegates to the Alabama State Federation of Labor, which meets in this city April r, were elected by ac- clamation: J. H. Leath, Harry White and J. H. F. Mosley.
 The committee on constitution and by laws reported and on the third reading the report was considered seriatum.
 The declaration of principles as adopted is as follows:
 l. While We are opposed to entering any political party as a body, we declare it our duty to use our influence with the law making power to secure the follow ing objects The regulation of the em- ployment of children; securing the adop- ton of proper laws regulating the hours constituting a days work; reforms in prison labor, so as to prevent the product of the convict coming into competition with homes industry.
 g. We declare it the duty of every la boring man to use his utmost endeavors ho 1;or 0f ttoa tion of the laboring classes generally and to accomplish this end we believe that a central organization should exist, whereby all branches of labor may prove allies to any particular one that may be oppressed by capital.
 g. We hereby pledge ourselves to assist each other in securing fair wages to the laboring man by all honorable means; and we shall withdraw, and use our in huence to have others withdraw, all pat ronage from any unfair employer, let his calling be what it may.
 4. We declare that all existing beneficial labor laws should be rigidly enforced, and we pledge ourselves to take such meas ures as will secure such enforcement.
 5. We are in favor of arbitration when ever differences exist between employer and employed.
 G. We favor the self-employment of la bor, as only complete independence can be obtained when the laborer is no long CT dependent on other individuals for the right to work; and especially do we re- commend that whenever trades intend striking for the accomplishment of any just purpose, if the funds of the organ ization will allow it, the resistance, in stead of being passive, should become ac- tive and aggressive by using the funds productively instead of unproductively.
 Other Changes.
 The old constitution was adopted in part, a number of amendments being made and several sections added. A most important one was an addition to the ob- ligation to be taken by the delegates. The amendment Is: T further promise to buy no article of merchandise that does not bear the union label when it Is possible to secure the same, and to use my influ- ence to further increase the supply and demand for such union-made goods.''
 The delegate to the convention of the American Federation of Labor shall be elected at the regular election In July and shall be remunerated for his time and expense while attending the conven- tion.
 Members of the grievance committee while engaged in their duties shall be re- munerated from the treasury of the ag-