The age-herald., 1901-12-13
DELECATES ID LABOR MEETING DISCUSS NEGRO Committee Wanted All Unions Black and White to JOiD
 the Central Body MOTION FINALLY DEFEATED Charles c. Eckert of Anniston Said 90 Per Cent of Southern Unions 
 Would Quit If 1t Be
 Adopted.

Scranton Pa., December 12.-The negro in the South, so far as it relates to union ism was unexpectedly injected into the proceedings of the Federation of Labor today and the long standing conflict be- tween. the socialists and trade unionists promised to monopolize the attention of the delegates if the socialists replied to the trade unionists
 The question of organizing common la borers into national union and that of throwing out all organizations allied with the city, State, national or interna- tional union unless they affiliated with the American Federation of Labor were also vigorously debated.
 The socialist incident came up at the morning session during the discussion of a committee report endorsing most of the recommendations contained in President Gompers' annual report. D. A. Hays of Philadelphia, president of the National Glass Bottle Blowers, and Max Hays of the Cleveland Central Labor Union, the well known socialist, made speeches strongly urging the enforcement of laws pTOniDtllllB CDllu ldDOi. nG ldttSl ltdd a long list of decisions rendered by feder- al and State courts against organized labor. A motion to have the list printed in the minutes drew from President Gompers a passionate speech.
 Gompers' Speech.
 He said 1t was unfair. to incorporate the list in the minutes in that way and sug gested that a list of the trade union victories should be printed along with It. He concluded by denouncing the at tempt to show that trade unionism is a failure" and characterized it as an out rage. A wave of applause swept over the convention as MT. Gompers took his seat The motion was defeated and the recon mendations of the president were adopted except the one referring to general defense fund. The committees suggested that the fund be raised by na- tional and labor unions instead of by the American Federation of Labor was adopted.
 The negro question came up when the committee on law reported a resolution compelling all local unions affiliated with the federation to join the central labor bodies in their respective localities. Vim. Henry Clay, one of the two colored dele gates from Virginia. made the point that the federation last week in deciding contested seat where the color line was brought into question, had authorized the creation of separate central union in Richmond for colored workmen.
 Anniston Man Protests.
 The resolution was debated for more than an hour by many delegates. Charles c. Eckard of the Anniston. Ala, Trades Council made the principal speech in op- position to the resolution, He said the proposition would compel white unions to take in negroes, and If adopted by the convention, 90 per cent of the unions south of the Mason-Dixon line would secede from the federation. He declared the peo pie of the north did not understand the negro problem. His remarks had some influence onsthe delegates. and the resolu- tion of recommendation of the committee on law was defeated.
 Two resolutions were reported on the question of organizing the common la borers into large unions, and both were recommended to be sent to the executive council. with instructions for that body to take up the matter and report at the next convention.
 It was decided that hereafter the an- nual convent ion of the federation shall be held on the second Thursday of Mo- vember of each year
 Objects to Judge.
 J. H. Bowman of Chicago presented a resolution instructing the president of the federation to protest against the confir- nation by the United States Senate of the appointment of Frank E. Baker as United States Circuit Court judge in In- diana The reason for the protest Is that Baker Is son of Judge John H. Baker of Indianapolis, who had granted injunc- tions against some union men.
 Among the resolutions that were adopt ed were these:
 That legislators be petitioned to enact law to compel the constructors of ma chinery to cover all dangerous parts in such a way as to protect employees work ing around machinery; that no boycotts shall be declared until central labor unions have investigated the disputes and endeavored to effect an amcable settle ment; that the government officials en- force the eight-hour law on all govern ment work in private ship yards.