The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-09
Trade Autonomy Probably the Most
Vital Question to Come Before
the Convention.
STREET CARS STONED BY BOYS
SCRANTON OFFICERS MOBBED AND
TWO SERIOUSLY INJURED.
Compulsory Arbitration Law Passed
by the New south Wales Council
General Labor News.

SCRANTON, Pa, Dec. S--NotWlthStand-
ing this was Sunday, many of the delegates
TO the convention of the American Fedora
ton of Labor, now in session in this city,
did not cease their activity, the day being
given up to transaction of committee busi-
ness. A majority of the committees organ
lied, and not a few of them took UP ques-
tions that will engage the attention of the
convention during the coming week. The
executive council, which is composed of
the president, the six vice presidents, the
secretary and the treasurer of the Fedora
ton, went into session early and did not
adjourn until long after noon. The session
was secret, and nothing was given out for
publication. After dinner some members
of the executive committee and the frater-
nal delegates from Great Britain and Can
ada were given a sleigh ride through the
mining region by the local entertainment
committee.
One of the busiest men among the dele
gates was W. ID. Mahon, of Detroit, presi-
dent of the Analgamated Association of
Street-railway Employees. He was in fire.
quent conference during the morning with
local labor leaders who are directing the
street-car strike in this city 1t is probable
Mr.. MahOn and President Mitchell, of the
Mine Workers, will be delegated by the eX-
ecutive council to take charge of the strike.
Later in the day a delegation from the
Allied Building Trades of Philadelphia ar
rived here and had interview with Mr.
Mahon on the Street-railWay situation in
that city, where a strike is said to be
among the probabilities of the near future.
The confereeS desired a plan of conciliatiOn,
by which an attempt will be made TO bring
together the Amalgamated Association and
the rival organization, known as the Phil
adelphia Street-railway Employees Associa-
tion.
The Metal Trades Federation, embracing
all kinds of metal trades, held another
meeting this afternoon, and discussed plans
for perfecting the organization. Nine Of
the fifteen eligible metal trades unions in
the United States were represented. The
object of the federation is to have an or
ganiZation that can hold conferences with
the National Metal Trades Associa ton,
which is composed exclusively of manufac-
turers.
BUSY WEEK PROBABLE.
The American Federation of Labor con-
vention will remain in session for the next
six days, and will have very busy week.
Two hundred resolutions, touching upon
nearly every question in the labor world
have been presented for action. The COM
mittees will make reports on them as rap
idly possible. but it is not likely that
more than half of these will be reported
from the several committees.
What is looked upon by many of the
will come before the convention is that of
trade autonomy. The brewery workmen
and the mine workers delegates probably
will be the storm center on this question
Both of these trade unions want industrial
autonomy-that is, they advocate that all
trades in industrial establishment
should form one organization for the bet
ter advancement OF the condition of all.
They also announce they will oppose trade
autonomy to the bitter end. The miners
in their argument, say that if a handful
80 IL
mine should strike il would cause the mine
to be closed and thus throw out of work
hundreds of men, who may have no griev-
ance If all trades in the mine were united
under one head, the mine workers say
much friction could be avoided. Those
who advocate trade autonomy claim it
would be fatal for them to enter such a
combination and that no good result could
come from an amalgamation of that kind.
The autonomy question is likely to be in
troduced by either the firemen or engi-
neers, which organizations are contesting
the rights of the brewery workmen and
mine workers to force firemen and engi-
neers employed in those places 10 join the
brewers or mine workers unions.
The matter of trade jurisdiction is also
expected to caues a long discussion, par
ticularly on the part of the wood workers,
who make the point that trades such as
piano makers are wood workers and should
come into the latter's union instead of
them having an independent organization.
CHINESE EXCLUSION.
Nearly a dozen resolutions on the matter
Of the exclusion Of the Mongolians in the
United States and island possessions are
in the hands of a special committee This
committee probably will report one reso-
luton embodying the good points of all of
them 1t will be adopted, along with one
commencing President Roosevelt for advo-
eating in his annual message the continued
exclusion Of Chinese.
Much interest is being manifested as to
what the report of the executive council
will contain. This report deals specifically
with the work of the Federation during
the year. 1t may make some reference to
the failure Of the recent steel strike. al
though that labor struggle IL is under
stood, has not officially come before the
council. There has been no development
in the Gompers- -Mitchell-Shaffer controver-
sy which grew out of the strike. Diligent
inquiry failed to confirm the rumor that
floor Of the convention. The principals in
the affair maintain an absolute silence, but
the close friends Of each side express con-
fidence to the outcome II the cOntro-
Versy is thrust upon the delegates
At this time il seems reasonably certain
that all the present officers of the Fedora
ton will be reelected. There is move
vice presidents from six to seven or eight,
but it is not likely that this will be ac-
cOmpHshed
Among the cities that have entered the
campaign for the next place Of meeting are
Atlanta, Ga. Buffalo. Los Angeles Mil
waukee, New Orleans and San Francisco
Portland. Ore. wants the convention in
1905. the year the exposition Is TO be held
in that city