The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-10
Worcester Man Elected Secre-
tary-Treasurer of Metal Trades
Federation in Addition to Being
President Of Coremaker's union
HOT DISCUSSION ON
FLOOR OF CONVENTION
Question Of BoycOtting Machine
Made Cigars Brought and
Ends in a Victory for Those
Who Favor the Machines
BUSY Day for All Delegates

Scranton. Pa, Dec. 9.-The convention
Of the American Federation of LABOR
was in session only two hours today,
adjournment being taken until tomor-
row in order to enable the several com
mittees 10 consider the large number of
resolutions still in their hands.
There was lively discussion on the
floor of the convention over the ques-
ton of boycotting machine made eli
CARS. It is the same question that the
Cigarmakers International union has
brought up at previous conventions OF
the Federation, and the union has al
ways been defeated in its fight against
the introduction of machinery in the
cigar trade.
AT the present time not a machine
made cigar in the United States, 1T Is
said, bears the label of the Cigarmak-
ers International union. The matter
came up in the form of resolution
presented by President GOmpers, John
e. Deernel and Thomas F. Tracey of
the Cigarmakers union. and was re-
ferred to the committee on Labels. IL
denounced a certain company for max
ing cigars by child labor and machin-
cry. and called upon the federation to
of the company.
Tha committee reported the resolu-
ton back with the recommendation
that the word Machinery be striker
out and the resolution adopted. Then
the cigarmakers opened their hght
They insisted that the term 'Machln-
cry" should not be eliminated. and
argued that cigars made by machinery
are not as good as those made by hand,
and that the machines drive cigarmak-
ers out Of the business.
The speakers in opposition to the
cigarmakers' opposition argued that to
oppose the machinery would be folly.
II was pointed out to the cigarmakers
that the best thing TO do was to organ
ize the operators of the machines and
adopt a wage scale, just as the typo
graphical and other unions have done
when machinery was introduced in
their trades The discussion promised
to be very lengthy, but the moving Of
the previous question ended the de-
bate and the resolution with the word
Machinery stricken out, was adopted
as recommended.
The committee on labels reported a
number Of resolutions which were
adopted in every instance where the
committees brought in a favorable
recommendation.
a busy afternoon and evening. The
Question of jurisdiction in several
trades came up before the committee
on law and the resolutions committee
heard arguments on trade and indus
trial autonomy. The executive COM
mittees also held a session this after
noon and disposed of some odds and
ends of business still engaging its at
tention The committees sessions are
held behind closed doors but the de-
cisions will be reported to the cOnven-
ton later in the week.
The Metal Trades federation after a
series of meetings, finally organized to
day by electing officers. Another meet
ing will be held tomorrow TO dispose
Of business sin on hand. The follow
ing officers were elected: President, +.
J. Lynch of New York. National Presi-
dent of the metal polishers; vice-presi-
dent, Robert Kerr Moline I'LL. National
President of the blacksmiths: secfe-
treasurer, John O'Leary Worces-
ter, Mass. President Of the Coremak-
ers
The executive committee will be COM
posed Of the above officers and all the