The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-10
Federation of Labor Decided the
Union Could Not successfully
Block the Wheels of Progress.
AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION
THAT ENDED IN THE ROUT OF
TRADES UNION BOYCOTTERS.
Officers Elected by the Metal Trades
FederatiOn-COmm Busy
Another Riot at Scranton.

SCRANTON, Pa, Dec. 9.-The conference
of the American Federation of Labor was
i'm session only two hours to-day, adjourn
ment being taken until tomorrow morning
in order to enable the several committees
to consider the large number of resolu-
tons still in their hands. There was a
lively discussion on the floor over the ques-
tion of boycotting machine-m made cigars. 1t
is the same question that the Cigar Max
ers' International Union has brought up at
previous conventions of the Federation, and
the union has always been defeated in its
fight against the introduction of machin-
cry 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
Cigar Makers International Union.
The matter came up i'm the form of a
resolution presented by President GOmpers,
John G. Deernell and Thomas F. Tracey,
of the Cigar Makers Union, and was
ferred to the committee on labels. 1t de-
nounced a certain company for making
cigars by child labor and machinery. and
called on the Federation to assist in union
izing the various plants of the company.
The committee reported the resolution
back. with the recommendation that the
resolution adopted. Then the cigar makers
opened their fight. They insisted the term
machinery 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 hand cigar
makers out of the business. The speak
ers In opposition to the cigar makers prop
osition argued that to oppose machinery
III
troduced in many lines of trade. they said.
and the union could not successfully fight
the law of progress. 1t was pointed out
to the cigar makers that the best thing
to do to organize the operators of
the machines and adopt wage scale, just
as the typographical and other unions have
6e trnes be tn tn
be very lengthy, but the moving of the
previous question quickly ended the debate,
and the resolution with the word ma
chinery' stricken out was adopted as rec
commended.
The committee on labels and the COM
mittee on resolutions reported number OF
resolutions which were adopted in every
instance where the committees brought in
a favorable recommendation. They were
read by the chairman, E A. Agard.
glass bottle blower and mayor of Fairbury,
Ill. The first resolution was one pledging
the assistance of the Federation to the
Journeymen Tailors' Union of America in
it's contest for free shops. Others were:
Petitioning Congress TO amend the marine
laws so that every seaman shall have the
right to quit any merchant vessel on which
the service has become obnoxious to him;
also to prohibit the towing on the oceans
of gigantic RATS; that the Federation re-
fuse to recognize labels got up by rival
unions of the Tobacco Workers Interna-
tional Union; reindorsing the blue label of
the Tobacco Workers Union; that the
Federation draw up a form of obligation
that will instruct all new members to de-
mand the union label whenever they pur-
chase manufactured goods; indorsing the
union stamp of the international Union
of Journeymen Horseshoers, and indorsing
the label of the Actors National Pro-
tective Union.
Before adjournment President Gompers
announced the appointment of President
w D. Mayer, of the Amalgamated Asso-
citation of Street Car Employees, and Presi-
dent John Mitchell, Of the United Mine
Workers, as a committee to take charge
of the street-car strike in this city.
Every of the sixteen committees put
in busy afternoon and evening. There are
many delegates here with grievances and
they were. fully heard by the committees;
The question of jurisdiction in several
trades came UP before the committee on
law, and the resolutions committee heard
arguments on trade and industrial auton-
omy. The executive council also held
session this afternoon and disposed of
some odds and ends of business still de-
handing its attention. The committees ses-
sions are held behind closed doors, but the
decisions In the matters brought before it
will be reported to the convention later in
the week
The Metal Trades Federation. after a
series OF meetings. finally organized to-day
by electing officers. Another meeting will
be held tomorrow to dispose of business
still on hand. The following officers were
elected: President, E. ]. Lynch. of New
York, national president OF the Metal Pol
ishers; vice president, Robert Kerr. Moline,
ILL.,. national president of the Blacksmiths;
secretary treasurer, John O'Leary, Worces-
ter, Mass, president of the Core Makers
The executive committee will be composed
Of the above officers. and all the national
presidents of the other trades allied with
the Metal Federation.
President Gompers and several members
of the executive council OF the American
Federation OF Labor left here for Wilkes
barre at s o'clock, where they addressed
mass meeting tonight under the auspices
Of the Central Labor Union of that city.
SERIOUS RIOT AT SCRANTON.