The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-13

hitting child labor. The latter read a long
list OF decisions rendered by federal and
state courts against organized labor.
motion TO nave the list printed in the
minutes brought President GOmpers. who
was not in the chair at the time. 10 his feet,
and the delegates were treated 10 three
minute passionate speech. He said IL was
unfair TO incorporate the list in the min
utes in that way. and suggested that list
or the trades union Victories should be
printed along with il. He concluded by de-
nOuncing the attempt 20 show that trades
uniOnism Is "A failure. and characterized
IL as an outrage. wave Of applause
swept over the convention Mr.. Gompers
took his seat. The motion was defeated after
". b. Wilson had spoken along the same
ground as Mr.. Gompers, and the recon-
mendations of the president were adopted.
except the one referring 10 a general de-
Tense fund. The committees suggestion
that the fund be raised by national Ia
Dor 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 70 Join the central labor
bodies in their respective localities. VIII
liam Henry Clay, one Of the two cOlOred
delegates from Virginia, made the point
that the federation last week in deciding a
contested seat where the color line was
brought into question had authorized the
creation Of a separate central union in
Richmond for cOOred wOrkmen. The resO-
luton was debated for more than an hour
=. o.
the Admission (Ala.) Trades Council, made
the principal speech in opposition 10 the
resolution. He said the proposition would
compel white unions 10 take in negroes,
and II adopted by the convention 20 per
cent OF the unions south Of Mason and
Dixon line would secede from the fedora
ton He declared the people OF the North
did not understand the negro problem His
remarks had some influence on the dele
gates and the resolution on the recon-
mendatiOn OF the committee on laws was
Two resolutions were reported on the
question of organizing the common labOrers
into large unions and both were recon-
mended 10 be sent TO the executive council
with Instructions for that body 10 take up
the matter and report at the next cOnven-
ton. Speeches We're made by j. J. Forris-
ter. of Akron, o.. and the Rev. Sheldon a.
Harris, of Dwight, Ill, in favor Of the
immediate adoption Of one OF the resOlu-
tiOns, and President w. u. MahOn, of the
street railway employees, w. Il. Wilson, Of
the miners. aud Secretary Morrison favored
referring the matter to the executive coun-
Gil. The latter action was taken.
The Pacific coast delegates fought among
themselves the proposition TO drop all
unions from state. national or international
unions unless they join the American Fed
Grafton of Labor. The measure was par
ticularly aimed at the San Francisco build
ing trades. which is at odds with the Cen
tral Labor Union OF that city. The COM
mittee on laws recommended that the mat
ter be dropped on the ground that such a
step would be unwise, and the convention
adopted the rCcOmm endattOn.
IL was decided that hereafter the annual
conventions OF the Federation shall be held
on the second Thursday of November of
each year.
j. H. Bowman. OF Chicago, presented a
resolution instructing the president of the
Federation 10 protest against the cOnfirma-
ton by the United States Senate Of the APP
pOintment OF Francis r. Baker as United
States Circuit judge in Indiana. The rea-
son for the protest is that Baker is a son
OF Judge John II. Baker, of Indiana polls
who had granted injunctiOns against some
union wOrkmen.
Among the resolutions that were adopted
were these: That legislatures be petitiOned
10 enact law 10 compel the constructors
Of machinery TO cover all dangerous parts
i'm 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 endeav-
ored TO affect an amicable settlement; that
the government officials enforce the eight
hour law on all government work in pri-
vate ship yards.
Resolutions proposing changes regarding
the election of officials and selection of
committees were defeated, was also a
resolution proposing a national defense
fund for the benefit OF strikers and locked
out men.
The special committee on autonomy and
the committee having charge of the social
istic resolutions were in session during the
day and evening, and each probably Will
make its report tomorrow.