The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-24
HALL QUESTION
SETTLED AT SELMA
Mr.. Mccartney Makes Vigor-
GUS Speech on Color Line,
OBJECTS TO THE BOYCOTT
Says Rather Than Turn Out Negro
Delegates He Would Favor Hold
ing Meeting In the Woods.
Pavilion Finally Accepted.
OBJECTS TO THE BOYCOTT

Selma, April 2S.-tSpecial.)- Ala
bama State Federation of Labor settled
down to business today. President VIII
liam Kirkpatrick called the convention to
order promptly at 10 O'Clock, with all the
officers at their stations ard a large at
tendance Of delegates.
The unpleasantness which has been
lowering over the convention on account
Of the hall accommodations and the re-
fural to supply a more suitable hall than
that used by the negro unions of Selma
because the color line was not drawn
has cleared away by the convention being
rendered the use of Rivsrview Pavilion
by the street car company free Of charge,
which was accepted. The pavilion is To-
Gated on the banks OF the Alabama river,
presenting a beautiful view. 1t has been
but recently built and is an ideal place
for the holding of the convention
During the discussion OF the hall ques-
ton Mr.. Mccartney of Birmingham Ty-
biographical Union No. 1O4 stated that he
favored the motion TO appoint a commit
tee TO secure a new hall because 1t would
present the opportunity Of ascertaining
whether the people of Selma would turn
down the representative body of 10000
organized laborers. If turned down. nc
said. 1t would be siur on the city that
would go all over the country. Later in
his remarks he said;
Rather than see one accredited dele
0ota n oh ~ :, &c
convention I would go to the woods and
hold this meeting"
Beane. the negro vice president. stated
that he had gone to the board of revenue
and other citizens trying to get hall
They win give you a hall gladly for
your meetings, but 1t will have a white
cloth at the door," he said. He intimated
that rather than interfere with the meet
ing he would be glad to withdraw and
allow the whites to proceed with the
business.
Delegate Randall stated that he agreed
with Delegate Mccartney, and that II the
people of Selma refused to give them a
hall they could go out into the woods
where the music of the birds would be
an accompaniment to their proceedings.
With but one or two exceptions all the
delegates arrived last night
The First Business.
The first business after the reading and
fling the call was the appointment of a
committee on credentials composed OF
Mr.. W. F. Mccartney Of Typographical
Union No. 1o4, Mr.. T. ]. Lamar of the
Admission Trades Council and Mr.. George
Barbour of Pratt City Local No. 664,
United Mine Workers of America. Mr..
Ivan Lewis was appointed to act as as
sistant secretary. On motion the conven-
ton adjourned until 1880 o'clock to give
the committee on hall an opportunity to
act.
Promptly at 100 O'Clock the convention
was called to order and Mr.. b. W. Brum-
ley, for the hall committee reported that
the committee had waited upon Com
mandant Craight of the United Confed-
crate Veterans In ~cgard to a hall, and
that the Veterans all was rendered for
the use of the convention without regard
to the color line. About the same time
Mr.. Hall of the street car company had
donated the use of the river pavilion
and the committee recommended that the
offer be accepted, which was carried.
The convention then adjourned and
caught street cars to the pavilion, where
they were again called to order at 2:3O
o'clock. and the report of the committee
on credentials was received, seating sixty
six delegates No credentials were con-
Vested and the report was adopted unani-
mously.
President kirkpatrlck's Report.
Under the head of officers report Presi-
dent Kirkpatrick submitted verbal re-
port He said that a fair amount of good
had been accomplished; that during the
year the m embership Of the Federation
had dwindled down to Is bodies, but that
there had been a healthy gain since the
first of the year and now numbered over
30; there had been no strikes and conse-
quently no work along that line. He
recommended that steps be taken to Sc
cure the 8-hour day for all workers;
that the Federation should assist the
Brewery Workers in their troubles in
Cincinnati. The report was referred to q
committee.
Mr.. D. U. Williams submitted his report
as delegate to the American Federation
of Labor. 1t was a lengthy document
and was a general review of the proceed
ings of the convention. Mr.. Williams
was given a vote of thanks and the re-
port referred to a committee.
He also reported rs OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
showing the Federation to be in excellent
condition financially, and in good working
order. The report was referred to a COM
mittee.
Mr.. Edward Flynn raised the point that
District 20, United Mine Workers, was
entitled to larger number of votes than
accorded. This created considerable dis
cussion and the request for votes for
the delegates was granted, the body be-
ing classified as a local union.
Committees Appointed.
President Kirkpatrick appointed Mr.. P.
Do TT
Randall committee on president report.
Mr.. w. f. Mccartney, Mr.. J. H. F. Mos
ley and Abraham Carew committee on
secretary treasurer report and as auditing
committee.
Committee on resolutions. Mr.. r. B.
Howard, Mr. w. w. Wilson, ]. H. Beane.
General committee. Mr.. Ed Mcdonald,
Mr.. F. X Waldhorst, A. H. Smart.
Union Labels, Mr. J. H. Leath, Mr.. w.
T. Floyd Mr.. w. H. Tanner.
Y1NTCT nv