The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-18
old AGE; PENSIONS
The Federation of Labor Votes To-
day to Make This Request v.
to Congress. ~
An Unfavorable Report Made by a
Committee Is Reversed This
Afternoon.

Ne" orleans, NOV. lS.-Ine committee
on resolutions of the American Federation
Of Labor this morning reported favorably
on a resolution introduced by the Coopers'
Union asking that the convention protest
against bill now pending in the United
States senate requiring the government
to cease issuing revenue stamps on all
packages Of malt or brewed liquors Of the
denomination of one-eighth. The report
was adopted. =,
A resolution pledging the federation to
use every effort, Ito defeat legislation
against ticket brokers and anti-scalping
bills was favorably reported and adopted.
A resolution pledging the aid of the fed
| Grafton in securing increased pay for let
ter CARR ers was also recommended for
passage.
Delegate Mahon declares that the letter
carriers had declined to affiliate with the
American Federation. He thought the
matter should have consideration. Dele
gate Max Hayes, who introduced the res
olution, declared the policy outlined by
MIR. Mahon to be too narrow and that the
proper method was to encourage other la
Dor organizations. The resolution was
adopted una nimously
A resolution requesting the federation
to seek the good offices Of the national ad-
ministration in securing relief and pro-
lection for labor organizers In the island
Of Porto Rico was favoraby reported and
carried unanimously. s
A resolution declaring that preference
should be shown to union musicians at the
st. Louis exposition was also adopted.
The resolutions introduced by Victor L.
Berger of Milwaukee instructing the Fed
Grafton of Labor to use it's best efforts to
induce the national congress to pass bill
securing to every wage worker who shall
| have reached the age of so. years without
having had an average annual income of
81, 900, a pension Of s12 per month pro-
vided that the wage worker is citizen Of
the United States and had resided in this
country for twenty-one years when the
application for pension is made, were I'M
| favorably reported. Mr.. Berger made an
urgent appeal for the passage Of the reso-
| the country had as much right to a PEN
sion when they were worn out in the har-
ness as any man who was directly en-
! ployed in its service.
when we ask the government. for any
| thing" he said, I'VE must remember that
| we are asking ourselves, for We, are the
government
Great applause greeted Mr.. Sherman
| address at frequent intervals
| James H. Lennon opposed the resolution
| because Of the increased taxation it would
! bring and declared that the workingmen
! wanted no charity. If they must have old
age pensions it should come from the
! trades unions and not from the govern
ment.
Delegate Jones of the Hatters' Union
| favored the passage Of the resolution, as
| did several others
| Delegate Brewer denounced the report
of the committee Infamous This
| brought Secretary Agard of the commit
! tee on resolutions to his feet in defense
! Of the report. The debate was temporarily
closed by point Of order from Delegate
| DoprfS WI ronoin6o6 the n
| ton that the presentation Of the English
| fraternal delegates from England, Scot
| land and Canada had been made q special
| order of business for 10 o. clock Enoch
! Edwards, the English delegate, made >. a
| happy speech of thanks for himself and
| the other fraternal delegates after he had
been introduced by President Gompers.
In replying to the address of Mr.. Ed
wards and other fraternal delegates, Pres
ident Gompers declared that. he had re-
ceived newspapers from all parts Of the
| country, some commenting favorably,
| others adversely upon the criticisms made
in his annual address upon President
| Eliot Of Harvard college for calling
| strike breaker hero" ~ =.
| He declared that President Eliot be-
longed to the school which believed that
matters would come right If left alone.
| The strike breaker, he declared, was an
| economic outcast, as much "a traitor to
the cause of labor as any man who be-
| trayed his country in time Of war.
| Pension Resolution Adopted.
When the vote was taken on the report
| of the committee the Berger old age pen
| sion resolution was adopted, 80 to SIS.
| The executive council reported adversely
on the application of the United Brother
| hood of Carpenters and Joiners for the re-
| vocation Of the charter Of the Amalga-
| mated Association Of Woodworkers be-
| hot hn1ios pn11a1lv cOnoDnnonf
| bodies Of the American Federation of La
! Dor and for the reason that the charges
against the woodwork rs had not been
| proved.
An application for the revocation Of the
piano and organ workers union was also
| denied, but conditions were imposed.
The application Of the United Brother
hood of Carpenters and Joiners for the
revocation Of the charter of the Amalga-
mated Association of Carpenters was also
! reported adversely. Action was deferred
until afternoon.
The Gompers.Shatfer Row.
When announcement was made that no
fifth member of the Gompers- Shafer in
! vestigating committee had been named,
President Gompers was visibly agitated.
He called Treasurer Lennon to the chair
and said:
up to now I have said nothing regard
ing this matter, but I now insist upon
prompt action. If twenty-four hours more
elapse and nothing is done, I shall ask at
the opening Of to-morrow's session that
the committee be discharged and that the
convention settle the entire affair.". "a
Mr.. Shaffer announced that he had in
structed his members of the committee
to object to one man only and outside of
that had caused no delay. President
| Gompers said his representatives were
free to choose any man, he did not care
who it might be; any fair man was
agreeable to him. Mr.. Shaffer rejoined
that he had intended no reflection upon
Mr.. Gompers, nor had he meant to insinu-
ate that he had been trying to influence
the committee. He only wished to dis
claim any responsibility for himself. If 1t
was satisfactory to Mr.. Gompers, how
ever, he would be glad to have the matter
come before the convention.
Mr.. Agard replied for the committee
that several men who had been agreed
upon had declined to serve. r-
Delegate Reece moved that the matter
be made a special order for 2 p. m. and
that the committee be discharged.
Chairman Lennon refused to entertain the
motion and the convention adjourned at
1880 D. m. until 2 o'clock. 81 ,.....T...- d.