Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19
LABORERS NOT PENSIONERS
Resolution Asking for Congressional Action
is Voted Down.
AMERICAN FEDERATION TAKES A STAND
Higher Wages for Letter Carriers is
Urged by Delegates, Although
They DO Not AmIiate with
that OrEani1atiOn.

the president Of the American Federation
Of Labor was increased from 81, 100 per an
mum to 50, 900 and the salary OF the secretary
from S1,SOO to S2,500. The increases were
voted after a long debate in which fully
thirty delegates participated.
A feature Of the debate was the attempt
Of the Socialists to fix the presidents salary
at $4,000, though they subsequently pre-
sented the resolution which fixed the salary
at SO 00O
The special committee having before 1t
the dispute Of Gompers and Shaffer finally
organized this afternoon by selecting E. A.
Tanguaray of the Telegraphers as the fifth
member. It spent the entire afternoon
in taking testimony, but does not expect
to be able to present a report before Thurs
day morning. II is considered almost
foregone conclusion that the report will be
in favor of President Gompers
Resolutions Are Reported.
The committee on resolutions reported
favorably on a resolution introduced by the
coopers union asking that the federation
protest against a bill now pending in the
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 to defeat legislation against
railroad ticket brokers and anti-scalping
bills was favorably reported and adopted
resolution plcdging the aid of the fed
Grafton in securing increased pay for letter
carriers was also recommended for passage.
Delegate Mahon declared that as the let
ter carriers had declined to afhliate with
the American Federation, he thought the
matter should have consideration before
passage.
Delegate Max Hayes, who introduced the
resolution, declared the policy outlined by
Mr.. Mahon to be too narrow and that the
proper method was to encourage other labor
organizations The resolution was adopted
unanimously.
Protection for Organizers.
resolution requesting the federation to
seek the good Offices of the national ad-
ministration in securing relief and protec-
tion for labor organizations in the island
of Porto Rico was favorably reported and
carried unanimously.
A resolution declaring that the preference
should be given 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 uEe its utmost efforts
to induce the national congress to pass
bill securing to every wage worker who
shall have reached the age Of 60 years with
out having had an average annual Income of
81, 900 a pension of $12 per month. provided
that the wage worker is a citizen of the
United States and has resided in this coun-
try for twenty-one years when the applica-
tion for pension is made, was unfavorably
reported.
Mr.. Berger made an urgent appeal for tho
passage of the resolution. Delegate Her.
man OF the United Metal Workers also
| asked the passage of the resolution, saying
that the wage workers Of the country had
as much right to a pension when they were
! worn out in the harness as any man who
was directly employed in it's 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.. Herman's ad-
dress at frequent intervals.
| James H. Lennon opposed the resolution
| because of the increased taxation 1t would
bring and declared that the workingman
wanted no charity. If they must have old
age pensions it should come from the trades
unions and not from the government.
Delegate Jones of the Hatters union IA
! several others.
Delegate Brewer denounced the report
of the committee as Infamous" The Sec
retary of the committee rose to his feet in
defense Of his report. The debate was tenn
porarily closed by the presentation OF the
fraternal delegates from England, Scotland
and Canada.
Enoch Edwards, the English delegate
made a happy address of thanks for him
self and the other fraternal delegates after
he had been introduced by President Com
pers.
Debate Old Age Pension.
| In his reply to the address of Mr.. Ed
wards and other fraternal delegates, Pres
! ident Gompers declared that he had re-
ceived copies of newspapers from all parts
OF the country, some commenting favora-
/ bly,, others adversely upon the criticisms
made in his annual address upon Presi-
! dent Eliot Of Harvard college, for calling
a strike breaker a hero"
! He upheld the position he had taken
! declaring that President Eliot belonged to
| the school which believed that matters
would come right IL left alone. The strike
! breaker, he declared, was an economic out
cast, as much a traitor to the cause of
labor as any man who betrayed his country
! in time of war
! Debate at the conclusion of Presi-
dent Gompers' address, resumed upon the
! Berger old age pension resolution.
After several more speeches a vote was
taken and the report OF the committee
against the resolution. was adopted by a
vote Of SIS to 80.
The executive council which has under
consideration the application of the United
Brotherhood Of Carpenters and Joiners for
the revocation OF the charter Of the Anal
gamated Association of Woodworkers, re-
ported adversely to the application for the
reason that the proof Of the charges
against the woodworkers had not been
proved.
An application for the revocation of the
Piano and Organ Workers union was also
denied but conditions were imposed, fail
ure TO comply with which would be cause
for the failure OF the charter.
The application of the United Brother
hood Of Carpenters and Joiners for the
revocation Of the charter Of the Amalaga-
mated Association Of Carpenters was also
reported adversely. Action on the report
was deferred until afternoon.
Oppose National Union.
The committee on the presidents annua
address presented its report and declared
| was onnosed n his suRRestion of IN,