The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-17
FEDERATION OF LABOR
The Ship Subsidy Bill and the 18th
milan Canal Come Up for
Consideration. ,e.- -.

New Orleans, Nov. 17.-"Resolved, That
trade labor movement of our country, de-
voting our best efforts to the uplifting Of
the wage-earners of our country, giving
them hope and encouragement and ap-
peahng to them to unite with organized
workers, so that the fraternity Of man,
Of the world, may be achived at the earl
lest possible date" s..
This is the message sent out by the
American Federation Of Labor on the |,
twenty first anniversary Of Its birth to the
laboring men throughout the world
Later in the day there was two ami"
mated debates, the first over the resolu-
ton denouncing the ship subsidy bill and
the other declaring against the construc-
ton of the isthmian canal.
William J. Gilthorpe of the Brotherhood
OF Boilermakers and Iron Shipbuilders de-
clared that the enactment of the subsidy
bill would result in the increased en-
ployment of skilled labor and enable this
country to construct ships as cheaply as
they can be constructed in foreign coun-
tries. He declared the American marine
required protection and this could be Sc
cured through the passage Of the subsidy
bill and he urged the report of the reso-r
lutions committee be not concurred In.
When he took his seat a storm broke
loose, a dozen delegates clamoring for
recognition. ::
President Gompers gave the floor to
James O'Connell, president Of the Inter-
national Association Of Machinists. who
vehemently declared that no greater COM
bination existed in the United States than
that Of the great shipyards, and that
union labor had no more relentless foo.
In the final vote the report of the COM
mittee resolutions was adopted. Mr.
Gilthorpe cast the sole negative vote.
On the resolution against the construc
ton of the Panama canal the committee
declared adversely
Delegate Fursleth, who introduced the
resolution, said he realized he stood al
most alone. He insisted that the Amer
lean army necessarily would be increased.
This army would only march through
Mexico and Central America to protect
the canal and permission would be re-
fused by the Latin american countries
and then the United States would be
| compelled to conquer them In order to
protect its own property on the isthmus.
He was in favor of the construction Of the
canal by the country through which it
passed, or by private enterprise.
Delegate Lewis, q small man, with
pleasing manner and modest voice. rose
! after a particularly thunderous speech
had been delivered and gently remarked:
II move the whole thing be laid on the
table,
| President Gompers put the motion in
stantly and it was carried at once.
In the contention between the Brother
hood of Carpenters and the Amalgamated
Woodworkers, it is stated that the execu-
tive council Of the federation has decided
in favor of the woodworkers. The car
penters had filed an application for the
revocat ton of the charter Of the. wood
workers on the ground that the two or
Plantations should be under one head, and
that the carpenters are the parent organ
| ization.
President I. J. Mcdonald of the Com
4 mercial Telegraphers Of Chicago stated
that the settlement Of the dispute between
his organization and the Order of Rail
way photographers had been brought about
by a compromise perfectly satisfactory to
| both sides. The members of both
branches will vote as to whether they
| desire to continue under President Nc
Donald's organization, and if the vote is
favorable the American Federation of La
Dor will at once issue charter. If the
vote is unfavorable Secretary Frank Nor
rison will call a convention Of delegates
i from all the locals to be held at Columbus,
i Ohio within thirty days after the vote Is
received. and there the contending fac
lions will patch up their difficulties among
themselves.