The Washington times., 1903-08-13
STEREOTYPERS FIGHT
ON BIRDSALL APPEAL
Two Executive Sessions to
Probe Case.
WILL DISTRICT THE COUNTRY
Secretaries to Be Appointed Who Will
Compile Data Relating to
Labor.

The fourth daily session of the / S
f. L. convention opened shortly after
9 o'clock today. and the morning ses-
sion was occupied almost entirely by
an executive session entered into for
the purpose OF procuring information
on the Birdsall appeal case
The BirdsalI case, which is one of
the most important matters before the
convention. came up on appeal from
New York Union No. / B.rdsall went
10 New York from Philadelphia with a
union card. He was admitted.
Upon investigation charges were filed
against him on the ground that his card
had not been acquired legally. he not
having served the full time of appren-
ticeship. After hearing the case ;he
local New York Union expelled Blrdsall.
He appealed to President Freel. of the
l. S. E. L.. who reversed the action of
New York Union No. l. The case was
appealed to the executive council.
Freel Is Upheld.
BY vote of to l Freel was upheld.
Straube dissenting.
New York No. l then appealed to the
convention. The case was referred to
the appeals committee. Burke. chair
man. and they asked that an executive
session be held TO gain information IN
regard to conflicting evidence. All this
morning was spent in executive session
and the appeals committee retired to
report this afternoon, when there will
be another executive session.
At 1850 the convention returned 10
open session, when the question of dis
trict;ng the country was considered by
committee of the whole.
Adopted Steadman Resolution.
! The committee of the whole adopted
as its report the resolution of Delegat te
Steadman. which provides for the form1-
latiOn of legislation to create districts
and appoint district secretaries. whose
/ duties shall be to compile data regard
| ing unOrganized union men and. as rar
| as possible. concerning non-union men.
The records of this data are to be ke1t
in books to be seen by the officers of the
1. S. E L. and officers of subordinate
unions.
| The executive council is given power
to attend TO the districting. This report
was referred TO the law committee.
The invitation of the local reception
! committee to attend a banquet at Car
roll Institute Hall at o'clock this
evening. was unanimously accepted.
Important Resolutions.
/
were offered before the close Of the
morning session. Delegate Cannon
| Chicago. offered a resolution to appoint
/ a committee OF three of the l. s. E L.
TO meet like committee of photo-e--
gravers. for the purpose of formulating
plans for an agreement between the
/ two
This was referred to the committee on
/ laws.
Delegate Thixton, of Washington, Of
| fered a resolution to bring the trade
of the United States and Canada under
one head, and pending this to have a
| plan to interchange cards with the IN
| organized unions OF Canada. This was
! referred TO the laws committee.
New Travelling Card
Delegate Steadman offered a resolu-
! tion for the adoption OF a new travelling
and working card.
| Delegate Dixon, of Richmond, laid be-
fore the convention a resolution con
cerning an alleged breach of agreement
on the part of a Richmond newspaper
by the employment of a non-union man
This was referred to the executive
council.
Delegate Gannon's resolution favorinl
trade autonomy was referred to the
committee on laws.
President Freel announced that since
reaching Washington he had been in,
formed that the unions of Kansas City
Louisville. and Baltimore had nego-
tiatcd new wage scales.
New Committees Named.
The following committees were ap.
/ pointed today:
/ Committee 10 select an international
/ button-McAfee. New York: Haughey
| Baltimore, and Dwyer, Newark
Committee 10 draft resolution OF
| thanks to the local entertainment COM
mittee-Delegates Knopf. O'Donnel. sum
ner. Murray and Jackson.
Before the roll was called Vice Pres
| ident Straube stepped up to the presi.
| dents desk and presented Mr.. Free
| with a gavel made from wood grown al
| Mount Vernon. The presentation was
| made in behalf OF the delegates to The
| convention. Mr.. Straube, in his pre-
/ sentation speech, expressed the hope
| that the spirit of truth and loyalty that
! governed the life of George Washing,
| ton might be ever present with the del
| egates in convention assembled to guide
| them in their work.
Mr. FTeel was sincerely affected by
| this tribute from his brother delegates
and expressed his thanks in appropriate
! words.
S1.z5 10 Baltimore and Return S1.2,
| Via Pennsylvania Railroad. Tickets oI
| sale Saturday and Sunday. good to re