Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-18
THE SOCIALISTS
CONTINUED from page ~

power to place on the unfair list any
concern doing any international or in
terstate business without the sanction
of the National or International Union
Delegate Kelley of the Theatrical
| Stage Employees, spoke against the
substitute, saying that good work and
| quick work is done by the threat to
| enforce a boycott. II the resolve was
| carried, it would consume time~and in
many cases the cause would be lost.
| President Tobin of the Boot and Shoe
| Workers Union spoke in favor OF the
substitute, declaring that the .resolu-
ton will not affect boycott on local
| store by local union.
On a voice vote the committees sub
stitute was lost by a large majority.
! The question then came up on the orig
| inal resolution and on motion it was
| tabled.
| The committee reported unfavorabfy
on a resolve 70 reduce the per capita
| tax ana the defence fund tax, and the
| report was concurred in.
The committee reported unfavorably
on a. resolve providing for the creation
of labor congress, and the report was
| accepted. Similar action was taken on
a resolve to prevent organizations from
signing any agreement which shall
prevent the sympathetic strike.
The committee reported unfavorably
on a resolution to make the amount to
be set aside each month to be used for
strike purposes 9is cents instead of 5
cents and providing that local trade
unions and federal labor unions, which
do not care to enjoy the benefits of the
defense fund, shall only be required to
pay one-half Of l per cent. Il member
per month. The report was concurred
| in.
| Just before adjournment, Delegate
Mahoney of Boston, called attention to
the fact that the Hebrew bakers of
| Boston, used the union label and the
| Christian bakers do not.
The convention adjourned at :
| o'clock, for luncheon. Fraternal Dele
gate VIM. Mullen from Great Britain,
presided during part of the forenoon
| session.
First Vice President Duncan opened
the afternoon session. The committee
on resolutions reported reference 10
the committee on grievances OF petit
| ton that it be the sense OF the conNeh-
ton that the jurisdiction grained py
charter in 1887, to the United Brewery
| Workers Union of the United STATES
he reaf1irmed and permanently estab-
lished. The committees report was
concurred in. This petition has to 40
with the trade jurisdiction of the brew
ers.
Delegate Parker moved the appoint
ment of a committee of five to CONSIDER
the question of continuing the journal,
The American FederatiOniSt. The mat
ter was laid ON the table.
Resolutions were adopted instructlhs
the executive council to inquire INTO the
cost of new Office building for the feu-
Grafton at Washington, and calling upon
the Federation to request president
Roosevelt to order the discontinuance OF
the unfair condition to which the musi-
clans of the country are subjected to from
the musicians enlisted in the army ana
Al this point the convention some what
| uneXpectedly entered into CONSIDERATION
of whether the Federation was 10 commit
itself to the doctrines OF Sociansin' IN
| committee on resolutions reported unfa
yorably on nine resolutions introduced ny
Socialists and calling upon the conVcn-
ton to favor public ownership, the coi!ec-
tive ownership of land and capital ana III
| a general way declaring that the Fedora
ton form itself into political party.
Delegate Hayes of Cleveland, ore or tne
leading Socialists in the convention. was
on his feet in q moment to protest against
the report and he was loudly. .appa uded
| by the spectators in the gallery Inc
demonstration from the galleries contin-
uing, President GomperS ordered that the
balconies be cleared and this: was done
amidst much kissing from the eJected
spectators.
Delegate Hayes moved the following
substitute for the committees report, but
he was ruled out OF order:
Since wages can never be regarded as
the full equivalent for labOrS toll, the
convention recommends that the workers
use their political and economic power
| along the lines of their class interests to
secure for labor the full product of Its
toll
Delegate Hayes proceeded to make a 30
minute speech on Socialism. He cantend-
ed that all the bills in the interest OF
labor had been pigeon-holed by Congress
and that all the slight concessions asked
for by labor had been refused by the com
bincd capitalists of the country. He
pointed out what he claimed was the
great injustice of labor producing all the
wealth. yet owning none of it. He claim
ed that the time had come when the
working masses must use their political
as well as their economic powers by or
ganizing all labor into one political party.
Debate then became general, occupying
the remainder of the session. Delegate
| Fuller of California, Havestraw OF Wash
irgtOn. Tanguary of Colorado. Bohm of
New York. and keyes of New Jersey, all
spoke in favor of the resolution. while the
non-e,ocialistic side of the question was
supported by Delegate Lennon Of Illinois.
movement should be divorced from any
and all political organization. but not di-
verted from its purpose of ameliorat.g
conditions of the laboring class.
| At $40 the convention was adjourned
until tomorrow, when the debate will he
resumed.