The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-02-04

OFFICERS ARE ELECTED
State Society of Labor and
Industry on Socialism.
RESOLUTION INTRODUCED
Debate Aroused Interest but
the Matter Was Tabled.

Topeka, Kan, Feb. AT the meeting
of the State Society of Labor and In
! dustry the election Of officers was very
/ quiet and with one exception no fight
was made This exception was on the
election of a legislative committee from
! the miscellaneous trades. Three candi-
dates, +. Curry, r. l. Palmer and \.
Perkins. We're up for nomination. On
the first ballot Palmer and he withdrew.
Perkins asked PERMISSION Of his sup
porters to withdraw, but they were not
willing and a second ballot was taken.
Curry was elected on that ballot and
at Perkins request the election was
made unanimous.
George w Brandon was reelected as
president, by acclamation. Mr.. Brandon
is from Leavenworth and represents the
stationary engineers. There were two
candidates for the office Of vice-president
and both are Topeka men. c. P. Allen,
representing the Building Trades. and H.
P Miller, representing the BARRIERS IN
ion. were both candidates. Allen was
elected.
IN addition to f. Curry. c. Van Pelt
and c. o. Churchill We're elected mem
bers of the legislative committee, both
by reclamation. Van Pelt represents the
railroads and Churchill represents the
Building Trades.
Had it not been for one innocent look
ing little resolution the meeting of the
State Society of Labor and Industry,
which was in session in the Representa-
tive hall yesterday, would have passed
off quietly and in all probability the
meeting would have closed last night
The chairman of the resolutions com
mittee threw a bomb into the meeting
when he read a resolution asking that
the society as a body should endorse
socialism.
Previous TO the reading of that resolu-
ton more attention was paid to perusing
newspapers and smoking than to the
meeting. Resolutions We're read and
adopted without any comment from the
members, but when the Socialistic reso-
luton WAS flashed the meeting took on
a more intedestng appearance. Half a
dozen speakers were on the floor when
the reading closed and Chairman Bran
don secured order only after vigorous
use Of the gavel.
The committee recommended that the
dissolution be laid on the table and it was
being rapidly railroaded to the table when
one of its supporters discovered that a
mistake had been made in the procedure
and President Brandon. recalled all that
had been done and put the resolution at
its starting point again. +. J. Mccall
lister, in calling a halt on the proceed
inss. managed to make a. Socialistic
speech and when the matter was again
placed in the hands of the society it ap-
peared that it had gained strength and
had quite a following Mr.. McCallister
said:
This is not a matter that can be pass
ed over So lightly as YOU seem to think,
1t is something which vitaIly concerns
everyone of you and now is the time
to act"
He continued along this line for some
time, telling of the merits of Socialism
and finally compared the meeting yester-
day to the one at which the Declaration
of Independence wass isned He stated
that one occasion was as momentous as
the other and that in his opinion the
society should not hesitate a moment 10
endorse the principles of the Socialist /
party. Its principles are ours" he said. |
He was followed by several other So !
cialists and several who were very much !
opposed 10 the adoption of the resolution. !
The discussion became so warm and the |
contest so close that President Brandon |
took the floor for a few minutes and ad-
vised against the adoption Of the reso- /
luton. This had considerable effect. with /
the meeting. but the Socialists continued
to gain until ane of their own number. (
f. Curry, rose and made the talk that
broke down their defenses and restored 1
order in the meeting again Mr.. Curry 1
is a very fOrcible speaker and he wasted /
no time on words. He said.
u am as strong d Socialist as there /
to lie found in this meeting. l believe I
in Socialism from the ground up. but 1 /
am absolutely opposed to the adoption of I
this resolution. I think it is the rankest 4
kind OF nonsense to bring up such a oues- /
ton at meeting Of this kind. To adopt Z
that resolution would be to cut off our /
heads"
His talk practically settled the mat
ter, and following the recommendation
of the committee. the resolution was
laid on the table
That dry. rasping cough Is not neces-
sary, Piso's Cure Will relieve and cure