Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1904-11-29
delegate to the British Trade Union

delegate to the British Trade Union
congress.
James Wood. OF the Cigarmakers
International union was elected second
fraternal delegate to the British trades
union congress; Frank Feeney, OF
Philadelphia, of the Elevator union,
was chosen fraternal delegate to the
Canadian Trade and Labor council.
The majority and minority reports
of the committee on the fight between
Longshoremen and Seamen was voted
down, and the matter now stands in
the position it did before the conven-
tiOn met.
The International Longshoremen's
association, it was claimed by the
Seamen's International union, con-
tlnued the name Of, and in part claim
jurisdiction over. as the "lnternation-
al Longshoresmen, Marine and Trans
pOrtation association" of all trans
port workers on water about the
water front
The Seamen's union claimed that
these transport workers properly
should come under the Jurisdiction of
| the Seamen's union. They according
| iy introduced Il resolution asking the
delegates to vote in favor of organic
| ing all such marine and transport
| workers, as engineers, tiremen, water
| tenders, oilers, pilots and tug boat
masters, to be declared seamen and
to compel them to secede from the
international LOngshoremen, Marine
and Transportation association and
join the Seamen's union.
The committee which considered
the resolution rendered a majority
report and minority report. The
latter was in favor OF the Seamen.
The debate took up the entire time Of
the morning session ana when 1t came
to vote a roll call was demanded.
The Seamens union lost by a close
vote.
| A roll call was demanded on the
majority report of the committee
which was adverse to the Seamen's
union, but recommended that the mat
ter be settled by conference be-
tween committee to be appointed
by the disputing organizations. This
report was also voted down so that
the battle Waged all day between the
contending factions came to naught.
The federation voted to meet next
year at Pittsburg, Pa. Pittsburg was
selected by a large vote over Boston.
Toronto and Niagara Falls.
An effort was made 10 reopen the
Chicago dispute and give Delegate
| Mangan hearing but Chairman
| Gompers ruled that 1t was out OF OF
der and bitter fight was nipped in
the bud.
The federation complied with the
request of Eek Secretary OF State Eos
ter and went on record as being In
favor of international arbitration.
The claim OF the Shipkeepers' union
for overtime pay while working al
Mare Island was indorsed, the report
of the committee on building trades
councils recommended the affiliatiOn
of the building trades alliance with
the American Fetderalion of Labor,
the enactment of law giving mechan-
les and laborers prior claim on liens
and the obtaining of q strong employ
ers' liability act.
The report was unanimously adopt
ed
President Gompers spoke OF a
rumor that had gained some currency
to the effect that an effort would made
at the next session Of congress To
give government employees the right
to become union men.
He said that he did not credit the
rumor but if the issue should come
organized labor would vehmently ex
press itself and fix the responsibility
for such an act. After singing
| America" and AUD Lang Syne,'
the convention adjourned sine die.