The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-04-27
LABOR CONVENTION HAS BUSY SESSION Question of Participating in
 Politics Discussed AC TON IS CONSERVATIVE Working Men Urged to Pay Their Poll Taxes-smoker Given Last Night
 at Which Candidates
 Make Speeches.
ACTION IS CONSERVATIVE

Make Speeches.
 The second and last days session of the sixth annual convention of the Ala bama Federation of Labor was called 10 order at 3 clock yesterday morning. The attendance was somewhat larger than that of the previous day. owing to the late arrival of some of the delegates. The question as to the advisability of the organization participating in politics was discussed at length, resolution against such action being finally overruled and the following report adopted: We, your committee beg leave to recommend that this body take all pos sible steps to regain our lost member ship.
 I've also recommend that the fight for a paid organizer for this district be kept hot, and that delegates be instructed to question all candidates for legislative honors as to their stand on numerous questions of vital importance to organized labor. viz, the convict system, the child
  who are in accord with our ideas on those points, Respectfully.
 JOHN KORAN,
 M. T. JUDGE.
 "RICHARD MILES,
 JOHN KEITH,
 "Committee." resolution to the effect that enter tainments be postponed until all the business of the convention be disposed of was presented by G. " Hess. After considerable discussion the motion was lost
 The following committee was appointed to assist in unionizing the Nashville Methodist Printing company: w. U Will liams W. D. Taylor, J. A. Deerng, l.. B. Evans and M. N. Bagwell.
 Poll Taxes.
 M C. Judge offered a resolution urging all members of the federation to see that their poll tax was paid, thereby developing the full voting power of the laboring men. This was unanimously adopted by the committee on resolution.
 c. C. Houston presented a resolution to the effect that a petition be sent to Samuel Gompers, president of the Amerl- can Federation of Labor, seeking to ob- tain for the Alabama Federation a large. representation in the general assembly. This resolution was also adopted. A resolution recommending that no member of the Alabama Federation accept a political office was then presented and an interesting discussion ensued. The f, ~ President Stanley and the secretary. J. II. F. Mosley. It was finally tabled. G. Y. Hess presented n resolution that the governor of Alabama be asked to have all the state printing done by union labor. The resolution was adopted, and committee of three appointed to take charge of the matter.
 School Text Books.
 The following resolution referring to the state text book law was presented by George V. Hess, and was unanimously adopted;
 Resolved, That the Alabama Federa- ton of Labor, in state convention assem- bled. desires to go on record as approv- ing the act adopted by the last legislature of Alabama providing for a uniform sys- tenn of text books for the public schools of the state.
 '2 That it deplores the fact that the state text book commission, in adopting the text books for the use of public books, saw fit to seecr certain books of the product of the American Book com pany which product is produced by un- derpaid labor, under conditions destruc- tive of American ideals of labor and in- imcable to the highest excellence. "3 That the ensuing meeting of the Aa- bama legislature Is hereby petitioned to adopt an amendment to the uniform text books law requiring tha, the union label shall appear all books used in the public schools of the state.
 A. That we favor the establishing by the state of Alabama of state-owned publishing plant for the making of text books for the use of the public schools, such books to he furnished free to the pupils or a actual cost of production. ''5. That the governor be asked to set in motion an inquiry to learn whether or not the trust. the American Book com- pany. is receiving a rebate fpom the pulp fishers who have contracts with the state to furnish books other than those con tracted for with the American Book com pany."
 A resolution was adopted condemning the prosecution of w. H. Mover and Wil- liam D. Haywood in Colorado and Idaho At the afternoon session which was call ed to order by President Stanley at o'clock the committee on resolutions re- ported and the annual election of of ficers was held. Montgomery was appoint ed as the next place for the meeting of the convention.
 "The Labor Advocate" published in Bir- mingham and ''The Unionist" of Mobile will continue to be the official organs of the federation.
 The Officers.
 The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:
 George w Jones of Mobile. president. John NJ Horan of Birmingham, first vice president.
 J. H. Blanc of Selma second vice presl- dent
 w. D. Allimon of Mobile, third vice president.
 W. H. Proctor of Birmingham. fourth vice president.
 M. W. Bagwel of Birmingham. fifth vice president
 J. B. Drake Of Birmingham secretary and treasurer