The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-11-24
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR IS
CLOSING ITS W0Rk IN MINNEAPOLIS

influenced to any extent by the labor
vote, while the remainder are either
agricultural or at least non-industrial.
Were such power granted to congress
at present, we would not get the
short hours Of Massachusetts but the
long hours of Alabama. The senators
from the agricultural states would
block any legislation in our favor.
Hence, instead of increasing the fed
eraI power we should restrict it. AS
it is, we have too much labor legis-
lation of the sort that shackles us,
and much of it is Of our own seeking.
Senator Beveridge's position on the
child-labor law should be judged by
the fact that he was speaking in Rich
mond, Ind. He wouldn't have said it
had he been on the floor of the SEN
ate."
w. D. Ryan, secretary Of the reso-
luton committee, explained that the
committee had feared the precedent
which would be established by the re-
quest for federal law.
Fear of the federal judiciary was
voiced by Delegate Ramsey, who said:
IF we got federal law and sought
redress under it, we would have to go
to the federal courts, which, are al
ways hostile to labor, and have life
judges, who are not afraid to put this
hostility into execution. We can de-
feat the states judges at the polls If
they refuse to enforce our laws. Let
us keep this child labor law close to
the people,"
The vote then taken resulted in the
defeat of the Wilson amendment and
laws in preference to national law.
After the adoption OF an amendment
by Delegate E. Gerry Brown strength
ening the resolution, it was adopted
by the federation.
A resolution, introduced by Dele
gate Tony Entenza of Florida, calling
for the appointment of a committee Of
two from the Federation to investi-
gate labor conditions in the canal
zone of Panama, was recommended
to be referred to the executive coun-
Gil by the committee, Mr.. >Entenza
entered a prompt: objection, saying
that he understood that reference tc
the executive council meant death.
He wanted his resolution taken up at
at once by the Federation. On the
plea that secracy must obtain. as to
the personnel of the committee and
the time of it's visit were it's efforts
to be crowned with. success, the mat
ter was referred to the executive
council for favorable action.
Upon recommendation of the COM
mittee. a resolution denouncing the
present administration of insurance
and calling FOR compulsory govern
nnent insurance fors.1he workers was
killed outright. This was one OF the
socialist resolutions" introduced by
Victor L. Berger Of Milwaukee. An
other resolution by the same author
calling for more factory inspectors to
enforce existing laws was adopted
after the introductory paragraphs had
been cut out.
Adopted Resolutions.
Other resolutions reported favor
ably and adopted were:
Calling on congress to correct
abuses in the postal clerk branch of
the federal service.
Indorsing and urging the passage OF
Representative Golden's bill. in con.
gress to safeguard passengers on
ocean steamers so as to prevent such
disasters as the Slocum and Valencia
horrors.
Calling on the president of the
United tSates to apply the Chinese
exclusion act to the shipping of sea
men, cooks, etc., on vessels flying the
American flag.
Pledging the A. F. of L. to use. its
best efforts to further legislation
! which shall, check the overlooking ot
ocean and lake vessels.
That government contractors should
pay the prevailing wages in the dis
trict where their work is carried tc
completion.
I That the federation support pending
| legislation repeating that part of the
Sherman. antitrust act under which
labor unions might be enjoined.
That the alien contract labor law
be extended to cover low-grade for
eign musicians.
| That the federation support a pend
| ing bill for the Investigation of thu
conditions of women and child work
ers.
That the federation support pend
ing legislation to give the posta
clerks an ,eight-hour day.
Requesting the organizers of thu
/ American Federation to assist in thu
work of the. Label league.
| Commencing the work of the late
George E, Mcneil and donating $10(
toward the memorial which the Mas
sachusetts Federation is to erect II
his memory .,
Committing the federation to assis
the movement of the Internationa
Typographical union in, it's fight for ;
government telephone and telegraph
system.
Asking that "skirted" wools from
foreign countries be subject to ,
higher tariff for the protection O
American labor.
| The 1oycotts.
President Gompers then called TO-
reports from other committees. Thi
committees on laws, labor, PRESIDENT
report, organization, federated bodies
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