The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-19
LET WOMEN V'O,T' SAYS
FEDORA ION OF LABOR
A. + Of L. with only One Dissenting Vote Declares for
Woman 4 Suffrage and for State Lsws to
#.4 Wipe Out Child Labor s- ss 81 ssss

The American Federation Of Labor,
clared for woman's suffrage. With
only one dissenting vote the conven-
tlon today adopted a resolution which
calls upon the judiciary committee Of
the national house of representatives
to report to the house joint resolution
NO. 80, which provides for submitting
to the legislatures an amendment to
the constitution of the United States
allowing women to vote ,
y The A. r. of Z. is pledged by the
resolution it adopted today to use its
efforts for woman s suffrage.
J: Child Labor Inquiries. gv'. J.
Debate over the relative desirability
Of state and federal legislation on child
session of the Federation of Labor in
Normanna hall today.
Argume nts which were old when Web
ster and Calhoun were battling on the
floor Of the senate over the question
Of state sovereignty, were paraphraased
by the, representatives of organized
labor in their discussion Of the best
means Of wiping out the evil Of child
labor. State legislation was finally in
dorsed by the combined vote, Of those
congress could not legislate on the age
GUS states, and of those who, thru dis,
trust Of the federal courts, wished laws
which would be enforced by judges
more directly answerable to the voters
The resolution which brought on this
discussion was introduced by W. j.. A.
johnson and Thomas F. Flynn, dele
gates from the Brotherhood of Boiler
makers and Iron Ship Builders. : Aftel
reciting the need of legislation on the
subject Of child labor and pointing Out
that the various state laws were con
ficting and often inefficient, it called
on the federation to indorse a uniform
assist the National Child LAX Dor associa
ton to secure the passage Of such bill
in the next congress-. -: .,-...
The committee on resolutions amend
ed this resolution by striking out the
resolution calling for the Endorsement
Of a uniform law and substituting fol
the words "such a law by the next
congress- the words "tof law in the
several states prohibiting the employ
ment Of children under 16 years OF
age.' The committee recommended the
adoption Of the resolution as amended
Gompers on the Floor. .s..ay
r President Gomperss p was the first tt
voice an objection. to the resolution az
amended. He pointed out that the
American Federation had borne the
brunt of the battle for the restriction
and limitation Of child labor, and pro-
tested against putting it on record az
yielding that place to any other organ
ization. ".We should not" he said
"take the position Of cooperation with
this or any other. organization which
has later taken up the question. We
do not want to be. the trail car Of the
Delegate j.. H.. Walker took issue
with President. Gompers,l saying that
too often the federation had let mere
matters Of sentime1it IA interfere with
getting results and that, for his part
he cared little who got the credit &C
long as the needed Legislation was Sc.
cured. The difficulty finally ad
justed. by making the. resolution: rea6
cooperate with, instead of eco
operate and assist
Mr.: Walker, also raised the question
of the desirability of o federal law in
stead offorty-fy divergent state laws
He argued that it was easier to secure
the enactment of a single federal Law
than a number of state laws. Delegate
". B. Wilson argued that congress ha6
the power, under tho interstate com
merce clause Of the constitution, tc
pass a child labor law, and brought The
issue squarely before the convention
moving that the clause ":by the mex
congress- expunged by the committee
be reinserted' in the resolution. g.,
-: i" What Congress Can Do. 49,:
Clear KNOWLEDGE Of the constitutions