Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-11-17
Central Labor Body Votes Down
Resolution Favorable to Severn.
menl Owning Railroads.
Pres. G0MPt8s' SALARY RAISED
WIN Hereafter Receive 5000 In.
stead Of $4,000 Year-saaries of
Secretary and Treasurer Also -Ad.
-Resolhions Asking for an
investigation of Trust Adopted.
as Associntcd prcss.l J

NORFOLK. VA, Nov. little
American Federation OF Labor by i
vote OF l1i to 80 today refused TO
place itself on record as favoring the
COVE; ninent ownership OF railways
and mines, tho question having come
up on n resolution offered by Herbert
Champion, OF the Amalgamatcd Car
renters' Union TO amend the economic
platform adopted at Minneapolis last
year so AS to include railways and
mines In the favorable action taken
u; that time on the question Of nation
nll2ation OF telegraph and telephone
properties.
The opponents took the ground that
government ownership OF mines and
railways will prevent all strikes. no
matter how peacefully they might be
conducted and with n federal govern
ment opposed to labor II might prove
II death blow.
Victor l.. Berger, OF Milwaukee, led
the fight for the government owner
chip. Delegate Feeley. OF Milwaukee,
declared that the way TO make the
government favorable to labor vas by
ballot and, thatsif this was properly
used ''niep 81 power, some OF whose
. wives now give dog and monkey din.
ners ut Newport" would be succeeded
by others who might conduct affairs
equally as well. Another prominent
feature OF the convention was the In
creasing of the salary OF President
Gompers from $4,000 to $4,000 per
annum: that OF Secretary Morrison
from $500 to $4,000. and OF Treasur
er Lennon from 5000 to $500.
Mr.. Berger was the only one to op
pose the $4,000 salary for President
Gompers, declaring that $4,000 was
enough and that the grea, increase
might njure the cause of labor
The Federation with but few dis
sent.ng' votes placed itself on record
ps fayoring q system of government
postal savings banks and unanimously
adopted an appeal by the Porto Ricnn
delegates to President Roosevelt and
Congress fo- reforms in that insular
possession with but one amendment.
accepted by the Porto Ricans, calling
for an immediate territorial form OF
government for Porto Rico.
Resolutions Adopted.
The Federation also adopted rcso-
buttons today as follows: Calling for
all employees injured Oh government
work. naval or otherwise. TO be paid
their wages for period OF not more
than six months ard In case of death
this TO so to dependent relatives like
wise.
Legalzing of Saturday half holidays
in July. August and September for all
persons employed OH government
WORKS.
Urging remedial legislation for
American sc1men, preventing impris-
onncnt because Of result az work with
non-mlonists while in foreign waters.
Giving all possible support to strils-
Ing tailors in Los Angeles; the ques.
ton of II general per capita tax OF one
cent PEI month for one year for q
general aid 10 unionists OF Los Ange-
les 10 be considered later.
Rejecting the proposition TO give
specific support to tine temple OF labor
movement in Washington. D. c.. be
cause this movement Is LEGAL as In
any other city.
Declaring in favor of primary cleo
tions. county. municipal. state and ma
tional and calling for the restriction
II tho nse of money in elections with
publication OF all party campaign ex
penscs. but rejecting provision or pay
ment Of primary election expenses by
states.
Rejecting the resolution forbidding
membership in local unions to un-
qualified voters. hut urging MI to fully
qualify themselves for citizenship.
Lumber Trust TO be investigated.
Referring TO the executive council
fo- full investigation and action, re
quest to Interstate commerce com.
mission to fully hear labor before de-
Gliding tho injunction against the in
creast rates on forest products by the
Hill and Hartman railroads, and al
so tho proposition to prevent recipro
city between the lumber interests of
The United States and Canada. involv-
ing alleged clash between white and
AsiastIc labor.
The Federation. suspendlng bust.
hess. adopted long resolutions of
greeting to the people of Oklahoma
upon tho admission OF that state to
the Union today. The telegram went
10 Governor Haskell. the president Of
the Oklahoma Federation OF labor