The San Francisco call., 1908-10-07
Labor Federation Objects to
Employees Being Barred From
Political Activity
Unionists Are Urged to Insist
Upon Having Label Placed
on Clothing
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

this morning. Additional delegates
were seated from the brewers union
Of Oakland, stage employees union of
Oakland, tailors' union of San Jose
and bakers union of San Francisco.
An appeal was made in behalf of
c w. Petrey of Oakland, who was a
member of the federation of January,
who some TING ago was stricken with
apopleXy.
The committee on reports of officers
commended President Tracy for his
well digested report and dealt at length
with the order Of the government and
the circular letter of Secretary of the
Navy Metcalf in regard to prohibiting
employees in the Mare island navy yard
from taking part in politics, and closed
with the following resolutions:
NAVY YARD RULES CONDEMNED
Resolved, that we condemn the aforesaid rules
and circular letter as tyrannieal, unjust and
against the fundamental rights of citizenship,
and savoring Of the blackhsting methods of all
orgsnizati tons whose aims and objects the
grinding down of those who toll to the conditions
Of slavery; and further
Resolved. that the incoming executive board
take this matter up with the proper authorities,
that the local unions Of this federation take the
same up with their national International or
the A. i. Of l., and endeavor TO have the afore-
said rules and contents OF the circular abrogated.
Delegate Wisler of the machinists'
lodge, in speaking to the resolutions.
declared that the order and circular
letter places the commandant of the
navy yard in a position to control all
the votes of the men under him in
favor of one or another administration
by telling the men that it is to their
interest to vote this or that way.
The report was adopted by unani-
nous vote.
Delegate wisIer also called attention
to conditions at the navy yard, where,
he said, a man goes around, watch in
hand, times the workers, and compels
them to do a certain amount of work
in a given time. He also spoke Of the
effort Of the government to introduce
piece work.
The constitution was amended so as
TO eliminate fractional votes on all
questions where rollcall vote is taken;
that nominations shall be made on the
third instead of the fourth day and
that the election of officers shall be
on the fourth instead of the fifth day.
There was also a change in the matter
of selecting tellers and judges.
At the afternoon session a communi-
cation was received from William Ram
bo, second vice president, announcing
that he would not attend the conven-
tion.
SYMPATHY FOR RUSSIAN
A request for an Endorsement of a
petition to President Roosevelt not to
eNtradite Jan Jenoff Pomen. a Russian
political prisoner. was granted, and the
executive committee was Instructed to
enter a protest against extradition.
Two propositions presented by Mary
Fenton and May Cummings for the gar
ment workers of San Francisco were
adopted. One urged that members of
unions insist upon having the union
label on their clothing, and the other
urged that the governing bodies in the
state be asked 10 stipulate that con-
tracts for public supplies shall be
awarded only to persons, firms or cor
porations employing free white labor
exclusively in all branches of manufac-
ture
Delegates Scharrenberg and Erickson
of the sailors union or the Pacific Of
fered a resolution calling upon the fed
Grafton to use its efforts to have the
Legislature repeal sections 644 and 645
of the penal code, which makes 1t a
misdemeanor to assist a sailor to leave
his employment.
ENDORSEMENT FOR GOMPERS
Paul Scharrenberg of the sailors
union introduced a resolution urging
the members Of organized labor in Cali
fornia TO give the most careful consid-
Grafton to the statement issued by the
American federation of labor in rela-
tion TO politics, concluding as follows:
Resolved. that we emphatically repudiate the
charge, made by the opponents Of labor in the
press and other quarters, that President Gompers
has made bargain to deliver the labor vote.
campaign lie intended TO create distrust
among the workers and thus divide them against
themselves. further
Resolved, that we pledge our utmost confidence
in President ,Gompers and the executive council
OF the American Federation Of Labor and also in
the ability. Of the members OF organized labor
TO deliver their own votes in accordance with
the dictates Of their own Judgment.
The secretary was instructed to send
a telegram OF coincidence to L. B. Leav-
tit of Vallejo. one of the delegates, who
was absent on account of the illness of
his wife.
Delegate Swartig invited the dele
gates to inspect the model union bak-
cry OF this city.
The brewery workers of this city
have opened headquarters, where they
will entertain until the close of the fed
Grafton session.
A proposition will be presented de-
nouncing the prohibition movement
throughout the state. :.
CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE
The caucuses held last night resulted
in the selection of the following candi-
dates for vice presidents:
d. d. Sullivan of the Sacramento
typographical union, now third vice
president. for first vice; NJ. T. Murray
of San Jose street railway union, now
fifth vice president, for second vice;
w. G. Ross of Vallejo pile drivers
union, now eighth vice president. for
third vice. and T. c. Stewart of Fresno
cooks and walters union, now ninth
vice president, for fourth vice.
J. ". Erickson of Eureka sailors
union is almost certain to be nominated
to succeed p. Burlingame of Eureka
carpenters union as seventh vice presi-
dent. 1t is said that he will receive
the support of the carpenters.
A M. Thompson Of Oakland, first vice
president, is still the only candidate
for president and George NJ Bell the
only candidate for secretary treasurer
Fannie Koehl OF San Francisco gar
ment workers, now sixth vice president
will rot be a candidate for reelection,
and it is said that Henry Sager of the
San Francisco sugar workers does not
care to continue as a vice president.
Mae Cummings and Mary Fenton,
who represent the garment workers of
San Francisco, have been asked If they
would accept nomination for a vice
presidency, but each declined TO allow
her name to go before the convention.
Up TO the present only one city. San