The San Francisco call., 1908-09-13
NATIONAL CAMP PAIGN
NOT FOR UNIONISTS
Labor Party Convention Refuses
TO Nominate Electors for
the Presidency
Tom Egan and 7. L. Dam Make
Vigorous Fight, but Lose
Against Program

The union labor party Of California
decided last night IN convention assem-
bled by vote OF I6S TO Z not TO nomlh-
ate candidates for presidential electors
Vigorous but unavailing opposluon 10
this action by the party was captalnea
by Public Works Commissioner ION
Eagan and by Cleveland L. Dam, altot-
ney for the building trades couhcll.
These DELEGATES declared that the con-
vention was destroying the state organ
szation Of the party and fought through
the whole session against the conNen-
tfon program. In the end a resolution
was adopted commencing 10 the union
voters the stand Of Samuel Gompers
with regard TO the two natlonal cohFeH-
tions Of the big parties.
Owing 10 difficulty experienced IN
getting q hall in the labor temple al
Fourteenth and Guerrero streets, II was
mast 9 O'Clock when Chairman William
H Mcdonald called the state union Ia
bor convention TO order last night
Mcdonald immediately announced the
following committees:
Committee on permanent organizat tlon-toWara
J. AIeGinnity, chairmani ~ O Bo12 ana Fei,,e a.
fred Growney Of san Francesca w Il u ElI.SoA lI
Alameda. William Rheinholo OF sal.I- lrS 80
Semmittee 1os6 On piaT9EnoA KsF August sdG HardePs
Lanes Mcnamara. Charles A. Minert. Thomas 1
Cor1eIIas' Tbomss !. Forbes, Arthur FIaherty. |
al Of san Francisco; A M InonPson 9 1ll9 /
r. j. FELTON, OF Alameda; Robert AelIeT ana
committee n SgeeS on l l Fesoiutons@w R. Hagerty,
chairman; Matt Lasrange, John :; bTes,la' N /
John Mclaughlin. Joseph SULLIVAN. 5OlHa l. 80 |
Ian Iohn n Rodgerson. Michael Desey, Tim
othy Hayes. Cleveland L Dam. Daniel p@ewaE, @
II. =. Scot al OF san Francisco J q Bowen
Of Alameda. A. s. Brown Of San Msteo
Cleveland L. Dam asked what was
the next order OF business, and on be-
ing told the reports Of the committees,
moved that the convention adjourn un-
I'll Monday night
The union labor party in California,
or in the whole United States" he eN-
planned never faced a situation more
important or q crisis more unusual or
extraordinary than today. There IS
more before you at this minute than
ever before in the history Of the
United States Either deliberate or
proceed at once. It means all or moth
ing 10 union labor. AS your legal ad-
wiser I say be careful what you do. It
rests with you whether union labor
shall be union labor or nothing before
the people"
Maloney Of San Rafael seconded
Dams motion, but W r Hagerty
thought the convention should proceed
with business. Dam insisted that it
would be an Unmitigated mistake. de-
clared that IL meant life or death TO
union labor in California and the
United States. but nevertheless with
drew his motion.
Tom Eagan objected to its with
drawal, but the chair ruled that il was
withdrawn Eagan renewed the mo-
ton himself. but the chair refused to
consider it, would not listen TO the OBJ
lection OF Horace Jackson and per-
emptcriiy ordered a recess so that the
committees might meet and prepare
their reports.
PROVIDE STATE COMMITTEE
-F@s.
nanent organization and order OF busi-
ness provided, among other things for
a state central committee of % men,
bers. selected by the chairman Of the
convention. to serve for two years 1t
provided for the nomination Of con-
gressmen and expressly suggested that
no nominations for presidential cleo
tors be made
This latter part Of the Sreport pre-
cipitated the contest of the evening.
Cleveland l. Dam offered an amend
ment providing that presidential cleo
tors be nominated. Maloney Of san
Rafael seconded this amendment. Tom
Eagan proposed that action on the re-
port OF the. committee be taken by con-
sidering each OF their suggestions Sc
riatim. MalOney noisily objected
I viii pause 10 tolerate the alcoholic
fumes from Marin and then proceed"
said Eagan. He then warned the con-
volved in the adoption Of the report
and begged the delegates to act with
. deliberation.
Opposition to Eagan's amendment to
the amendment was manifested on all
sides and IL was voted down viva vOce.
Eagan's demand for roll call was denied
by the chair whereupon the leader of
the minority appealed from the deci-
sion Of the chair There was nothing
doing until former Police Commissioner
W. r. Haggerty suggested that roll call
be had Whereupon the chair relented.
Eagan mustered three votes in the
thirty-fourth district, two in the thirty
fifth, one in the thirty-seventh and one
in the fortieth. When Chairman Thomp-
son of the Alameda county delegation
voted as delegates against Eagan the
latter protested that the ma jority of the
transbay delegation was absent and
asked for poll. But he did not get it
The vote was against Eagan's amend
ment by 1e8 TO Z.
Then Cleveland L. Dam spoke to his
amendment providing for the nomina-
ton of electors
IF you are union men," he cried
you viii do as 1 advise. For 10 years
have advised the union men in the besr
organization on Gods earth, the building
trades council. I don't care what yol
do Vote this down if you want to. Say
10 the world that unionism recedes from
might do a little union politics fol
yourselves.
If you say to the world that Califor
MIA wanted to be union labor ans
couldn't, say to yourselves that union
ism was sacrificed on the altar of some
body's personal ambition.
MAN BEHIND Is TRAITOR
II don't care who's behind thi
scheme or who controls this convention
But the man behind this scheme is :
traitor. The republican party threw u
down: the democrats gave us some
thing. Take what you can get Fo
Gods sake don't go down. Don't sur
render. Are you men?"
Eagan declared that he wanted to z,
on record with Gompers, Mitchell Dun
can and others in favor of Bryan. A
the mention of this name there wer
cheers. But Dams amendment wa
voted down and the report was adopte,
as submitted.
Haggerty submitted the followin,
resolution. which was adopted, thougl
Dam declared the convention did al
asinine thing:
Resolved, that we heartily indors