United labor bulletin., 1912-12-05

moton was made and seconded that
the report of the committee be con-
CURED IN. This was a signal for a num-
Der OF the delegates to not only critf-
cize the political programme as carried
oul Dy the American Federation of La
DOT out oner amendments which, If
ADOPTED, would bring into existence a
so-called National Labor Party. The So
ciaiists, through their spokesmen. vigor-
ously opposed the report of the commit
tee, while Delegate Gallagher. of San
r rIahclsco, offered the following amend
ment; i move that the committees re-
port be amended and that the following
words be inserted: That the executive
council of the Federation be instructed
to consider the advisability of the forma-
tlon OF a strictly speaking National
strict accord with the policies and aims
and legislative demands of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor"
A number of the delegates opposed
tnis amendment After considerable dis
cussion, Delegate Rowe. of the Flint
Glass Workers. made a point of order
that the amendment was in violation Of
section s. Article 3, of the constitution
OF the American Federation of Labor
John B. Lennon. acting as chairman. de-
cided that the point was well taken Deb
egate Gallagher appealed from the deci-
sion of the chair. Section 8 of Article ;
reads Party politics, whether they
may be Democratic, Republican, Social
istic, Opulistic Prohibition, or any other.
shall have no place in the conventions
OF the American Federation of Labor"
After the presentation by Pro Tenn
chairman Lennon of the reasons for his
decision. likewise statement by the
delegate who appealed from the decision
t-rfn <.r~ -
decision of the chair was sustained by
vote of 161 to 81 On the motion to
adopt the report of the committee, it vs.
carried by 166 in the Affirmative to f31u
the negative
The action OF the convention -fl1-f6 n
matter gives a clear and succint define.
ton of the sentiment prevailing in fbc
American Federation of Labor relative
to partisan politics. According to the
vote here given. the advocates of pari-
san political action, who are feverishly
anxious to launch a political party under
the sanction of the American Federation
of Labor, do not show any increase in
strength among the trade unionists.
Neither is there any inclination on the
part OF the great majority of the dele
gates to the annual conventions to ac-
cept the dictum of the political enthusi-
asts who. each year. endeayor by every
means 10 gam recognition at the hands
OF the general labor movement
The delegates to the conventions OF
the American Federation of Labor. IL
the history of these conventions is taken
as guide. are unfavorable to any plan
to enmesh the trade unions OF the coun-
try in any partisan political programme.
which would, in short time. destroy
the general efficiency of the trade union
movement The American Federation OF
Labor has steadfastly refused to be the
tail of any political kite. reserving to it.
self the right to champion or oppose any
political party or individual in accord
ance with its or his record. The result
OF the vote upon the report of the COM
mittee on presidents report is sufficient
iy emphatic to reflect the temper of the
delegates who seek to retain and to
make more powerful the effectiveness OF
the trade unions affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor