The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-09-24
Twenty-eighth Annual Con-
vention of S. F. of L. Op-
ened at the Coliseum with
Warm Greetings.
WOMEN DELEGATES
ASK VOTE RIGHTS
Want More Than Seats in the
Convention. President
Perkins Replies to Mayor
and Chas. Jordan.

and ChaS. Jordan.
The twenty-eighth annual conven-
tion of the Indiana State Federation
of Labor held its preliminary session
today at the Coliseum with about 400
accredited delegates. representing ev-
cry city of Indiana in which there is
union organization. In attendance.
Indications at the opening session
showed that the federation is keen on
protecting the interests of organized
! labor. for President Edgar A. Perkins,
upon the solicitation of the local bar
tenders union, informed the delegates
that the Pike saloon on North Sew
enth street is unfair to union labor.
T. n. Taylor. of Terre Haute. busi-
ness agent of the painters union of
! that city, gave further evidence of the
interest which union labor displays
for the cause. He has called a meet
ing of the painters of Richmond this
evening at z o'clock at Fifth and Main
street, to rehabilitate the local union.
There are only seven members in the
Richm nd union. and the organization
is almost wrecked. Boss painters will
attend the first part of the meeting.
Mrs. A. B. Field. of Elwood, nation
al secretary and treasurer of the
Woman's Union Label League, and
four delegates from Indiana local un-
ions, are attending the convention,
and will ask that members of the La
bel league be given the right of voting
in the federation.
At the 1911 convention in Evans
vile. the State Federation, acting on
a decision of Samuel Gompers, presi-
dent Of the American Federation of
Labor, seated them as fraternal dele
gates with a voice, but no vote in the
body. This caused a stormy session.
many delegates insisting that the La
bel league delegates had as much right
to vote as delegates from other un-
ions.
| Will Provoke Debate.
1t is expected that the question of
seating the five delegates will be at
| tended with much debate before the
| present session closes. Mrs. Field, the
national secretary of the Woman's
Union Label League. is assisted in
her efforts to seat the delegates by
Mrs. Marie Fowler, of Lafayette; Mrs.
o. F. Smith, of Logansport; Mrs.
Trips, of Logansport. and Mrs. L. F.
Redding. of Fort Wayne.
The credentials committee, which
worked last night and this morning
examining the credentials of the dele
! h. A.
ternoon session. The personnel of the
committee is James Twyman, Indi-
annapolis; George Greenleaf, Terre
Haute; A. Eshelman. Elkhart; VIII
liam Houston. Terre Haute: and p
Bell, Fort Wayne.
Hold Street Parade.
After accepting the report of the
credentials committee this afternoon
the delegates formed In line and par
ticipated In the frst street parade in
the history of the Federation. The
column moved from the Coliseum TO
Main street, thence west to Fort
Wayne avenue, north to E street, east
to North Sixteenth, south to Main,
west on Main to North Seventh street.
1t halted in front of st. Mary's church
where a photograph of all the dele
gates was taken.
The convention was called to order
this morning by Edgar A Perkins. of
Indianapolis. president of the fedora
ton. The invocation was pronounced
by the Rev. A. J. Feeger, pastor Of st.
Johns Lutheran church. Mayor Zim.
norman welcomed the delegation in
behalf of the municipality. He said in
jpart:
'It is an honor and a pleasure to
greet you and to extend the welcome
of the city of Richmond. You are citi.
zens from almost every city and town
in Indiana where there is organized
labor You are representative citizens
of the great commonwealth of Indi-
ANA sturdy, honest, upright and
thrifty set of men
"I hope you will enact resolutions
that viii rebound to the welfare of
the moral and material betterment OF
the state. Your children will be bene.
fitted by the course of action you
adopt at this meeting. hope that this
viii be the best meeting you have held
in the history of the federation.
The laborers in Richmond for the
most part own their homes. They are
Ian upright class of citizens and we
are proud of them. In their behalf and
lin the na-c of the city extend you
the keys Of our city with the wish
that your stay here may be pleasant
lone, and that you will leave a warm
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