United labor bulletin., 1912-03-28
MUCH BUSINESS IS
DONE BY ASSEMBLY
Amendments to Bylaws and
Constitution Take Up Large
Part Of Session.


special order of business was n7ade Tor
their consideration early in the meeting.
A considerable change was made m the
order Of business by the committee, and
the report was adopted after an ameHp-
ment carried moving the report Of The,
recreation and lectures committee down
on the order so that it will follow new
business. The following was added to
the platform of the assembly by the re-
port Of the committee, and was adopted
by the delegates without change.
The adoption of constitutional
amendment requiring the election OF
president. vice-president and United
States senators by the direct vote OF the
people.
Specialization OF all means of produc-
ton, distribution and of power.
Prohibition of gambling in stocks and
the necessaries of life.
Municipal, state and federal owner
ship OF all public utilities.
The abolition of the fee system in all
public Offices.
The abolition OF the tenement house
and sweat shop system
To stimulate the political education
of our members to understand their 20
litical rights and use the ballot intelii-
gently. to the end that the government
may be government for. OF and by the
people and not to be used as a tool to
furtner the Cn0S OF cOmpluallouh Vi NOP-
ital for its own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We urge our members TO vote for and
support candidates who are In favor OF
our platform and the following political
demands: Initiative. Referendum and
Recall, National Income Tax Law, Ma
x iplRl Inheritance Tax Law. National
p ,cSDyers' Liability Law. change of the
Saonatitution OF the United States SO that
all judges without exception must be
-. afa.# - all
law granting pensions for old age or
total disability and accident benefits;
United States Postal Savings Banks:
woman suffrage; selfgoyernment OF
cities: abolition OF United States senate;
abolition OF war and the Introduction OF
international arbitration. abolition OF
the contract system on all public work
city, county, state or national-such
work to be done on the day labor plan
at union wages.
An amendment was adopted denying
seat In the assembly to any central body
',<r district council. and delegates must
not be members OF the National guard.
All affiliated organizations must be anil
atcd with the -. +. Of l.
Tho section naming the elective Off
GERS was rewritten by the committee.
With no material change, and was
adopted Chairman Ahlstrom OF the com
mittco offered minority report making
the legislative. resolutions and public In
stitutions committees elective, but Il was
rejected after receiving a very compli-
mentary vote.
An amendment Offering an improved
form OF balloting for officers was offered
by the committee. Il was amended by
Delegate Welsh. calling for the Austral-
ian ballot This amendment was ac-
cepted by the assembly. but failed to get
the required two-thirds vote when II
came up for adoption. The report OF the
committee lacked one vote OF having the
required two.thirds vote. The report OF
the committee offered great improve
mcnt over the loose way officers are now
elected in the assembly, and its re1ec-
tion by the thirty-seven delegates that
voted against IL is to be regretted by
those who desired a fair. safe and sound
election law. The amendment sought to
shorten the time consumed In electing
officers BY adopting the report of the
committee officers could be elected by
the assembly in at least forty-five min
utes Should the Australian ballot have
been adopted II would have necessitated
the purchase or renting OF booths and
the placing OF not less than half a dozen
in the hall Then Il would require not
less than four minutes for each dele
gates name to be called. receive his bal
lot mark II and deposit IL In the ballot
box. At the last election there were $50
delegates voted This would necessitate
two hours for an election. The imprac-
ticabiiity OF the amendment defeated 1t.
When the vote on the above was taken,
n motion carried to proceed with the
regular order of business. II might be
said in this connection that great
amount of opposition was made TO the
report of the committee apparently to
delay the proceedings. There are but
very few sections OF the constitution to
be acted upon at the next meeting the
changes are immaterial, and unless dill
iatory tactics are used can be disposed
of in n very few minutes.
Details Of the Meeting.
The meeting was called to order
shortly after o'clock, and the calling of
tho roll OF officers found all present ex-
cepting a few of the board OF directors.
The minutes of the previous meeting
were found correct and adopted as read.
Credentials were read from the Retail
Clerks. uigarmakers. United Mine Work
ers, Photo -Engravers and Metal Lathers,
and were accepted and the delegates OBJ
ligatcd.
Credentials were also received from
the Structural Iron Workers. This or
gnnization withdrew from the assembly
several months ago. and they were
seated as a new afiiliation by the pay
ment OF one months per capita.
The board of directors asked further
time on two bills contracted by former
officers OF the assembly, and the request
Awas granted.
'.,The organization committee reported
that the Douglas Shoe Co. would not
sign up with the Retail Clerks. and upon
request of that organization and the re-
port also of the arbitration committee
the store was placed on tho unfair list.
:. The organization committee also re-
ported progress In organizing the team
sters of the American Fuel Co.
The arbitration committee reported
that It had been working In the interest
of the Bakers and Chairman Osborn
stated that several saloons had agreed
A.. nla.ua halrara nnlnsa tho ones now