The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-18
Call Upon Labor to Enter the Po.t-
cal Field Instead Of All Join
ing the Socialist
Party.
CRAFTS SYSTEM PLAl
Union Railroad Men Hauling Nom
Union Coal 10 Called Piece
Of Most Damnable
Work.

United Press Leased Wire Service.] |
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. Is
Labor is called upon to enter politics
In resolution adopted by the United
Mine Workers International conven-
ton here. The resolution is SUBJ
stitute for one endorsing the social
ist movement. AS adopted the dacu-l
|. n1ent simply advocates independent
political action by the workers.
The Dill Of Representative Victor
l.. Berger (socialist, wisconsin,. pro-
viding for old age pensions was en-
/ dorsed. Especial commendation is
given that portion of the bill which
/ provides that no court shall have the
/ power Of annuling the bill in case it
! is made law.
The tide of opposition to the crafts
/ system or organization in the Ameri-
| can Federation of Labor was running
high when the United Mine Workers
met in international convention here
| today. Sentiment in favor of adopt
| ing the pending resolution providing
| that the coal miners officials shall
confer with the officials OF other
/ labor unions in the federation, rela-
tive to making the organization a
complete Industrial unit, appeared
i strong.
Supporters of the resolution main
ltaiped that labor is severely handi-
Il capped IN its struggle with, capital un-
der the crafts system by which diff
i ferent trades organize independently
\ and fight their battles for economic
betterment single handed. Under the
complete industrial form all trades
4 stand together in the battle Of any
/, particular trade for larger economic
! liberty.
Delegate John Masoner, of Colorado,
Il speaking today in regard to crafts
unionism, illustrated what he termed
i the evils of the system in the present
] miners strike in that state, which has
now lasted % months.
Union carpenters built the bull
pens into which non-union miners are
thrust while working in the mines"
, he said. Union railroad employees
. haul not only non-union coal, but non
union laborers to take the place OF
!. union men. And the American Fed.
GRAFTON of Labor stands for such
, damnable work as that
The wage scale committee, com
!, posed Ct the "a district presidents OF
: miners, with John II. Walker, of iii
nois, as chairman. held its first meet
ing today. No report will be made
until all other important business is
!. out of the way.
! News from the meeting OF the Goa
!, operators of Indiana, Ohio, West Vir
, ginia and Pennsylvania at Pittsburgh
!. today was eagerly awaited by thu
miners. Ohio and Pennsylvania opel
! ators have not yet consented to ;
;, joint wage conference with represen
!, tatives OF the miners. following ths
close of the convention here. Actio,
was expected to be taken at today
meeting
Opposition to the crafts system o
organization in the American Fedora
ton Of Labor crystalized in the pas
sage OF a resolution instructing tn,
miners delegates to the next fedora
ton convention to use their influenc,
to have the complete industrial form
of organization gupercede the forme
form. Both international and distric
officers of the miners were instruct
= ed to attend every labor convention
possible and work for the complet
: industrial form Of organization il
= which all crafts in an industry ar
. joined together.
y kilograms were authorized sen
! Congressman w. B. Wilson, of Penr
!. sylvania and John Mitchell. forme
miners president, Of. Mount Vernon
u N. Y, asking that they come to II
e dianapolis and explain to the conver
Y tion their lack Of opposition to tn
. National Civic Federation in the 191
y American Federation OF Labor COZ
- yention at Atlanta. Both spoke in fs
~ vor OF the civic organization, a
Though they voted to condemn 1t i
accordance with the miners instrut
tions to them as delegates.
III The two other federation delegate
,e from the miners, Vice President Fran
IL w Hayes and John II. Walker, pres
es dent Of the Illinois miners, are her
n, and will also explain their attitud,
III They are opposed to the civic feder;
IL ton.
e. Five hundred dollars was voted