New Britain herald., 1915-11-23
MUCH BUSINESS AT
 LONGLABOR SESSION
A. F. of L. Against Legislation Tor
 Eight Hour Day

San Francisco, Nov. 23.--A resoiu- ton endorsing legislative methods In obtaining a universal eight hour lsw was defeated by a vote of S.496 to 6,3s6 at the final session of the thir- ty fifth annual convention of the American Federation of Labor after a heated debate between President Gompers and John Fitzpatrick, preB- ident of the Illinois State Federation of Labor.
 The convention then went on rec- ord in favor of economic pressHye only to obtain shorter hours.
 The final session of the labor deie- gates was the stormiest of the con- vention and did not adjourn until early today. VI M Victory for Gompcrs. The vote on the eight hour resolution was victory for President Gompers, who declared that the So- cialist party was behind the attempt to force the federation to endorse the proposed eight hour day legisla- ton.
 Power is gravitating from the baI- lot box to the industrial he1d,' said Gompers. That gravitation will go on. I will not trust the fate Of labor to politics. I want congress to give us only one freedom to fight out on Fan economic basis our battles freedom, to achieve. I want the travail of sacri- flee and the tears of our women if necessary upon which to build labors , economic freedom" Favor Merchant Marine. The convention went on record in favor of an American merchant mo- rine and refused to take favorable cognizance of naval increases. -
 In accordance with action taken at a previous session, a committee WAS appointed to survey the problem of unemployment and vagrancy in tho United States. .
 A resolution was adopted requiring the federation to give serious atten- ton to organizing labor in Idaho
 The convention will meet next year in Baltimore. r
 Was Long Session.
 The convention was one of three in the thirty-five years of the fedora tion's history to pass into the third week. ##zs4.
 The sessions were prolonged by sev- eral jurisdictional disputes. Action taken included the following: ~
 The subject of military prepared ness was debated at length and a reso- lution protesting against military propaganda in the public schools was voted down.
 A resolution was adopted opposing large standing army but favoring a small one to be supplemented hy a citizen soldiery. "democratically or- ganized and controlled"
 Seamen's Act.
 The federation went on record as opposed to any weakening of the sea- mems act.
 Industrial unionism as opposed to existing craft unionism was rejected.
 An eight hour day for all govern ment employees and better pay ~-<or post office clerks were endorsed.
 Resolutions Adopted.
 Other resolutions were adopted as follows:
 Urging the establishment of a gov-' ernment bureau of safety; favoring government ownership of telegraphf lines: urging the creation by congres of a permanent non-partisan tarif commission; opposing stop watchJ speeding in government departments appealing to every union wage earne to contribute one days pay to the re lief of the Danbury matters; favorin the introduction in congress of bir prohibiting enlisted army and navyJ musicians from entering into compe- tition with civilian musicians.
 Proposed referendum electon of of- ficer of the organization was rejected.
 President Gompers and all the other officers of the federation were reelected.