Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-11-24
OPPOSES S-HOUR
DAY LEGISLATION
Federation Of Labor Defeats At
tempt to This End After a
Bitter Fight.
aoMPERs ARRA1GNs SOCIALISTS

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 23.-The
American Federation OF Labor after
q contest waged on the floor of the
convention here for four hours re-
fused by a close vote tonight to en-
dorse state and federal legislation
for the eight-hour day. President
Samuel Gompers ended the debate in
an impassioned speech in which he
declared that the socialist party was
behind the movement to force the
federation to endorse the proposed
eight-hour day legislation.
Delegates from the United Mine Work
ers Of America, the Western Federation
OF Miners and the International Associ-
alton of Machinists. which are among
the most powerful organizations az
filiated with the federation. precipitated
the fight when an administration meas
ure, Withholding sanction of attempts to
secure by legislation the eigh-hour day.
was offered TO the convention for adop-
ton by the resolutions committee. The
committee favored the use OF economic
pressure only 10 obtain shorter hours.
Vote L. Close.
1t was the committees report that
finally prevailed by a vote OF s.4s6 to
S.s96. many delegates being absent. An
apparent overwhelming majority in
favor OF an amendment to the commit
tees report. gained after three hours Of
debate marked by sharp sallies. melted
away when President Gompers left the
chair and charged the socialist party
with having engineered the opposition to
the report.
1T was the socialist party that made
the first attempt to obtain the eight-hour
law by legislation" declared President
oompers. TN challenge any socialist
on this floor TO say the socialist party
will stand behind the federation in secur-
inE eiEht-bour laws"
They will" shouted william II. John
stcn Of Washington, president of the
machinists.
And then oppose candidates pledged
10 obtain those laws" Gompers shouted
back.
what GomperH wants.
III some Of you want Il. you can't
force II down the threats OF the rest OF
are made up Of" he added. Power Is
gravitating from the ballot box TO the
industrial field. That gravttation will
so on. won't trust the fate Of labor
to politics. want congress to give us
only our freedom to fight out on an
economic basis our battle, freedom 70
achieve. want the travail of sacrifice
and the tears OF our women II necessary
upon which TO build labor's economic
freedom"
He said what legislation gave. IL could
take away.
Mt Gompers criticised as ''undignified"
reference to himself as Sammy" in a
report Of the iron workers convention
held here In September. He was named
today as one OF two delegates 10 70 10
worlds labor peace conference 10 be
held AZ the close OF the war.
Rtght 10 shin Mentions.
Neutrality as practiced by the United
states was approved by the convention by
the adoption of resolution recommended
by the committee on international rela-
ucns. The resolution upheld the right
OF the United States to ship TO beIli-
gerents, explaining that ~ was Impos-
sible to distinguish between munltion OF
war and the ordinary articles Of COM
merce."
The committees report called Atten.
ton to the efforts made by sympathizcrs
OF the oelligerents TO fuse the working
men OF our country" ITO further the
interests Of some foreign country"
Foreign agencies have b,.rn trying IN
reach eorruptiy some of the organisn-
lions OF workers. AZ Is said, but they
have not succeeded"