Show REVIEW VIEW OF LABOR CONDITIONS EXEC EXECUTIVE UI IVE Co COUNCIL OF i p AMERICAN FEDER FEDERATION 4 lION ION lIONi 7 r I i SCANS SOCIAL HORIZON f By Associated Press J I ATLANTIC CITY N. N J. J June 9 Tyranny 9 Tyranny whether it be in the political or or industrial life of tho the nation will not be tolerated by organized labor dole dele told Samuel amuel Gompers president of the American Federation of Labor here gates oates at the opening of the thirty-ninth thirty session of the organization the Men and women shed their the r blood and made great sacrifices during j war because thoy they were fighting f fi- fi principles and ideals said Mr Gompers Now that the war has hOlS been won the workers workers the the bone and flesh of the tho na nation na- na tion do ion do not intend those principles and ideals shall be lost sight eight of ATLANTIC CITY N N. J. J J June o important I.-Important projects protects for the advancement ad of C labor and Improvement ement of working condition as well weIl as comprehensive labors labor's behalf during the th last year rear has haR been accomplished on of or what arc arc set forth In the report of or the executives council of th the American Federation T loe if Labor submitted today tod to the tho officers and antI delegates attending the opening session t of oC the tho thirty ninth ty annual convention t f The Tho advent nt of oC peace Is taken n by the council to hold out not bright prospects for nr labor Of OC the peace treaty tr al Itself the labor executives forming tho the council after Indorsing the triumph of freedom and I ju Justice and democracy as exemplified In the co covenant conant nant of th the league of or nations stays a tS t'S s tho the la labor or sections Arc fro a compromise but that It must how how- over be ho a source of deepest satisfaction satisfaction tion to tho American working people t tt to that the he American position im ant ami the he American as presented for jor Insertion In the tr treaty Uv ranked ed above nil II others In ht point of pro measured find In point point of actual and practical a p- p p In Iii the lives of working people Whatever of compromise aPIH appears was made because of th the claim that other nations of the world could not pledge pled e themselves et to an nn Imm Immediate and dell nile acceptance of the stan standards ards maintained main maln- tamed by bj th the American labor movement mo as aM tho the established practice of pf our da day a I CURB URB ON JUDICIARY I Foremost amon among the m matters submitted I Iby I by y the tho council to the convention con arc suggestions dealing with legislation to 1 prevent an any invasion aslon of the rights right and prerogatives of the legislative c branch Olour of Ol I our government by hy tho ju Judiciary The of the tine council on this subject was made In accordance with a rf rp llon adopted by the tho St Paul convention con In that revolution resolution the council was or- or c d to stud study the sive steps have be been n tal taken en b by 0 our federal and supreme courts through which without without with with- out constitutional authority and In opposition op- op opposition opposition op op- position of the action of the constitutional constitutional constitutional convention they the laid hold upon power which they now exercise j The tUlly study has Ins now been partially completed completed com com- and contains remedial lal suggestions made by L Jackson II IL Ralston attorney a of the tho American Federation of Labor Lalor Three propositions arc are submitted in the report for the consideration of the convention convention con con- each proposing that authority gf ff the supreme court to pass upon acts o of congress should be canceled or abridged FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM q 5 Arguments for and a against the proposals pro pro- proposals are arc discussed at considerable length Mr Ir Ralston on on giving it as 38 his opinion that coupled with Judicial reforms re reforms re- re forms torms there should co go o hand han in hand tho Initiative and referendum proportional proportional I ional representation and anti the preferential ballot billot without which I ho says save methods of or attaining justice will lack much o of completeness J I This section of the report closes with I the statement that the writer Is convinced convinced con con- vinced that In this subject the council has had before It one ono of the he gravest cst fundamental questions question with which we will avill have ha to deal the deal the preservation of f a trul truly democratic government against what has often been heen called the dine aristocracy of the robe rohe i Considerable attention is devoted by bv byth byth's th th's his s report to labor le legislation It i 1 Is a asand sand said that sQ me rule should bo be adopted t would prevent ob obstructive ob- ob in fin congre congress a which prevent legislative methods metho methods s The re report report repp re- re pp port ort lists flats among the measures stalled by nj the wear weary waste of worthless words words' fn the last congress s and antI In which w labor wa was Mas especially Interested the bills for foi the tho war labor board United tate States employment agency women womer In Industry tn- tn tr service er working conditions service serice ser ser- vice nice and tho the investigation in ant and Inspection lion tion service FAVORED BY LABOR I The executive council su suggests ests that I tho the convention authorize the printing and Wide circulation of a list of measures ure in which the American Federation of Labor abor is Interested among which are tre treVIe VIe time bill hill forbidding Immigration for four years during the period of Industrial re reconstruction reconstruction reconstruction re- re construction a i bill for an old age ahe retirement retirement re retirement re- re system for foi federal In m th th chul Irl Ill I'll service a bill providing pro a minimum wage of 3 for or federal em em- m I Lano Lanos bill to furnish Secretary a bill t 11 to torie land 1301 for lor soldiers and d sailors a I give e states th the same power over th lh the products of convict from other states slates as they exercise over the 1110 prod products 1 acts of their own prisons Industrial vocation vo 0 cation il education for tor persons crippled ii In industry Increased pa pay for teachers am ant educational bills hills designed ned to end adul adult y I illiteracy In I n tho the United States CONGRESS STINGY Appropriations for the department o of labor are arc discussed el at nt some length I It ItI I Is stated In the report that congress it In granting meager meag-er funds funds- to that depart depart- m mont ont has failed to Interpret correct correctly the th spirit and trend of present day da lIa development do do- especially at at a time When hen there Is 5 worldwide recognition of the fundamental fundamental fun fun- Importance of Industrial problems lems ems the con continues Vc 0 c maIn maintain report that the Importance of tho the Interests at ai atI Issue I ue and the faithful loyal lo al service tin the workers have o given ivEn tho the government ant and an society have hive earned arned for us UM the right K to fair fall consideration In tho the expenditure o of of national funds We c recommend that lint congress 1 be ad advised al- al wised that It Is the earnest desire of th the and of al all organized organised labor movement JIlo Americas America's workers that the department 01 of of labor Ihor he be provided pro with adequate funds fund for performing the important work devolves upon It it PACKING MONOPOLY The council recommended to the convention con con- vendor the Indorsement of government ow 0 ownership of tho the railroads Discussing what Is called the meat meal picking packing monopoly the council quoted tile the report of the f federal deral trade commission commission commis commis- sion slon to president Wilson Il on and said Maid that thai commerce commerce com corn interstate hearings b by h tho the house merce committee seemed Denied to show conclusive conclusively conclusively con con- the existence of a com combination 01 nation which not only controls and regulates prices of beef lambs hogs and other meat but hut also eggs butter poultry chee l. cheese meat e rice fish canned goods of all descriptions leather and wool It Is Ig then staled stilled that In so far as this combination restricts th the supply and enhances enhances en en- en- en fiances tin the cost COlt of these necessities the thela la laboring people of the countr are adversely ad- ad adversely affected and anti the matter m itter becomes one of vital concern to the American Federation of Labor It 11 Is charged char In Inthe inthe Inthe the report ort that the packers during the war shortage of leather when It II was difficult dlf- dlf to furnish shoes for soldiers hoarded such quantities of hl hides es that It wh atas Impo Impossible to find proper storage room for them No o definite recommendations lotions ar are ma made e b by tho the executive council council coun coun- cil cilA A complete repot report I of an investigation made matlo of the eLa elaborate bora to educational s system sUm s- s Um tem of the International Ladles Ladies Garment Workers union was submitted On tho the subject of health Insurance the executive council recommended that It be bo given n further time line to complete Its study of the various considerations In Involved In- In vol 1 Considerable progress was reported In Inthe Inthe the ma matter lter of securing a shorter work workday da day for lor v various tra trades e and occupations it being added that the the he rapid trend toward the general establishment of the shorter work da lla day developed tlc durin during the I war must not be allowed erl to wane during the period of reconstruction Tho The executive executive exe exe- council recommended that the en entire entire entire en- en tire matter be he taken up bj by the convention conven con convention I tion for Its tiN consideration and action The Tho Th labor lahar r construction ram program fot for for- mulcted bv hv a committee appointed bj by b tho ho St St. t. t Pa Paul l convention and made malc public last December Is printed In full lull and in indorsed Indorsed Indorsed In- In In the executive councils council's report LABOR AND PEACE Under Un er the heading Labor L and Peace Peare the lie report quotes quote the declaration Issued h bv by the thc American Federation of I Labor March 12 1 1917 In discusses ses labors labor's effort to win the war an and continues Turning from war wai to peace upon the tho signing of the armistice a condition soon became hec mc apparent to v 1 r one that hint t had hall lon long been heen feared ared by hy organized organised labor It wa was made malIc apparent very early earh that there had hall been no adequate forethought and anti provision made malic for the transition from froma a war basis to a peace leaCe basis in industry and that as a result a period of Industrial Indus trl trial confusion lon and antI unemployment was wasat wasat wasat at hand rland handIn In there were pronouncements pronouncements pronounce pronounce- ments from hl high h sources among employers employ employ- ers erl that extensive reduction of wa wages would bo be undertaken The taunt was also thrown at the working people th that it the they should have been able ahle during the war because of Increased wages lo to save e enough h to carry them than through the period I of readjustment These statements betray heI be- be I I tray trav the Ignorance or a 0 desire to wilfully wil fully deceive because the they completely co pie lei Ignored the f fact fet et that the rising cost of 11 living 1 nf had absorbed a whatever tc er Increase I In wa wages s 's hid had been secured and In many cases went much le ond the point of or absorption absorption ab ab- sorption effecting an actual decrease In purchasing power of the thc Individual Declarations lions of ot a policy of wage reduction re reduction re- re came to our attention at I Laredo aredo Tex President there hero Introduced I the rho subject In open conference and de declared tie tie- dared that lint labor would resl rell resist t to the utmost ut utI utmost ut- ut I most mst an any policy polley of wa wage e reduction I dC-I I I This position has been affirmed since that date on many occasions and it Is I due dut to this prompt and decisive answer to toI this challenge full fully sustained by labor I that there has not been a general assault on wages by b It employ rs who cannot comprehend comprehend com com- tho the trend of or tho lie times limes S It ft Is the opinion of your our executive council that no wa wages es paid to American workmen en toda today are too high but Jut that on the contrary wa wages es far too loo low still are paid in man ninny many Industries Pro Progress ress Is the word today and the pro progresses re cs worth most I and best understood I Is the thc I kind that reaches the tile Individual In the form of a I better life a freer and larger Harger opportunity and more of the lime things 8 by ly which life Is Iq sustained and enriched The progress of I our movement mO In realizing r r these lies for lor the workers I Is not to lo b be denied b bv an any Influence or obstacle IMPORTANCE OF LABOR Formation of th the Pan American Federation Fed Fed- Federation of Labor at Laredo Tex last November November No No- o- o vember Is reported with a recommendation tion that the American Federation of Labor La Labor Labor La- La bor continue It Its participation and anil nd send delegates to the meeting In Jul July Tine Tile many war activities of Samuel Gompers I president of the American Federation of Labor are arc recounted The report of the council concludes as follows No Xo que question of or great national policy or of great Jre l national Interest Is decided tod today a contribution of thought ht and viewpoint bv by the lie la labor hor movement The war brought to the lie nation nallon and antI to lo the tho labor lallor movement questions more vital and anti trod more Involved Ed than we have hae known The coming of peace In no l nowise e lessens the magnitude of ot tho the Issues that tint must be I dealt h v hI The American Federation of Labor I however ma may face tho the future and Its problems w with Ith a confidence born of se- se secre I cre trial and with an announced membership mcm- mcm and unit unity of purpose MUCH TO TE EE DONE j 1 has been the progress Satisfying Ing as made during durin Ue tle year ear Just closed a vast amount of or work In this direction remains I to be he done The Tho greater our strength the I I better will III our mo 1110 movement ement be he equipped to acco accomplish the gre great l work that Is at natal nand Now more than ever er the thought of or th the world Ii Is 1 directed toward the achievement o oE progress and the est establishment bI b- b I t of high Ideals The Inspiration for this trend of events e has teen Ileen the product of the labor I movement and amid the time labor movement mo mu must t continue to lead In this direction |