The Detroit times., 1914-11-12
A. F. Of L. Head Defends Colo
RADIO Miners From Church.
ly Criticism
MOST EMPLOYERS FAVOR
UNIONS, SAYS WALSH
Federal Commissioner Says
Sentiment for Collective Bar
gaining is Strong
BIZ JOHN EDWIN NEvIN.

(SfaT Correspondent United Press.)
PHILADELPHIA. Nov. 12.-Presi-
dent Samuel Gompers. OF the Amsri-
can Federation Of Labor. prevented
what promised 70 be a serious mixup
NJ today's session Of the federation.
Fraternal delegates representing the
American Federation or Churches and
the Federation OF Catholic societies
severely criticised Socialism despite
the heavy percentage or Socialists
represented.
Walter George Smith. representing
the Catholic federation. also stirred
the ire Of many Of the delegates, o.
pecially those representing the min
ers, by his yelled references to the
Colorado and West Virginia strikes.
he declared that labor mas received
serious black eye through open VIC.
lence In connection with strikes, and
expressed the opinion that under no
circumstances was violence justifia-
Bile 1t was his opinion that II labor
would always turn the other cheek
1t would fare much better.
Several delegates were on their
feet to secure recognition when Pres
ident Gompers interceded.
IL believe In peace and order" said
Gompers, "and deplore violence. No
man in this country will go farther
than I will in trying to settle our
difficulties by amicable measures. But
/ feel IL IL my duty to say at this time
that there comes q time In the al
fairs of labor when meekly to bow to
oppressive demands made upon II is
TO consent to the riveting upon the
wrists of industry Of the shackles OF
oppression"
Wild applause and cries of soak
him again" went up from every cor
ner of the hall, but President Com
pers, his hand uplifted, said.
IL will hit no one. But | believe
that az the representative OF this or
ganization I should make It's attitude
plain. We Of the Federation of Labor
deplore strikes. We greatly desire
industrial peace. And we have al
ways made the utmost concessions to
secure peace and to gain our rights
from our employers. But In time OF
peace we must prepare for war. We
must always be ready for any event
that may transpire."
Outside Of 0ompers' speech, the
greatest enthusiasm Of the day was
stirred up by an address by Frank p
Walsh, OF Kansas City, chairman Of
the federal commission on industrial
relations. He said that the commits
sion, In its report to congress mex
month, will state that the majority Of
the employers Of the United States
are In favor of collective bargaining
with their employees.
I'VE want to secure equal justice
to all" said Walsh. "We are holding
the balance of power between organ
ICED capital and organized labor.
"But we have even . greater TASK
than that. We are also hearing the
voice Of disinherited Of Gods crea-
lures, the exploited man and the ex'
plotted woman. And still more we
have and are endeavoring to have ar
ticulated the stifed sob of the ex.
plotted child of the factories and OF
the mills.
collective bargain. as We under.
stood IL, is that machinery devised by
students and disinterested men which
would make 1t impossible for the we'll.
fed to drive hard bargains with hun.
cry men. Every man who tolls
should have compelling voice on the
under which he works.
"All the government can do 10 to
unshackle industry.
There VIII be no general investfga.
ton OF the unemployed problem ct
this time by the American Fedora
ton of Labor. While q number of
delegates have suggested an investi-
CATION. and resolutions providing for
one have been prepared, those In con-
scheme would be impossible
during the time that the convention
has at it's disposal. Only the surface
could be touched. and to appoint q
to report at next years
convention would be Of no use, 90
are certain to change be-
fore then, according to these leaders.
II is possible, however. that some
of the local organizations afiliated
with the federation may suggest hold
ing a congress later, to deal with the
problem II Il becomes acute.
In the east, and for the most part
sll throughout the section west of the
Rocky mountains, money IL tight and
little II available for general building.
This, however, In the usual outlook
at this season of the year, ofYicers of
the several organizations report.
The dock workers, maintenance of
way employees, and others Of the so
called non-skilled organizations, say
that q large part Of their men are ont
- ,.,1~tx rrhx rro ctt,or ~ oI...t- -
shipping In the east which lasted for
two months interfered with the dock
workers, but their representatives
now report slow but steady improve
ment.
The executive council OF the fed
GRAFTON has been carefully investigat
ing reports that In certain lines of
the employers were plan
ming a general sweeping reduction II
wages, and TO attribute that action
TO depression caused by the war. n
II known that such action IL planned
NJ