The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-11-14
A. F. OF L. coNVE MES ....
IN PHILADELPHIA

(COnu0UeQ From Pare IL
enforcing determinations must be in
st1tuted. International interests and
issues exist. Political institutions
should be established corresponding to
political Developments. Those most
interested should lead in demands for
world federation and the rule of rea-
son between nations; The working
people Of all lands bear the, brunt of
the war. They do the fighting: paw
the war taxes, suffer most from the
olsorganizatfon Of Industry and COM
merce' which results from war;
-. Mexican; Situation. >.
Turning to the Mexican situation
the report makes public a letter from
President Gompers to Rafael Zubar-
an, United States. representative:
Mexican Constitutionalists." dated
July "a Of this year, saying the feder-
etaon, moro than any other American
a4seSXe except the government of tho
Il 1n34A States, aided the success of
tR&4grotpectfve government" and
urges sthe withdrawal of the avowed
declaration Of those who speak or
assume to speak in the name Of Cen
enyal Carranza"" that 'tretribution of
the most draconian character. would
be visited upon those responsible for
the overthrow of Madero. Such a
withdrawal. the letter added, would
have a tranquilizing effect and tend
to unite the people of Mexico in sup
port Of an, orderly government"
The report adds: I'VE extend to the
people of Mexico under the. new
regime our Fluctuations and our best
hopes for their welfare and PROGRESS"
Lengthy presentations were made
of conditions in mining fields in West
Virginia, Colorado, Michigan and
Montana. including much or the cor
respondence exchanged between oper-
ators, employees and officials of
the federal and state governments.
Summing up the general situation the
report" says: --.---. ..>.. r.. b.,
The various different movements
of the miners for improved conditions
have ben more conspicuous this past
year than those OF any other organ
ization. This is due to the intensity
with which the struggles have been
waged, amounting in each instance
practically to civil war; to the num-
Der of. human beings to whom the
struggle meant .privation, suffering
and losses.
Land holding conditions involved
in some mining districts have enabled
the operators to . establish what
amounts to a ,feudal, operating sys-
tenn for the mines. -. They own vast
tracts Of lands. hundreds and even
thousands Of square miles in extent
on which the mines are located. The
mining companies own and therefore
control all roads that traverse the
land. They own. the houses In which
the miners live; the villages made up
Of these miners. the school houses to
which their children must 80: for
mental training; the churches. =. which
minister to their spiritual needs, the
stores from which they. buy their
clothing, food and other necessities;
the .postoffice where they get their
mail money orders and conduct their
crude banking transactions. Every
detail Of mining life is under super
vision Of the mine operators through
their power Of ownership. In time
Of strike the mine operators have the
power OF eviction and have forced
hundreds Of strikers and. their fami-
lies to seek shelter in tent colonies,
with the constant danger Of expos
ure. There can be no real freedom I'M
der such conditions Of Industrial s,ty.
ranny. <,*$.1|.=t>:I .:,>~- : =:
.>.... Feudal Conditions. ,,a.. . .@@
Tn. addition to problems arising
from feudal ownership Of land, the
mine. operators. have assumed police
power: s. They employ armed mine
guards to. maintain their regulations
and to guard mine property: IN times
Of industrial peace, the mine guards
serve AZ police and prevent undesir-
able persons from treSpasstns upon