Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-11-19
Proposed Action Would Have
Placed Federation in Position
of Waging War on Railroad
BrOtherhoOds.
RECON- M|TMEVT MOVED
Resolution Favoring an Indepen-
dent Labor Party Is Defeated
on Ground That FederatiOn's
Policy Is to Keep Out of Poll
tics.

Philadelphia, Nov. 16-An attempt "a
place the American Federation of Labor
in a position of waging war against the
big railroad brotherhoods unless they be-
came affiliated with the federation, was
frustrated to-day by Samuel Gompers at
this afternoons session of the convention.
The resolution recited that there were ma
tional and local unions not affiliated with
the federation that We're a menace to some
of the unions and that efforts to have
them affiliate had failed The resolution
instructed the officers of the federation -
proceed to organize such local or ma
| tional unions if such is possible.
j. h. Corners, of the Switchmens union
of North America favored It's adoption
giving as reason that the brotherhood-
had in some instances assisted the rail
roads to defeat the switchmen in strikes.
President Gompers declared that the
committee on organization had misap.
pretended the Importance of the resolu-
ton when it recommended concurrence
lie said the resolution permitted the set
ing up of rival unions and declared that
1t amounted to nothing else than dec
| Iaration of war. He said he believed in
| the solidarity of the labor movement IN
the United States but he would NOT for o.,
/ moment think of invading the sovereignty
Of national labor union During the la st
few years, he said, there has grown IN A
better feeling between the brotherhoods
Nnd the federation with the result that
the railroad ORGANIZATIONS had been II
material ana effective assistance in get.
ting through Congress The adoption of
TpS n,
most disastrous action against the exist
ence of the federation the convention
could take
> F.. Hebering, also Of the Switch
mems union, gave instances where GER
tam orothcrhoors had opposed switch
men in strikes. He did not include all
brotherhoods he said, but he did not
specify the particular organization he
criticised.
MINERS HEAD OPPOSED.
President Walker of the Miners union
opposed the resolution. declaring there
was never growing sentiment in the
ranks of the Brotherhods and the ma
tional organization Of hricklayers for
affiliation with the federation. The fed
Grafton he said was more likely to win
them into the organization by reason
ing than by trying to drive them TO
affiliate.
on motion of President GOmpers the
resolution was recommittod to the com
mittce on organization.
y report made by a committee which
investigated municipal ownership of
street railways in Europe which de-
clarcd that municipal ownership had not
done as much for the employees as had
trade unions was challenged as an
erroneous conclusion. one of the men
who signed the report was w. n. Mahon,
national president of the Amalgamated
Association of Street and Electric Rail
way Employees.
y resolution favoriuG an independent
labor party was defeated on the ground
that the federation is committed to non
participation in politics.
Another resolution adopted requested
President Wilson to issue an order pro-
hbiting the United states Marine band
from competing with tn civilian must
clans for business