The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-11-09
CLAYTON BILL BIG
 VICTORY FOR LABOR

Philadelphia. Nov. .-Pronouncing fhe passage of the Clayton trust bill as organized labor s greatest single ac- com piishment for the last year, the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor presented it's an nual report today to the TIAirty-fourth convention of the Federation here The volu1ninous document covers ev- cry question which has affectetd labor during the year. including the Euro or the CIayton bill the counciPs statement says that it contains the most fundamenta1, the most compre- hesnsive eIl11ciation of industrial freedom found in any legislative act in the history of the world and that st was obtained through the eorgan- ized economic power represented by the workers of the United States.
 rMscussing economic organization as inc kevnote of the Federation's thought and effort. the council ex- pressed pride in the report of the pro- zrass transmitted tat time when most of the civilized countries are submerged by worldwide war, in the United States con every hand the workers are insisting upon the maintenance Of organfzati on and re sistance to deterioration of present working conditions. = Organized la bor.s' it adds, s.has assisted the effort
 
 ton and losses entailed by the Euro pean war
 ssBs9ure the war; it continues, .sthe thought and effort of civilization were centered upon tho development and gIoxffcatton Of human life. One life was counted of infinite value. But since the catacIysm that brought war between the nations. men are. treated as only military pawns Things are valued for their Hfe-destroyints power Guns are worth more than men
 The war is said to be. the product of artificial conditions and politics and repugnant to the thought and politi cal progress of the age; but so far we have made little progress in provid- ing agencies for organizing Interna- fionaI relations to maintain peace and justice. The war has shown that war cannot be stepped by resolutions and that war cannot put an end to itself. War will cease only when society is convinced that human life is really sa- cred and when society establishes agencies, fnter national as well as na- tional for protecting nves."
 Summing up steps that may be taken toward the abolishnaent of war, the report continues:
 Mi1itarism and competitive arma- ment must be abolished and tribunals for awarding justice and agencies for. enforcing determination must be in stituted. 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 rules of req son between nations. The working people Of all lands bear the brunt of war. They do the lighting. pay the war taxes, suffer most from the disorgani- zaHon Of industry and commerce which results from war
 Turning to the Mexican situation the report makes public 3. letter from President Gompers to Rafael zuba- ran, United States Representative, Mexican Consfttutionalists. dated July 4. of this year, saying the Fsed-l eration, more than any other Ameri- can agency except the government of the United States, aided the success of the stprespective government and urges the Withdrawal of the avowed declaration of s-those who speak or assume to speak in the name of Gen eraT Carranzas that ssretr button of the most dracon1an character would be overthrow of Madero Such a with drawal. the letter added, would have tranquzlizing effect and tend ito unite the people of Mexico in support of an orderly governm ent.
 The reports adds: We extend to the people of Mexico under this new regime our feIicitations and our best hopes for their welfare and progress ''
 Lengthy presentations were made of conditions in mining fields in West Virginia, Colorado. Michigan and Mon tana. including much of the cores pondence exchanged between opera tors, employees and officials of the fed eral and state governments Sum ming up the general situation the re- port says:
 The various different nov vements of the miners for improved conditions have been more conspicuous this past year than those of any other organi- zation- This is the due to the inten- sfty with which the struggles have been waged, amounting in each in stance practically to civil war; to the number of human beings tc 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 land, hundreds and even thousands of square miles in extent on Tvhicht he mines are located. The min Ing companies own and therefore con s>o1 alu 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 V which their children must go for men tsiI training; the churches which min ister to their spiritual needs. the stores from which they buy their clothing. food and other necessities: the post offices where they get their mail, money orders and conduct their crude banking transactions. Every detail of mining life is under super Sision of the mine operators through their power Of ownership. Tn time zof strike the mine operators have the power of eviction and have forced hundreds of strikers and their families holt Tan the constant danger of exposure. There can be no real freedom under RsaE Nxsxsy French x Il1rfra Rs1lhs