The Washington times., 1915-11-08
Executive Council, at Opening Of
Convention, Scores Submis.
sion to Mnterests."
DEFENSE POLICY INDORSED
Credit for Defeat Of Efforts to
EmbroiI U. S. in War Taken
for Wage Farmers.

SAN FRANCISCO. Nov. SIN the
midst Of the Congressional investiga-
ton Of the fiscal relations between the
District Of Columbia and the Federal
government. the executive council Of
the American Federation of Labor. In q
report submitted today to the twenty
NTH annual convention OF the Fedora
tion, denounces the residents Of the Dis
trict for their lukewarm attitude to-
ward suffrage and their submission to
the influence OF financial and corporate
interests who fear that agitation for the
vote may disturb this fiscal relationship.
Referring to the subject Of suffrage In
the District the report reads:
Still Disenfranchised.
''The residents of the District of Co
hmbia are still disfranchised. Some dis
cussion was INDUCED in during the last
Congress among the people Of the Dis
trict and among Congressman. relative
to tho restoration Of full citizenship
rights to the residents of the District Of
Columbia. The financial and corporate
interests Of the District In combination
with their associates in other sec '-''1
OF the country are. as whole. bitterly
opposed to granting the franchise or
allowing local form OF self-govern-
n,ent to be established in the District of
Columbia. There Is more profit assured
- them by letting matters stand as they
- and unfortunately the people of the
whole. are too lukewarm and too in
different concerning their civic rights to
assert themselves as they should. So
long as this apathy continues on the
part Of the masses and diligence is main
tained on the part OF the few privileged
investors. we need not expect Congress
to grant the ballot to the disfran-
chised people Of the District Of Coluni-
- l. 4 a.
struggling for has always been the
axiom among trade unionists. The
same principle holds good in rega-d to
the rights and privileges Of general citi-
zenship:
sion to persuade the people of the Dis
trict Of Columbia to assert themselves
TO secure the voting privilege. We shall
continue to do this whenever the oppor-
tunity is afforded and hope that ulti-
mately our ideal may be achieved"
Preparedness Indorsed.
Endorsement OF a policy of prepared
ness Is embraced in the report, and,
while the, union movement recognizes
that peace is necessary for develop
rent and progress. .'it refuses to Sc
cure peace at the sacrifice OF ideals and
standards OF justice"
Credit for the defeat of the many
efforts TO embroi this country in the
present International complications Is
taken for tho waSe-earners.
The report opposes the proposal for
an embargo upon products that might
be regarded as munitions or utilized
Tor the furtherance of war.
Among the questions upon which the
federation will urge action by the COM
ing Congress are the purchase of Mt
Vernon, the home Of George Washington.
and Monticello, the home of Thomas
Jeherson. and minimum wage for
Federal employees. Touching on the
question OF old-age pensions for Gov
ernment employees. the report says that
disaSrecments between organizations Of
Federal employees had done much TO
delay action on such legislation.