The sun., 1916-11-14
US. LABOR UNIONS
FOR WORLD PEACE
Subject Is Discussed ut Con-
ventiOn Of the American
Federation.
GOMPERs REVIEWS YEAR
Declares Voters Vindicated
Scamen's Act and Anti
Trust Law.

BALTIMORE. Nd, Nov. 13.-wiliam n.
Wilson. Secretary Of Labor, delivered the
principal address at the opening here to-
day Of the thirty-sixth annual conven-
tion Of the American Federation OF
Labor. He said he was present for the
purpose of showing which side he was OH.
THE greatest OF all the functions of
the Department Of Labor" said the Sec
rotary, us hat Of having the hopes,
aspirations and philosophy Of the wage
workers Of our country come into the
councils Of the President OF the United
States"
Samuel Gompers. president OF the A.
+. OF L.. in an address declared that In
the relations between the United States
and Mexico the American Federation of
Labor had a part In counselling the
Mexican workingmen SO that they might
exert a steadying influence upon the peo-
pie and Government of Mexico. and
that the exploiters Of Wall Street
should not drive us into passion and
anger and compel a conflict with our
much weaker sister republic Of Mexico
This statement evoked long continued
applause.
The Lusitania situation was taken
we'll In and by the officials OF our Gov
ernment." Mr.. Gompers added. and in
stead OF declaring war with buster. the
aims and purposes Of that diplomacy
have accomplished all that a war could
secure"
The passage by Congress Of the sea-
mems act and the Clayton antitrust law
! were indicated by the people OF the
United States last Tuesday. Mr.. Gompers
declared. A feature OF the convention
was the annual report OF the Fedora
TONS executive council.
World Labor Congress plan.
In discussing international labor re-
latione the report speaks Of the effort TO
have a world labor congress held at
! the time and place OF the holding OF a
world peace congress at the end OF the
European war. and the rejection OF the
: suggestion by organized labor In Great
; Britain and Germany. which "Deces-
. sarily requires that our proposition he
{ abandoned This attitude led to the
: adoption Of this suggestion by the
. council
X 'Since the first proposal submitted by
the American Federation Of Labor to the
y labor organizations OF Europe has been
= definitely rejected by them. We suggest
q that the organized labor movements OF
those countries that shall participate in
" the general peace conference to de-
tcrmine terms and conditions OF peace at
q the close OF the war shall urge upon
their respective governments that the
= wage earners shall he represented In an
n Official commission from their respective
countries.
THE same policy ought TO he pursued
also by organized labor movements OF
q neutral countries IL Il shall be determined
,h,, ,a,,ral countries also will nartiCi-
nate in the general peace conference.
Thus representative wage earners would
IL be seated with other representatives OF
n the nations in general conference con-
10 nected with the formulation OF peace
terms. In this way the ideals ard needs
~ OF wage earners would be presented and
considered by the general official body
n Regulation Of IniunctiOns.
lie Reviewing the antitrust and injunc'
ton regulation the report says:
ID "The enactment OF the labor provisions
lie Of the Clayton antitrust act has forced
20 employers who wish To use antitrust
le legislation and the injunctive process &c
III assist them in defeating the efforts oi
employees to secure higher wages and
IN better conditions Of work. To transfer
Re their efforts from Federal to state courts
=. The result makes Increasingly importan'
e. the necessity for the enactment OF State
m laws TO prevent the abuse or Judicia
II agencies and the pervereion OF legisla'
lie ton to exclusive service In behalf ol
ly employers. The uses to which writs o
n Injunction and antitrust legislation hav'
been put have made them virtual,
n strike breaking institutions and union de
IN stroyinR ageDcies. Such a condition Il
r. subversive to proper respect for our gov
ne ernmental institutions and to the re
We public itself"
ip Such a condition. the report says. re
r. suited in the framing OF a model anti
re trust and injunction Limitation bill pre-
II, sented to the San Francisco federation
s. convention and urged by 1t upon centra
ed ORGANIZATIONS and the rank and file t
a be insisted upon as proper laws.
Methods Called "UnscientiAc."
'e The decision, the report says. is base
en- on the theory that labor is property.
w which it asserts Is a dogmatic ruling an
We based upon past decisions OF judges. Tn
court Is charged with not making prope
investigation in deciding such n cast
=. n it's methods are characterized a
.unscholarly. unscientiic and out OF han
49, mony with the purpose OF real Justice.
- The report says the executive counc
will consider the case to determin
IL whether further steps may be taken,
-. In connection with decisions affectin
IN. labor by the Federal courts. the fepo'
refers to the noted Danbury halter
he case.
The great wrong that was done
re. the Danbury hatters' case" 1t says
he may be eradicated after long year
The aged, infrm, Danbury matters hay
ri been ordered to pay the Shylock awar
no. claimed by the Anti-Boycott Associi
~. ton. The shadow Of the hatters' cal
an which for years hung like a threatenir
in. pall over the labor movement still hi
power to menace"
,ck Discusses Eight Hour Day Law.
TEX Speaking Of the eight hour law pass'
nv Congress to avert the recently threa
full ened railroad strike. the report say
tn For nearly a century the labor NOV
In ment of America has conducted a car
raien for the establishment OF a max
to mum eight hour work day." ard cha
to- acterixes the legislation by Congre
ers as II notable movement" 1t says Il
ere eight hour day was established "as
the primary step In conserving the lives al
ub- The working power Of age earners,"
'ol- In taking the position that the pri
in clple of the eight hour day should be co
iol- coded as q right that ought not to
.-L..d the report SAYS. Meth