El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-11-13
$4,000 ADDED
TOLABOR' SROLL
Executive Council Report
Says Labor Helped Avert
War With Mexico.

idDoTs actiNltleS IN the 1icid NJ legs
lation. international politics and do
nestle affairs during the last wear were
set forth at length in the annual report
/ of the executive council OF the Amer
! lean Federation OF Labor. presented here
today to the federations thirty-sixth
annual convention
Gains 5000 Members.
The membership OF the federation Is
given at 2,071 .S36 on September 80. the
close OF the fiscal wear, an increase OF
about 125,0O0 over the previous wear
aud Of more than 100000 in the 19
years Of its existence There are 2l,1ll
local unions IN the federation and -
state federatiOns. Receipts for the year
are shown at S404.407. with a cash bal
anee at its close of sS9,360.
The report closes with a plea to work
ers TO continue their efforts for better
4 conditions through organization and CO.
operation.
In discussing international labor re-
latiOns the report speaks of the effort
TO have a World Labor congress held at
I 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 -neces-
sarily requires that our proposition be
abandoned This attitude led to the
adoption of this suggestion by the
council:
Urges Labor to Work for Peace.
%Sinee the first proposal submitted by
the A F. of L to the labor organiza-
lions Of Europe has been definitely re-
iected by them, we suggest that the or
ganiZed labor movements of those cOun-
tries that shall participate in the gem
eral peace conference TO determine terms
and conditions OF peace at the close OF
the war, shall urge upon their respective
governments that the wage earners shall
be represented IN an official commission
from their respective countries. The
same policy ought 10 be pursued also by
organized labor movements of neutral
countries If 1t shall be determined that
neutral countries also will participate In
the general peace conference. Thus.
representative wage earners would be
seated with other representatives OF the
nations IN general conferences connected
with the formulation OF peace terms.
In discussing Pan-American labor re-
lations the report details conferences IN
Washington last summer between presi-
dent Gompers and other officers of the
American Federation and representa-
tives Of organized labor IN Mexico when
the relations between the two countries
we're "most critical" The report sug-
gests that a Pan-American Federation
is not only possible but necessary.
Labor Helped Avert Mexican War
HWhen conditions had arisen that
seemed TO make war between the United
States and Mexico inevitable" continues
the report, "the understanding between
the labor movements of the United
States and Mexico took on more definite
form and was again instrumental IN
throwing light upon the influences and
the agents that were trying to create
war sentiment and the seeming necea-
sity for intervention in the affairs Of
Mexico, and was able to help bring
about an adjustment of misunderstood
ings without resorting to war
The report details the conferences and
tells of the ultimatum sent to Gen. Car
rama by the United States demanding
immediate release of American soldiers
captured at Csrrizal.
at was at this time" the report goes
on, that a request was made to pTesI-
dent Gompers that he make personal
appeal to Gen. CarranZa to release the
United States soldiers" The telegram
asking release in the name OF common
Justice and humanity and better IN
derstanding between the two countries"
and to avoid "the horrors Of war was
recited and the report goes on TO say
that that same evening extra papers
announced Gen. Carranza had issued an
order releasing the American soldiers
The conferences. the report saws, led
TO an understanding which made more
general "the feeling that the people OF
Mexico knew what they wanted. under
stood their peculiar problems and had
A right TO work out their own salvation
IN accord with their own ideals
Il Mt ~ zdsTN
Speaking of the eight hour day law
passed by congress TO avert the recently
threatened railroad strike. the report
says, For nearly century the labor
movement of America has conducted a
campaign for the establishment of a
maximum eight hour work day and
characterizes the legislation bv congress
as "a notable movement Il saws the
eight hour day was established -as a
primary step in conserving the lives and
the working power OF wage eaTners.
In taking the position that the prin-
ciple of the eight hour day should be
conceded as n right that ought not be
arbitrated, the report saws, Neither
president Wilson nor the railway
brotherhoOds rejected the principle Of
arbitration. as the railroad presidents
( have WrOngfully claimed. Those mat
tiers are arbitrable which concern prop
ertv and property rights
Discussing president Wilson's pro
posals for legislation. the report SAYS
an essential feature was the creation Of
. compulsory governmental institutions
to regulate industrial relations in an oc-
cupation not owned OF operated by the
government itself II is a revolution
arv proposition totally out of harmony
with our prevailing institutions and out
. Of harmony with orr nh1lQcOnhT Of COW