The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-26
LABOR DEMANDS !
DECREE Be REVOKED
american Federation Acts On Behalf
OF the Workingmen of
Mexico.
>rRIkEs THERE MEAN DEATH
Ks ht Of Workers 10 strike Taken
Away by Arbitrary Action of Car
ran1a-Iundamental Privilege of
vi Free Men.

Baltimore, Md. Nov. While re
affirming its stand in behalf of peace
between the United States and Mex
leo. the convention OF the American
Federation Of Labor today demanded
o. General CarFanza. on behalf of the
organized workers of both Mexico and
The United states that his decree Of
August /. last forbidding agitation OF
strikes under penalty Of death. he
withdrawn THIS action by the fed
ere ton. whose officers exerted all
their influence ia Washington last
summer to avert war whica would
have meant Carranzais downfall. Gre
atsd "a sensation when proposed late
in th- day by the committee on In
teguatieual relations.
The purposes ns the Mexican revo-
lut4nu SAYS tie report. appeal 10
the highest concepts and impulses OF
all liberty loving men and women.
The struggle now in progress in Mex
leo IS The effor; Of nation to free
itself from irresponsible Use Of GOV
ornamental power and the letters ri
tyranny We affirm The right of every
nation "a work out It's own destiny in
accord with the concepts and the ge-
movements at the United States
through the president of the Amerl-
can Federation Of Labor and its eX-
ecuiIVe council has been helpful in
sustaining this right for the labor
movement Of Mexico.
Not Right to H. Surrendered.
The decree If August ! Is of vital
importance to the very existence Of
The labor movement in Mexico Since
this decree represents a tendency
manifested by other governments TO
deny wage workers the necessary, fun
dameutal rights OF free workers, we
feel il the duty OF this convention 10
voice the cause of labor in all coun4
tries We can give expression to the
unaitera BILE determination Of the work
ers everywhere to refuse to relin-
quish right secured, or minimize
our demands for freedom or Justice
We learn with satisfaction that the
president OF the American Federation
Of Labor has already emphatically de-
clared to the representatives Of the
Constitutional government of Mexico
hat labor's sympathy with and APP
prevail of that government were based
upon the friendly, helpful relations
between 1t and the labor movement
Of Mexico and that continuation of
that policy is necessary to our con-
fidence
We recommend that these efforts
/ lie continued. to- the end that the
/ labor movement of this country be
helpful in every honorable way in re
storing TO Mexican wage ealvers the
rights and opportunities OF tree work
ers"
Carlos I.oVera. delegate from Yu-
! catan. reported that the anti-strike
Ill o.
eatan. He declared that in case the
| Mexican and American governments
! should wage war. the workers with
a conscience" in Mexico would not
t know what to do. as they knew that
! the American workers would be In
! the ranks OF The opposing forces.
Militarism Denounced.
Resolutions denouncinR 'milttar-
isnti" and calling for It citizen sol
dtefy under democratic control, were
among the many adopted before final
adjournment tonight.
All officers were reelected John
Golden, "f he Textile Workers, and
! Frank Harrington. OF the United Mine
+ Workers, We're elected as fraternal
4 delegates to the British trade union
congress or 1917. Buffalo was chosen
| As the next convention city.
The issue of seeking the establish
meHt OF the eight-hour day for all
! industry by legislation was referred to
! a special committee of five, which Will
confer With the heads OF the four
( railroad hrotherhoods. This was the
! FIRST time that the legal eight hour
| day for men was not rejected at the
instance of MIR. Gompers and the ex-
ecutive council. A general campaign
to secure eight-hour laws for working
women Ia all States and through Con-
gress for industries in Interstate COM
| meTCe was passed.
| The executive council was author
| ized to send Mr.. Gompers to Japan
| next spring, as requested by the Jap
| anese labor unions