The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-11-25
AGAINST WAR TRAINING

Labor Delegates Override Gompers
by Big VOtc-Interest i'm Eight
Hour DccisiOn-TIpe Federation
President Expects Shorter Hours
for Trainmen January 1, claw
or No Law"
Baltimore, Md, Nov. 23.-Although
delegates to the American Federation
of Labor Convention were keenlv inter
ested IN the decision yesterday morning
of Federal Judge Wallace c. Hook. at
Kansas City, declaring unconstitutional
lhe Adamson law, a press of routine
business in the afternoon, which wound
up with the first roll-call vote, fore
stalled the expected discussion of the
law in the final session of the day.
President Gompers, just before OPEN
ing the session, was asked what pos
sible bearing the Kansas City decision
might have on the stand of the Fed
Grafton.
we are looking to the railroad
brotherhoods to see that the eight-hour
day goes into effect on January L." he
said emphatically, and added, law or no
law"
Special Session Called.
1t was considered significant that
Vice President Duncan, chairman of
the committee on resolutions, which
has under consideration three universal
eight hour law resolutions, called a
special session of his committee soon
after the meeting was called to order.
One OF the hottest fights yet waged
by the delegates was started at the fore
noon session, and as the outcome the
Federation by an overwhelming vote,
reversed its policy adopted at San Fran
cisco year ago and took decided
stand against "militarism" and military
training in the public schools.
The resolution was introduced bv a
delegate of the Brotherhood of Paint
ers, Decorators and Paperhangers of
America. Max Hayes, looked upon as
one OF the leaders among the Socialists
in the convention, took up arms in ia
vor OF the resolution as soon as the I'M
favorable report of the committee to
which it had been referred was an
nounced. He declared that Secretary
of War Baker had forgotten what he
used to teach in the past" and was "es-
pousing the cause of militarism" He
went on to say that "this seems to be
period of mllitaristic hysteria"
Hits At the Socialists.
Andrew Farusuth, chairman of the
committee that had reported the reso-
luton unfavorably, had some criticisms
to make against Socialists ss- -.-...
"Children of the master class are be-
ing taught to bear arms" he said. "and
| am astounded that you radical So
ciailstS come into this convention ask
ing that the children of the proletariat
be prevented from knowing what
weapon looks like or how to use it. You
men who will not fight and you women
who will not be mothers are an abomi-
nation"
president Gompers tried to stem the
tide, and issued the warning that the
question was delicate one and that
the convention had better not get into
a controversy over it, but for once his
influence was apparently of little
weight
First Roll Call Vote.
The first roll call vote of the conven-
the time--6 100 p. m.-when, by agree
hiNill Nitll tilS management VI tllC Nldl
den Theatre, the Federation promised
to wind up its afternoon session. 1t
was the climax of two-hour fight over
the status of pile drivers and wharf
and dock builders of New York. The
resolution under discussion, introduced
by Robert p. Brindell, of the New York
Central Federated Union, recited at
length the history of the organization Of
these workers, how they became affili-
ated with the Brotherhood Of Carpen-
ters and Joiners and how, finally, juris-
diction over them was claimed by the
bridge and structural iron workers.
The roll call vote, 14,461 to 5,26S, sub
stituted suspension for revocation of
the charter and the fight on the resolli-
ton went over until the session this
morning,
The first hour of the afternoon ses-
sion was consumed in fixing the status
of hat makers. The convention finally
voted to give the United Hatmakers
jurisdiction over makers of all felt,
Panama and straw hats" and thus to
take ladies' straw hats from the makers
of cloth hats and caps.
MILL MAN GEV EO-SD AWARD