Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-11-21
Four Big Railroad Brother
hoods to Affiliate With
Federation.
GOMPERS AND LEE
WARN MONEY CLASS
Declaration Made That Movement For
Eight Hour Day For All Glasses Of
Labor Will Be Launched-President
Wilson Praised and Cheersd and His
Compulsory Program Condemned
and Threatened at Same Time.


Baltimore. Nov. 21.--Affiliation OF
the members of the American Fedora
tlon Of Labor and the four big railroad
brotherhoods for effecting the better
ment of labor was urged today before
the federation convention here BY the
brotherhood heads and President
Samuel A.. Gompers. Delegates who
crowded the halls cheered all Of the
speakers enthusiastically.
1--WE must hang together or we will
hang separately W. G. Lee. spokes-
man for the brotherhoods and head OF
the railway trainmen, declared.
1t is great comfort to know
President Gompers said, that the time
is not far distant when the great
brotherhoods wilf be part of the
American Federation of Labor
Lee Threatens to Fight.
Mr.. Lee explained that the laws of
the brotherhoods now prevent an Off
cial affiliation with the federation un-
til after their convention is held, but
he insisted that between now and that
time the organizations could CO.
operate with the same purpose as if
they were officially affiliated. He
said the brotherhoods were not bring
irg their "eight-hour day" difficulties
to the federation for support
II am about anarchist enough, how
ever" he said, "to say that we are
going to work for the eight-hour day
for all classes. If we can't get 1t
peacefully. we will fight for it."
Lee said some sort Of affiliation
should be effected to fight any pro-
posed arbitration legislation which
might be unfair to labor. President
| Wilson plans some such legislation, he
dsclared.s He declaEed congress hat
rs right to pass law compelling
man ITO work. providing he were not
IN prison. IL he did not want to-, and he
Gid not think it would do SO.
Wilson Praise Brings Cheers.
Prolonged cheering followed praise
Of President Wilson by Lee.
1T took more courage for him to
write across the front pages OF the
was for an eight-hour work day than
1t would have taken for him to have
written that this country was at war
with Mexico" he said. "Our object
now is to help the president and the
men in both branches in congress to
rake good their promises to us l be-
lieve they will do it.
1T Is absolutely necessary for US
| who are organized to get together and
say that we shall go the limit tc
obtain better conditions, particularly
| for the men on the railroads that thu
company will not permit to organize
We will not strike or go out to helr
them. but we will use our efforts tc
obtain better conditions for them"
| Gompers is Defiant.
President Gompers said:
I'VE expect that the railroad broth
! erhoods on Jan. next will inaugural. /.
the eight-hour work day, and can say
you have the undivided support Of the
organized workingmen and womeH
represented by the American Fedora.
tion Of Labor. When the money power
Of the United States failed In the at
! tempt to corrupt the electorate anc
when their plans were upset by tn
vote of the citizenship of the United
States, the capitalists showed their col
ors. They met and gave out decla
ration that they were going to antag'
onize every effort put forth by or
ganized labor. But. men Of wealth.
say to you, be careful how far you go
There is a limit even to human endur.
ance. You .throw down the gauntlet
| We accept the challenge. When tn
ltime comes 1t will be another case o.
Lay on, Macduff, and damned be HI
who first cries hold enough
| w. S. Carter. president Of the Broth
erhood OF Railway Firemen and En-
ginemen, declared that the danger tha
confronts all working people today !!
the Hcoercion or subordination Of tn
eublic press by the master class"
"The coming of the penny paper" HI
added, has done more than anythin.
else to place the press under the domi
nation OF advertisers. Unfortunately
labor has little to do with advertising
practically all the advertisements com
ing from the master class"
| To Ignore Injunetions.
| The organized labor forces OF tn
country yesterday avowed hostility t
the writ Of injunction as means o
stopping a strike.
First, resolution was adopted
. unanimously at the ::.erning session o
the convention Of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor urging organized
labor everywhere to make the injunc
ton question "the paramount issue !,
lall OF their future political activities"
A more radical step was taken a
the afternoon session. when the com
mittee. on the executive councils re-
port took up that feature Of the re
mort dealing with the decision OF tn
Massachusetts supreme court classl
fy.ng labor as property. The com
mtttee submitted and the convention
unanimously adopted recommended
! ton "that any Injunction dealing wit
the relationship Of employer and EN-
pioye, and based on the dictum tina
l1,hrv - YrnnAysty hA 8diQrovn r3pt5 4ss.