Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-10-16
STATE FEDERATION
Of LABOR PLEDGES
SUPPORT TO WILSON
UNION MEN UPHOLD PRESIDENT
IN WAR" WALKER TELLS DELE
GATES AT ANNUAL STATE CON-
VENTloN IN SESSION AT JOLIET

Joliet. Oct l6-I0liet and The state
pentiteniary both extended hearty
welcome 10 the 500 delegates 10 the
thirty.hfth annual convention OF the
Illinois State Federation of Labor
which held It's first session yesterday
in the Orpheum Theatre
For the first time since the riots of
June The gates Of the peniteniary
We're thrown open. when the delegates
will visit The institution this afternoon
as the guests OF Warden T. J. Muir
ply. At The conclusion OF the war
den's address delegate shouted.
I'VE have your invitation but YOU
did not say what you will do to us
after We get in there Every man
who enters the institution does so at
his own risk replied Warden Muir
ply. and there was much laughter.
CahiIl and the War.
Harmony Of the afternoon session
was interrupted for few moments
when Patrick Cahill. OF Chicago, pro
posed an amendment to the report OF
the rules committee that The chair
man should not entertain any mo.
ton. resolution or debate relative 70
the war except as brought up in the
officers report
Shouts of What's he afraid off"
followed the reading
There was subdued excitement dur.
ing the afternoon when it was ri.
m0red that Mayor William C. Barber
was going to prohibit the exhibition
of the San Francisco bomb trial films
which formed a part of the entertain.
ment this evening II was reported
the mayor was advised not 10 inter.
iere.
In his annual report. President John
II. Walker promises support to the
Springfield street ear strikers and
calls the corporation controlling the
traction company zone of the most
brutal and oppressive un.American
corporations on earth"
During a discussion Of Greek res.
taurant employees working conditions
in Joliet ii was said Greeks refused
10 take out naturalization papers.
President Benjamin +. Brugge of the
Central Trades and Labor Council
OF Joliet declared that when negotia.
lions were almost completed for
unionizing Greek restaurants appli.
cants TO the union refused to apply
for naturalization papers and negotia-
tons were broken off.
'Deport them" shouted delegate.
President Walker opened the con.
vention with a declaration of loyalty
OF organized labor to the government
"The unions stand second to none in
uphOlding the President in this war"
he declared I'VE know the value of
political democracy and the great
cost Of its establishment in the coun-
try, and we want to see ii extended +
to every nation on earth.
There is another serious problem I
making democracy in industry. We +
have right to fight for things not .
given to us and to which we are en-.
titled, Emperors of industry had bet
ter not extend exploitation of the la. +
borer during the war under the guise (
of patriotism
The sentiment of the convention
was expressed by Victor Oander sec
rotary OF the Federation. as follows.
Those are not patriots who. while /
pretending a willingness 10 defend .
the nation against a foreign foe, use (
the national emergency to prey upon [
their fellow citizens prohteers drain.
ing the vitality of our people in war
TINE Tor private gain are traitors. an
the more despicable because their
acts are performed under cover Of al. 4
legged loyalty.
Sheriff George Schol welcomed the
III.