New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18
Federation Will Meet Here
after in June to Forestall
Fall Campaigns
Pacifst Group To
Be Heard on Floor
Test of Strength Will Come
in Fight Against Hebrew
Trades Union
lStdf Correspondencel

BUFFALO, Nov. 17.-Labor's big stick
will hereafter be on plain view at the
national and state conventions of both
great parties.
This in a word is the meaning Of the
action Of the American Federation to-
day in changing the date for future
national conventions from November
to June. Hitherto the leaders have
been at something of disadvantage
In presenting their demands to plat
form committees and in furnishing
enemies and rewarding friends at the
polls.
Now they will be in a position to
present formal demands to both great
parties, playing one against the other
and throwing their support to the side
giving or promising to give the most.
In the event that each makes substan-
TALLY the same concessions, the labor
vote will be free to divide as it may
on other questions.
In any event labor stands to win
everything politically and lose nothing.
The resolution calling Tor the change
assigned inclement weather Novem-
Der as the cause. James Duncan
brought the real reason Tor the change
to the surface.
lie SAID:
by meeting in June we can know
what is happening in Congress and in
some of the legislatures, and our COM
mittees in the convention can lay
down their plans for not only organ
izing campaigns during the month Of
the year when organizing can best be
done, but they can also lay out plans
whereby we can more concertedly help
to support our friends and defeat our
enemies on the political field.
I'VE will have the summer and fall
TO know that we will not be drawn
away just before election and denied
opportunity of casting our vote on
Election Day"
Edward Fischer, q delegate from
Montana, raised the objection that poll
tics nave been barred from union meet
ings, and John Lennon, treasurer Of the
Federation, defended the move.
"Next year," he said, 1--WE are to
elect a Congress, and if we are to have
the weight and the influence upon
the selection of Congressman that we
should have we ought to have the ex-
preston as TO what we want from
that Congress prior to election. By
making the change we bring ourselves
into proper relation to that question
and the object in view.
"While the Federation itself direct
is having more and more influence
upon Congress and legislation Of a
Congressional character the state fed
Grafton, which has to do with legisla-
ton in the state, are also entitled to
consideration, because they get their
inspiration and general direction as to
legislation in many respects from the
action of the Federation conventions.
For their sake and the election Of rep
resentatives in the state legislatures
they need that this action shall be had
sufficient length of time before the
elections are held and the legislatures
meet in order to enable them TO pre-
sent the questions they desire to pre-
sent to the candidates in a way that
will be OF some account"
Announcing the vote on the resolu-
ton as 2lj for to II against, MIR. Com
pers made answer to the delegates who
had said discussion OF politics is barred
from union meetings. He said:
What the conventions of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor have declared,