The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-09-28
BIC PROGRAM BY
U. S. WORKERS
federal Employees Convention
Launches Big Program For
the Coming Year.

WASHINGTON Sept. c6.-Dis-
patches to the Washington head
quarters Of the National Federation
of Federal Employees in the A. F. OF
L. building announce the election of
officers and adjournment of the sec
ond annual convention after a five
days session in Chicago, and the
adoption of a big program for the
coming year. Luther c. Steward, for
merly of Kansas City, Mo-, now of
Washington, D. c., where he is direct
or of the control division of the L. S.
employment service, was reelected
president. The seven new vice pres
idents are W. L. Junker of New York
IRE eleced); II. J. Leonard Of Boston,
Miss Florence Etheeridge, formerly
of Washington, d. G.. now of Vinta.
Okla, (re-electcd); w. T. Griffith of
Ell Paso, Texas, (re-elected); Charles
F. Nagel Of Chicago. (re-electeD; S.
Tyson Kinsell Of Philadelphia;
Charles H. Wiegand of Baltimore; E.
J. Newmyer Of Washington, D. C. was
reelected secretary-treasurer.
The convention, composed of del
egates from about 100 local unions
throughout the country, did not con-
fine itself to civil service questions,
but launched into a broad field of
activities dealing with the expected
industrial crisis OTTER the war. In
resolutions creating special commit
tees to promote such measures, the
delegates declared Cd that the gov
eminent should guarantee not only to
the returning soldiers and sailors but
to civilians also, the opportunity to
make living; CD that women should
not be forced out of their positions or
compelled to underbid men in order
to retain employment; CD that the
aged workers and children should be
withdrawn from industry both in
their own interests and to make room
tor other workers; and 90 that due
provision to be otherwise made for de-
mobilization, the civil service should
not be utilized to provide jobs for SOL
diers and sailors except upon eff
cheney tests.
Some of the measures advocated to
meet these problems were:
Extensive and wisely regulated
plans for public construction work Of
all kinds, in order to employ more
people independently of capitalistic
competition.
In addition to the reclamation of
land for soldiers homesteads, as pro-
posed by Secretary Lane, taxation of
unused land to force such tracts into
productivity.
Old age, health and unem ployme nt
insurance, accompanied by minimum
wage legislation
prohibition OF child labor.
Taxes on income, inheritance and
excess profits, and co: troll of prices
of staples in the interests of worker
and consumer were also advocated
AS concerning especially the AGO.
600 civil service employees, the con-
vention provided for a vigorous organ
1zatlon campaign, re-endorsed the
Johnson-Nolan minimum wage bill for
government employees, urged a civil
service retirement bill, and called for
reorganization of the civil service
with a wage and personnel commits
sion upon which the workers would
have representation equal to that of
the administrative officers.
kilograms were sent to President
Wilson assuring him of the Fedora
TONS support Of his war policies and
tits fullest cooperation and support
OF the fourth Liberty loan