New-York tribune., 1919-08-31

executive council, the question arises
as to his authority to make declara-
tion that is now in effect repudiated by
it, the only body that was authorized
by the recent convention at Atlantic
City to define the position Of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor.
Morrison Made Hard Fight
1t is understood that Mr.. Morrison
fought hard for an immediate clear
cut Endorsement Of the Plumb plan by
the council, and was strongly oppos~ d
by others in the council and severely
criticised for attempting to deliver the
federation to the Plumb plan by an
official statement in which he purported
to represent the Federation of Labor
before the council had passed on the
subject.
1t appears that Mr.. Morrison did not
content himself with his statement be-
fore the Interstate Commerce Commit
tee, but has been carrying on an active
propaganda for the Plumb plan through
the organization channels he controls
by virtue of his position. He is said
virtually to have made the A. F. of L.
an annex to the Plumb Plan League
during President Gompers's absence in
Europe, and to have caused the litera-
ture of the league, proclaiming Samuel
Gompers as its honorary president. to
be distributed to the federation mem
bership throughout the country.
MorrIson's course was resented by
members of the executive council and
heads of some of the international
unions, who were opposed to having the
A. F. of l.. act on plan which, how
ever much 1t may be in the interests Of
and favored by the railway labor or
CARNATIONS, may not be in the inter-
ests of the great body of organized
labor as part of the general public.
1t did not follow that Mr.. Morrison 3
critics would not eventually favor the
plan; the difference between them and
him was as to present policy; and is
reported to reflect an internal political
rift in the federation.
In it's larger aspect Mr.. Morrson's g
independent course is said to reflect
the anti-Gompers and more radical
and aggressive group of the fedora
ton. The feeling against Morrison s
course resulted in cablegrams to
Gompers and Tcbin, the latter being
treasurer of the organization, urging
them to hurry back from Europe to
put the QuietuS on a movement that
threatened to upset the present con-
troll of the federation. Messrs. Com
pers and Tobin did hurry back from
Europe, and the very first matter
taken up at the extraordinary meet
ing of the executive council. which
began Thursday, was the question Of
the attitude of the council toward
the Plumb plan and the effort that
had been made to deliver the fedora
ton, horse. foot and dragoon, to its
advocacy during President Gompers' s
absence.
The outcome is the declaration of
the council above quoted, that the
federation is not committed to the
Plumb plan, and the decision to ap-
point a Subcommittee to study it. II
ner of disposing of the plan. and
that, in fact, large majority of the
council is definitely against 1T.
The Steel Situation
Aside from the declaration with re
gard to the Plumb plan the portion O
tbe statement considered Of the mos
threatened strike of the steel workers
to enforce recognition of their organl
zation. The reference therein to thu
hope that an amicable adjustment ma,
be reached before any outbreak o
cessation of work shall be inaugural
ed" is interpreted to mean that tn
council has high hopes that as resul
of the interview of President Gomper
and the steel workers committee Will
President Wilson yesterday Afternoon
Mr.. Wilson will take steps TO avert
strike at this time.
Whether the President hopes to at
tain this end by bringing the repre-
scntatives of the men and the olhcial
of the Steel Corporation into confer
ences, as desired by the men. or whethe
the dispute will be sidetracked pendln
the development of the plan the fresi
dent has in mind for general compo
sition of the differences between laDo
and capital is not known.
There were no Developments in tn
threatened strike of the railway shop
men to day. The officials OF the shop
men are receiving showers OF tele
grams reporting votes of locals on tn
strike referendum. 1t is stated tha
the majority Of the reports so FAR re
ceived favor a strike, but the official
are plainly opposed to calling one an
the belief prevails that they will fin
a way to avoid a strike, until it is
termined whether efforts now bein
made in that direction will be success
full in reducing the cost of living, 8
which time they will be in a posltio
to act in concert with the other raj
way organizations.
At the railway administration office
this afternoon it was SAID that report
from the Pacific Coast showed thu
practically all the striking railway me
there returned to work this morning.
Scranton Coal Miners