Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-10-28
LABOR WILL CO ANY
LIMIT To PRESERVE
RIGHT TO STRIKE
Passage in Either House Of
Forbidding Legislation Will
Cause General WaIkout,
Union Leaders Assert

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26.-Organiz-
ed labor will go any limit to pre-
serve the right to strike, officials Of
the American Federation of Labor
said today in warning that passage
by either house of congress of the
anti-Strike proposed in the pending
railroad bill would result in an i'm
mediate general walkout over the
country.
William H. Johnston, president Of
the International Association OF Ma
chinists, the second largest union af-
filiated with the federation, said "di-
rect action" might be resor.ed to If
all other means of advancing the in
terests of the unions failed. He re-
ferred particularly to what he term
ed the efforts of the srnpgoyers to
shut out unions by binding their
workers with individual contracts.
Mr.. Johnston announced that with
the passage of the anti-strike Iegis-
lation, he would order Immediately a
vote on a strike of the $4,000 mem
bers of his association and predicted
that the heads of the other 112 in
ternational unions in the American
Federation of Labor would take sim
liar action. Other federation officials
agreed with this view.
While the legislation against
strikes now pending in congress ap-
plies solely to railroad workers,
many of whom are not affiliated with
the federation, it was said today that
this legislation was one OF the prin-
cipal reasons why the heads of the
unions of the federation were to be-
summoned here for a conference in
the near future.
Farmer Representatives
Present at the conference also
were representatives of the follow
ing farmers organizations:
The National Board of Farm
organizations; the Federation Of
Milk Producers, The American So
ciety of Equity and the National
Farmers union.
Mr.. Gompers issued the follow
ing statement at the conclusion of
the meeting:
"a conference was held in the
A. F. of L. building this afternoon
in which representatives of the A.
T.. of L., the railroad brotherhoods
and the four farmers organiza-
lions participated. General discus
sion ensued regarding the legisla-
ton pending in congress inimicable
to the rights and interests of I'm
oustrial and agricultural workers
Further discussion ensued re-
garding legislation which should be
urged at the hands of congress in
the interests Of the above.
'It was decided that the call
the conference determined upon by
the executive council of the A. r.
of L.. should be jointly issued by
the executive council of the A. F. of
L. and the railroad brotherhoods
1T was decided that the confer
ence should take place in Wash
ington Saturday, December 10.
Labor Alliance Seen
"The representatives of the farm
ers' organizations, although in en-
tire sympathy with the discussion
and purposes, stated that they had
no authority from their organiza-
ton to join in the call for the
conference, but that thei rconven-
TONS which would be held within
a month from now, would be glad
to receive invitations upon which to
act, and select delegates for the
December 13 conference"
Officials of the four railroad broth
erhoods conferred today with Mr..
Gompers and other officers of the
federation. 1t has been proposed
that the cooperation of the brother
hood be enlisted in the general fight
now being waged for recognition os
the principle of collective bargain I
ing and representation by the chos-
en- spokesman of labor. k
Some close observers Of the indus
trial situation said today an alliance
between the federation and the broth
erhoods appeared more than prob
able. They pointed to the anti-stfike
legislation and the notice of the
railroad workers that they soon
would seek to force increases in
wages as reasons why the brother
hoods would desire such an alliance.
Charles S. Barrett, president \ of
the National Farmers union, and
one of the farmers representatives
in the national industrial conference
here, issued an appeal today to the
farmers to "be prepared to aid our
beloved country in her present hour
of need"
A plea for real sanity" also was
made today by Secretary Lane, who
acted as chairman Of the industrial
conference. In announcing that he
had written the president supporting
the recommendation that a new body
be created to carry on the work for
which the conference was called, AA