The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-11-07
LABOR CHIEFS
TO HOLD POW WOW
Conference Called for Deem
Der 10 at Washington
THE ANTl.sTRIkE QUESTION
The Call, Declares Labor Is Confront
ed With Grave Dangers Affecting
The Very Foundation OF It's
Structure.


and International unions affiliated with
the American Federation of Labor
were called to meet here December
IL ito formulate such action as may
be essential to safeguard and pro-
mote the rights, interests and free
dom of the wage earners."
The call, issued by the Federation's
executive council and the heads of the
four railroad brotherhoods, declared
labor was confronted with grave dan
gers affecting the very foundation of
its structure" and that it was i'm
perative that the responsible represen-
tatives of the workers agree upon
fundamental principles" which will
maintain .'the right Of free men,"
No specific topics for discussion
were outlined, but it is known that
pending anti-strike legislation will be
one of the principal subjects. Other
matters expected to be taken up in
clude collective bargaining and the
right of organized labor to choose its
own spokesman as it sees fit, subjects
which finally resulted In the dissolu-
ton of the National Industrial Con-
ference called by President Wilson.
The text of the call follows:
NEARLY a month before the declara-
tion of war by the United States Gov
eminent, the executives of the national
and international unions met in con-
ference in Washington and then and
there declared labor's attitude towards
our Government whether in peace or
war, and labor made good,
"The armistice was signed Novem-
Der II, 1918. Automatically hostilities
have ended. Technically we are yet
In state of war; The return Of in
dustry from a war footing to a peace
basis is not readily accomplished. The
patriotic fervor of our country in peril,
brought about by the dangers which
threatened the overthrow Of democ-
racy and freedom, seem to have sub
sided.
I'm this critical reconstruction
period, labor is confronted with grave
dangers affecting the very foundation
of it's structure. So grave is the stu
alton regarded that at its recent meet
ing, the executive council of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor and the rep
resentatives of the railroad brother
hoods agreed that the executives of
the national and international unions
should be invited to participate in
conference at the headquarters Of the
American Federation of Labor at lO
o'clock on the morning of December
10, 1919, and there to take counsel
and to formulate such action as may
he essential to safeguard and promote
the rights, interests and freedom OF
the wage earners, the workers who
form the great mass of the people OF
our republic.
at is impera Eve that the RESPONSE
BILE representatives of the labor move
ment shall, therefore, consider the ST.
uation in the ldustrial and legislative
field, and agree upon fundamental
principles and a program which the
wage earners will accept in perform
ing their duties as citizens and at the
same time maintaining the right OF
free men in order to conserve human
interest and welfare.
1--WE conferred with the representa-
tives of the various farmers organlza'
tons. The conventions of these sew
eral bodies will be held within the
next 80 days. The representatives Oh
the farmers, while in sympathy with
the purposes of the conference, did not
feel that they had the authority to
append their names to this call. How
ever. the formal communication will
be sent to their convention inviting
them to appoint representatives to
participate in the conference OF De-
cember Is, with authority to speak IN
the name of the organizations they
represent. ecu SOS