Arizona republican., 1919-10-25
OBSERVERS SEE ANNOUNCEMENT
 S|CN IF BATTLE
Gompers Issues Call for Heads of l12 Internation- al Orders to Attend - Railroad Men and Farm CTS to Be Asked to Aid - Will Plan Program
[Republlean A. p. Leased WIrel

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24.-What may prove one of the greatest industrial battles in history was believed by some observers here to be forecast by the announcement today by Samuel Com pers. president of the American Fed eration of Labor, that a conference of the heads of the 112 international unions affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, would be held in Washington in the near future" tc discuss present and impending dis putes. .......
 Cooperation of the four big railroad Drotherhoods and the farmers of the country as well as the labor organi- zations of Canada probably will DC sought, it was said, in furthering what ever program the union chiefs decide upon.
 MT. Gompers' announcement was contained in a telegram to the Illinois federation of Labor at Peoria. The message was in reply to one in which the Illinois organization asked that a special convention of the American Federation of Labor be called to per Feet a nalliance of the international unions of the United States and Can ada and the railroad brotherhoods more effectively to fight out the life and death struggle of the workers now in progress
 Would Ask Farmers Aid
 Federation officials also pointed out that the Illinois branch proposed that the aid of the farmers be enlisted anc that assessments aggregating one fourth of the net earnings of organized workers be made until the objects o this drive be accomplished"
 Decision to issue a call for the inter. national union chiefs was reached bN the federation's executive council Tues day night, but the announcement wal withheld. At that time labor officials had become convinced that the na. tional industrial conference would b, unable to reach any basis for the es tablishment of industrial peace.
 It was on the following day that MT Gompers. in withdrawing organize, labor's representatives from the con ference warned the employers groul that when they met in conference again with the spokesmen for unioi labor they would be glad to talk col lective bargaining.
 Refuse to Give Out Details of Plal
 Federation officials declined toda, 10 go into details regarding the forth coming conference. They said subject to be discussed would rest with tn union chiefs themselves, and the tim of the meetings had not been deter mined.
 Whether there was any connection between the proposed conference am the notice given the railroad admins tration by Timothy Shea of the fire mems brotherhood. that the railroai workers would fight for general in crease in pay before the governmen relinquished control of the roads, wa not disclosed.
 The brotherhoods are not affiliate with the American Federation of La bor, but there has been close co-opera ton between the organizations. Lead ing officials of the brotherhoods re gently have held frequent conference with officers of the federation and an nouncement was made day or tw ago by the committee conducting tn steel strike that the brotherhoods hay given their consent to a strike of rail road workers empolyed in and aroun steel mills involved in the presen controversy in the steel industry.