Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-10
A. F. of 1. Against
 Radical Agitators
Prepared to Deal With Recon struction Problems of Im- portance to Labor.

Atlantic City, N J., June s.-Dele- gates representing more than 5000, ,000- 900 American working men and wo- men, at the opening session of the American Federation of Labor here to- day. put the stamp of their disapproval on the ideas of radical agitators and prepared to deal with reconstruction problems of vital importance to or ganized labor
 Opportunity to show their lack of sympathy with the efforts of radicals came during an address by Governor Runyon of New Jersey. Referring to meeting in New York last night, the governor asserted that these men threaten that unless things are settled their way chaos will result
 He paused moment and then de- clared: T know that American labor, and
 this convention, fraught as it is with such potential consequences, have no sympathy with any ideas that are not constructive; I know you are out of | harmony with destructive creeds. You | think along the same lines"
 A burst of applause from the floor ] quickly swelled to a roar.
 | Samuel Gompers, president of the
 American Federation of Labor. sound | ed the keynote of the convention when , he said during his opening address or
 ganized labor was determined that po- litical or industrial tyranny should 1 have no place in America
 ! Any employer" said Mir. Gompers
 who thinks that industrial autocra :
 cy is going to prevail in the United 1 States is counting without his host Mr. Gompers said that organized | labor was making no unjust demands and that workers having shed their blood and made sacrifices to win the
 war, had no intention of losing sight of the principles and ideals for which
 they had fought.
 The annual report of the executive
 council of the federation containing
 broad outlines of organized labor's re.
 constructive programme. was submit.
 ted to the delegates for their consider. ation at the close of MT Gompers' ad. dress
 Foremost among the subjects in tn,
 report was the reconstructive pro gramme sumbitted to the executive
 council last December by a special committee which had been studyin, the general situation and labor's re quirement.
 Recommendations for a A hou week and a firm declaration that ex , isting wages must not be reduced and
 in fact many cases should he increa S
 ed. are included among the salien , points
 Among other recommendations wer
 that organized labor take a definite
 stand favoring public and semi pub = lie ownership of utilities develop I ment of waterways and water powe7 $ regulation of land ownership increas 6 ed activity in politics prohibition (
 1oh hnr of Q association. workmen's cornna1eo in' : restriction of immigration. tax adjust = ments, elimination of private employ : ment agencies and recognition of tn $ right of school teachers to organize
 further is set forth in the repor
 which will be discussed during th
 coming two weeks of the conventio
 that if occasion should arise to ey >' pend public funds to relieve unen q ployment. the building of wholesom Il homes would best serve the public ir Il terest.
 IS Militarism is condemned in the rt = port and if is recommended that O, IS raniZed labor demand that the mil y tia of the states be wholly organize > and controlled by democratic prime e ples.
 > The Mooney case undoubtedly W
 come up for considerable discussie > during the next few days. Each deI n, gate and guest today had handed hi lh 32 page review of the case nul l. lished h- the International Worker s Defense League of San Francisco. TT 1e pamphlet is entitled Justice. Lab III and the Mooney Case" and presen T. for the deleeates' consideration u 'n programme adopted last January Chicago by the National Labor CO It gress in which it is recommended tn ol a general strike shall be called ls means of obtaining jutice for Moo