Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-09-23
APPEALS TO LABOR
TO CANCEL STRIKES
League of Members of A. F. of L.
Issues Statement.
WOULD END PERIL TO U. S.
Asks Parent Body to Call Off All
Walkouts to Help in Reduction of
the High Cost of
Living.

New York, Sept. 17.-Proposals that
the president of the United States be
made member of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor and that all strikes
now in progress throughout the coun-
try be Immediately cancelled in order
TO meet the present ''perilous situa-
tion," by which 1.-THE foudations of our
free democratic government are threat
ened," are contained in a communica-
ton sent to President Gompers and
the executive council of the American
Federation OF Labor by the League
of A. f. of l.. Members for Partnership
and Industrial Democracy, which was
made public here.
The league was recently organized
by John ]. Pierce and Isadore Epstein,
who were members of a special COM
mittee appointed by James p. Holland,
president of the state Federation of
Labor, to investigate industrial condi-
lions. The report of the committee,
which was published Labor day, rec
commended an Industrial truce for six
months during which all strikes were
to be called off. The report was
promptly repudiated by President Hol-
land, who discharged Messrs. Epstein
and Pierce from the committee.
Favors Membership Vote.
Seven propositions are contained in
the present communication the first
and second of which call for the future
election of all executive union officials,
from the president of the A. L. of l..
down to the administrative officers of
locals, by direct secret vote of the I'M
ion membership. AT the present time
the general rule is for election by del
egates.
The third proposal requires that no
salary be paid to any local union Off
cial during the tendency of a strike
by his union.
Under the fourth the president of
the A. F. of L. is given authority to
suspend any strike, when in his judg-
ment 'the welfare of the government
or people of the United States, or of
any state or municipality, requires
such action"
The inclusion of the president of the
United States in the ranks of the A. f.
of L. is dealt with under the fifth head
ing. 1t is proposed that he become au-
tomatically during the term of his
office member of the executive cOun-
Gil without vote and shall have author
ity, with the consent of four other
members of the council, to suspend
specifically mentioned strikes during a
period of national emergency. The eX-
lstance and duration of such an emer-
gency is to be decreed by presidential
proclamation.
May Suspend Officers.
The authority to call a general strike
involving more than one industry is
vested solely in the executive council
of the A. f. of L. under the sixth prop
osition, and by the seventh the power
of the council is further extended to
enable 1t to remove any elected or APP
pointed officer of any international or
local union, state federation or affilia-
ted organization.
In urging these propositions the
league says:
'"The United States is confronted
with a perilOus situation which is with
out precedent, and, if industrial con-
ditions are not very soon changed for
the better, there will be widespread
misery among the people of the Unit
ed States and those of the war-strick-
en- European countries. The situation
is so serious that the foundations of
our free democratic form of govern
ment are threatened.
"In our opinion the one way to re-
lieve the world of it's troubles is TO
provide Europe with the goods and
machinery necessary TO reconstruct
her demolished industries, give en-
ployment to her hundreds of thousands
of idle men and set her on her feet
economically"
Many Strikes "UncaITed For"
After referring to the need of in
creased production as the only method
of solving the high cost of living, the
communication declares that, while
many strikes have been necessary TO
bring unjust employers to terms, 1--WE
also strongly assert that there have
been a great many strikes which were
uncalled for and which should not have
been ordered. We hold that during
these dark times the union which goes
on strike without prOvocation of the
most extreme nature is guilty of NOR
al treachery to the government and
people of the United States and Of in
human conduct toward the struggling
people of EurOpe's helpless countries"