New-York tribune., 1919-05-19
Members Belong to Trade
Unions as Workers, Vote
as American Citizens.
Executive Council Argues
Right TO Drink Demanded
Annual Report, Now Nearly
Ready, Will Insist on Re-
turn of Beer and Wines

The executive council Of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, which was in
session at the Hotel Continental all
last week preparing for the annual con-
ventlon in Atlantic City June 9, prob
ably will conclude it's sessions this aft
ernoon. Few matters remained to be
disposed Of yesterday. Secretary
Frank Morrison is hopeful that the
annual report will be in the hands Of
the printers in a few days.
The report will deal with more mat
ters of controversial nature than any
IN recent years. Among matters it will
cover in addition to the usual num-
Der of jurisdictional disputes between
subsidiary unions, are the peace
treaty, prohibition, health insurance,
the proposed labor party and the plan
Of the radicals to reform the fedora
ton by substituting twelve industrial
unions for the 112 trade unions now
making up the membership.
1t also is expected that the Mooney
case and the annual controversy over
the United Hebrew Trades of this city
will also come up before the conven-
tlon, as we'll rs the matter Of the White
Rats, the organization of vaudeville
actors which for years has been a bone
of contention.
The report Of the council it Is un-
derstood, will declare against compul-
sorry health insurance. The position is
taken that as now planned it provides
for a governmental supervision and
control of the workers, which from a
union standpoint is not desirable, and
that it interferes with tho personal
liberty of the individual and the unions
in matters that should be free from
government supervision. With the
braod principle of health insurance
there Is no quarrel
On prohibition the council will take
the position that the right Of the
worker to his beer must not be inter
fered with. No brief is held for the
distillers or for hard liquors, but the
argument for light wines and beers is
sustained.
In line with the historical position of
the federation in opposing labor's par
ticipation in politics as labor party
the council will take strong grounds
against the proposed American labor
party to be formed on the lines Of the
British Labor party. 1t is the conten-
ton of the council that the American
workman belongs to trade union as a
worker, but goes to the polls as an
American citizen, and that the forma-
tion of a labor party is neither desir-
able from the standpoint Of unionism
nor the welfare CT the body polite.
By maintaining q stand aloof from
all parties, but in a position to compel
recognition from both, labor, it is
contended, will be better able to OBJ
tain recognition Of its demands than
by the formation of an Independent
party.
On this matter it Is expected that
the so-called radicals will line up solid
ly, as they will on the proposal of the
reconstruct the federation on indus
trial rather than on trade lines, and
on the proposal Of the Mooney Defence
League for a general strike to force
the freedom Of Thomas J. Mooney and
Warren Billings.
On the Seattle plan the council is a
unit in opposition. SO far as it will
refer to Mooney it is anticipated that
it will refuse to approve the general
strike proposition, at the same time re-
iterating its belief that Mooney and
Billings are in all honesty entitled to
another trial. The question Of the in
nocence or guilt Of either man Is not
expected to figure In this, the council
standing on the record as showing
unfairness and error.
The convention will open on June 8
and last two weeks. AS in other years
1t is expected some contests may be
waged on national officers. None is
looked for against the reelection Of Mr.
Gompers as president, nor is it ex-
pected that Frank Morrison, the sec
retary, who in other years has been g
centre of attack, will have fight this
year.