The sun., 1919-06-10
Delegates in Atlantic City
Cheer Assertion They OPP
pose Destructive Creeds.
WARNING BY GOMPERS
No Political or Industrial Ty-
ranny to BE Permitted
Against Labor Party.
Special Despatch TO TIE Sun.


gates to the convention OF the Ameri- |
can Federation of Labor, which is in SEES |
sion here, to-day put the stamp OF their !
dfsapproval on the ideas Of radical agi- |
tators and prepared to deal with recon- Z!
struction problems of vital Importance |
TO organized labor. |
An opportunity to show their lack of
sympathy with the efforts OF radicals |
came during the speech of Gov. Runyon
or New Jersey. who referred to a meet |
ing held in New York last night and
said that the men at that meeting
threatened that chaos would result I'M
less things were settled their way.
II know that American labor mad this
convention said Gov. Runyon, have
no sympathy with any ideas that are
not constructive. know you are out of
harmony with destructive creeds. You
think along sane lines"
burst of applause greeted the Gov
ernor, and It quickly swelled to a roar
which continued for several minutes.
Wilson Sends Greetings.
A message to the convention from
President Wilson was read. 1t expressed
his greetings to the Federation and paid
tribute to the services of Mr.. Gompers
at the Peace Conference. The message
by the Presidents secretary. Joseph p.
Tumulty, said:
May not send my warm greet
ings to the Annual Convention Of
the American Federation OF Labor
and express my deep qualification that
the International conferences which
have grown out of the discussions
OF peace. have led to a much fuller
and more adequate comprehension OF
the questions OF labor to which
statesmen throughout the world must
direct their most thoughtful atten-
ton? 1t has been a real happiness
70 ME to be OF a little service in
these great matters.
cannot Justly refrain, when send
ing this message, from expressing
In very warm terms the appreciation
felt by all who have been dealing
with labor matters of the invaluable
service rendered by Mr.. Gompers.
He has won universal confidence and
4rmIy established In international cir
Giles. as well as at home. the repu-
tation of the American Federation OF
Labor for sane and helpful counsel.
The two big features of the earlier
session of the convention were the read
ing of the report of the executive coun-
GIL which endorsed the peace treaty and
the League of Nations, but declared that
the labor section of the treaty was a
compromise, and the opening address OF
Samuel Gompers. president OF the fed
Grafton.
No Tyranny. Warns Gompers.
Labor is determined that political OF
industrial tyranny shall have no place
in this country" saiu Mr.. Gompers
~Any employer who thinks that indus
trial autocracy Is going to prevail in the
United States Is reckoning without hi
host. Organized labor is making no un
Just demands. but workers, having shec
their blood and made sacrifices to VIII
the war, have no intention Of losing sigh
OF the principles, rights and ideals fo
which they fought.
''When the war began we realized tina
II militarism and autocracy should b.
victorious never again would there b.
opportunity for freedom of any sort
never again would there be any chanc
for labor to develop and protect itsel
and the rights Of people who work. g
We threw our lot upon the side of thos
who stood for the largest measure O
freedom. Now the war has been wo
and the day for reconstruction and re
adjustment is at hand. A new concep
of right has been reached and the worl
has gone through great change.
Hereafter the relations between ma
items and the relations between ner
whether they be employers, skilled me
chpnics or ditch diggers. will be locke
at in a different light. The workers O
the world are determined to have
voice In settling the construction prot
lens that affect them. Employers, tot
have come to see the light OF the ne,
- trrkt -.
the new order, that is, most of thei
are. There are others who. like th
Dorrbons OF old. never forget anythin
because they have never learne
anything.
but the principles for which labc
has fought since the beginning mu
come to full fruition. We are making r
unjust demands. Workers give to societ
service without which civilization 1
self would fall. We intend to make tn
country worthy of the civilization of O,
times, and to future historians the stor
OF the labor movement in the Unite
States will prove the greatest source
Information as to numbers, power ar
Influence"
Opposes Wage Reductions.
With reference to wages and hours
labor the councils report declared
THE American standard Of life mu
be maintained and improved. The val
OF wages is determined by the purcha
ing power of the dollar. There Is
such thing as good wages when the &C
OF living in decency and comfort equs
or exceeds the wages received. The
must be no reduction In wages; in MAJ
instances wages must be increased,
THE right OF labor to fix its hou
Of work must not be abrogated or
terfered with. The days working tiI
should be limited to not more tn
eight hours, with overtime prohibit
except under the most extraordna
emergencies The weeks working til
should be limited TO not more than II
and one-half days"
The report demanded that won
should receive the same pay as men IL
equal work performed" asserted tn
Exploitation OF child life for priva
gain must not be permitted" insist
that public employees should be p,
mitted to unionze, urged cooperat
enterprises by the workers. declarin
trade unions secure fair wages and
operation protects the wage Garner fr,
the profteer," and demanded that
people have the final voice In legis
ton.
The councils report disapproved of
labor political party, stating that II
vital legislation now required can
more readily secured through educati
the public mind and appeal 70 its &C
science. supplemented by energetic
dependent political activity on the pi
OF trade unionlsts, than by any oil
method" 1t added that this is and '
continue TO be the political policy
the American Federation OF Labor
lessons In