The Tomahawk., 1919-07-31
WANTS TROOPS OUT
OF RUSSIA SOON N
American Federation Convention
Opposes Intervention and
FaVors Irish Republic. !
>,FAvORS LIGHT BEER SALE
Vote Of Delegates Favors Aiding
Thomas Mooney in Getting a Fair
Trial But Is Against General
24-Hour Strike on July q.

Atlantic City, N. J.-The annual
convention Of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor, meeting in this
city, has at times pleased both
conservatives and progressives.
In general, the trend has been
progressive, although the army Of
press correspondents hunting for
evidence Of standpatism have !
found enough to give the country
contrary opinion.
The resolution of the convention
urging the withdrawal Of AmerI-
can troops from Rsssia and the
resolution urging the recognition
Of the Irish republic are certainly
beyond what the conservative
leaders, such AZ President Com.
pers, have expressed hitherto. A
resolution asking the lifting Of the
blockade Of Russia, however, failed
to pass.
The defenders of the" latter resolu-
ton made strong fight on the floor.
placing their case on humanitarian
grounds of bringing relief to people
whose production was held up by tho
blockade. The opponents agreed to
withdrawing troops. but turned down
trate relations on the ground that 1t
might strengthen the Bolsheviks.
| Indorses Light Beer:
| The most spectacular action OF
the convention was the Endorsement
of light beer and wines, and the large
delegation which took a flying trip to-
Washington to demonstrate against
absolute prohibition. Tho strongest
fight against the move was made by
the radical faction led by Duncan Of
the Seattle Trades and Labor assem-
bly, While many of the radicals voted
for the measure as we'll as the most
OF the conservatives, the radicals saw
in 1t the danger of creating a vicious
side-issue which would detract atten.
tion from serious economic problems.
| Some of the conservatives, on tho
other hand, probably welcome it for
this reason. They have made serious
effort to check the movement for inde-
pendent labor politics, but with little
success. State after state, such as
North Dakota. Pennsylvania, washing
ton, New Jersey and Illinois, have
forsaken the two old parties in tho
hope of finding real remedies for
great problems by securing political
power. The prohibition question makes
a handy side-issue to divide the pro-
gressive ranks.
On the other hand, the hundreds of
thousands Of organized workers In
liquor industries who will be thrown
out of their customary employment
suddenly, present a powerful human:
appeal to other union men.
| Action on Mooney.
Friends of Independent political ac'
tion by labor, in cooperation with the
farmers, are reported to be anxious
to keep the question off the floor of
the convention. The movement has
such impetus at the present time that
an Endorsement is not needed. On
the other hand the officials of the
federation who find much prestige in
dickering with the two old parties
for legislative crumbs and Offices.
might marshal enough strength to
| turn down such a resolution.
| Action on the Mooney case taken
by the convention has been cleverly
distorted by the pEess. Mrs. Mooney
appeared before the convention and
made stirring appeal for new trial
for her husband and Warren Billings,
now in prison on perjured testimony.
! A resolution in favor of 24-hour
| strike as means for securing an
other trial, in which the perjured tes.
timony could be reviewed, was turned
down by the adoption of substitute.
| This provided that the executive
council should use practical means
to secure a new trial for the accused"
and on the other hand censured the
International Workers. Defense league
"for having assumed power to poll
the members of international unions
on the sympathetic strike proposed
for July f."
| The decision appears to break over
the relative seriousness Of the Moo.
ney case. One side sees that II the
notorious frame-up of one labor leader
is allowed to stick, no honest labor
leader is safe from similar attack.
The other side sees It as largely .
personal matter Of getting one man
out of jail. The conservative labor
leaders and officeholders, such a. Sec.
retary of Labor Wilson, naturally are
inclined to this view because they are
in little danger while there are i'd.
vanced labor leaders more hated By
the special privilege opposition.
The Irish are having . hard time
under foreign military occupation. II
man walks with . slouch, he IL ar.
rested for showing signs Of intoxica-
| fion. ~ he Nalka snri4htlY and erect.