The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-06-27
RECONSTRUCTION
PROGRAM OF LABOR
Comprehensive Plan Adopted
BY A. F. of [.
OPPOSING ELEMENTS AGREE
u Is Designed To Bring To All People
Greater Hope For A Better Day,
A Brighter Life And
Greater Liberty.


Atlantic City, N. IA comprehens-
i've reconstruction program, designed to
bring to all people greater hope for
better day, brighter life, greater lib
erty and larger degree of happiness"
was adopted by the American Fedora
ton Of Labor at its annual convention.
Radicals and conservatives united
I'm approving a report embodying re-
constructive recommendations devised
by the Federation's executive council.
The report was termed by labor lead
ers new declaration of independence
for the workers of America"
Developments in our social, indus
trial and political relations, by reason
Of the necessities of war, have been as
varied in nature as they have been
grave In character" said the report.
zone of the most pronounced and far
reaching results is the realization Of
workers rights, duties and RESPONSE
bilities in the structure of society, in
dustry and government.
Conscious, as never heretofore, OF
its power, labor no longer will rest
content under system which treats
workers as a commodity or article Of
commerce. Workers have come to that
determination which demands treat
ment of equality with all other men
and women in modern society. They
now insist on full value and full com
pensation for services rendered on a
basis that will enable all to enjoy
the higher things in life, rather than
merely exist near the line beyond
which we find human misery, which
spells human bankruptcy.
"The great value of the report on
reconstruction, which received the
unanimous approval of the Executive
Council, lies in its compilation in con-
secutive order Of the fundamentally
important and urgent subjects and
relations to which organized labor
must apply itself diligently and un-
swervingly if the workers are to make
permanent progress and gain in the
struggle between democracy and au-
tocracy in industrial life.
THE reconstruction program in brief
recommends remedies against unem-
ployment; demands adequate wages;
declares labor's right to fix it's own
working hours; demands protection of
women and children in industry; fav-
ors cooperative institutions of farmers
and such producing agencies; favors
curbing the power of the courts to
make and unmake laws; favors full
participation of labor in politics, but
disapproval of partisan politics.. favors
public extension Of waterways and
public ownership and development of
water power; urges minimum of land
tenancies, and favors farm ownership
with public aid; would curb corporate
powers; insists upon full return Of
freedom Of speech and press; would
prohibit immigration for two years and
restrict thereafter; would tax in pro
portion to the income of persons or
property; favors state colleges for
workingmen's children, and demands
a verdict for labor in conducting in
dustrial education; urges government
tai aid in building homes; opposes
large standing armies; favors help for
soldiers, and, as an urgent and imme-
date remedial measure, urges the pay
ment of salaries to returning soldiers
and sailors for limited period after
discharge.
"The committee recommends ap-
proval of the program, not because it
believes it all comprehensive, but fun
damental, not because of it's idealism,
but because of it's practicability, not
because of its novelty, but because it
is founded on experience and justice.
The program is highly constructive in
character and excellently designed to
benefit not only part of society, but
to bring to all the people greater hope
for better day, brighter life, great
er liberty and a larger measure of pros
perity and happiness