New-York tribune., 1919-06-17
Refusal of Union With
Membership of 100000
to Abide by Rulings Is To
Be Up at Atlantic City
Has Socialistic Leanings
Fight With Radicals Is Ex-
pected Tomorrow Over
the League of Nations
SLcf. Correspondence

Staf Correspondence
ATLANTIC CITY, June 16.-Because
it has failed to abide by the rulings of
two conventions, the international As
sociation of Machinists, one Of the
largest unions in the American Fedora
ton of Labor, stands, according to re-
port in high Federation circles, in
danger of being suspended until it
complies with the rulings.
The matter is now in the hands Of
the committee on resolutions, and on
the report of the committee the real
fight between the radicals and the
more conservative in the Federation is
expected to break
The complainant against the machin-
lists, who now have a membership close
to 100000, is the. Flint Glass Blowers
Union, perhaps one third as large. The
machinists claim the right to make all
moulds used in blowing bottles; the
glass blowers make a similar claim.
The Buffalo and st. Paul conventions
sustained the glass blowers, who now
ask that the awards be made effective.
Has SOcialistic Leanings
In addition to its size, the machinists'
union carries weight because of it's So
cialist leanings. In any fight that may
be made on it it is conceded that it will
have the support of every radical ele-
ment in the convention, plus additional
strength because of trade affiliations.
The committees report is expected
tomorrow. Should it be postponed the
Two groups are sure to clash Wednes-
day morning, when the league of ma
tions and the labor covenant in the
peace treaty will come up for action
This Andrew Furuseth arranged to-day
by moving that the report of the COM
mittee on foreign relations be made the
regular order for Wednesday. The
radical element, knowing Furuseth's op-
position to some features of the league
plan and to the labor covenant. which
he has freely described as "a gold
brick" registered JOY when Furuseth
made the motion. There was no oppo-
sition by the conservatives, however,
who are not averse to taking these mat
ters up at the earliest moment.
Somebody Slipped Joker In
Furuseth's main objection, according
to his statements to-day, is to that
clause in the labor covenant which, as
originally published in this country,
declared labors not to be a commodity
This was its reading when Gompers
and his associates left Paris with what
they thought was the completed cove
nant. 1t now appears that after they
left some one inserted the word mere
ly, making the clause describe labor
as not merely commodity and de-
stroying the sense.
Furuseth wants to know who insert
ed the joker.
The motion making foreign relations
the order of the day on Wednesday
came at the conclusion Of session en-
tireiy devoted to discussion of the re-
port of the committee, which on Satur-
day saw Postmaster General Burleson
and made possible the calling off of the
electrical workers strike by inducing
him to agree that they should have the
right to organize and to collective bar
gaining.
According to Patrick H. Mccarthy,
of San Francisco, chairman of the com
mittee, Mr.. Burleson's order permitting
organization of the electrical workers
opens the doors wide to similar action
by the post Office employees and the
telegraphers.
Got All They Went After
Burleson, according to Mr.. Mccarthy
is wonderful conversationalist. awe
secured all we went after and forced
complete reversal of opinion by the
: Postmaster General" he said
Edward J. Gainor. Immediately Mr.
Mccarthy had concluded. arose to ask
If the agreement made by Mr.. Burlesor
included the postal clerks in the per
mission to organize.
Anything" replied Mccarthy, "that
the Postmaster General does in calm
and deliberate manner for the cleo
trical workers and the telephone
operators must necessarily apply te
every other class Of workers under his
jurisdiction"
John Lewis, Of the miners, arose te
ask II the striking .telegraphers were
included in the order permitting or
ganizing and collective Bargaining.
want some assurances" he said
that the Postmaster General is no,
setting with tne electrical workers a
the expense of other organizations
the telegraphers are not protected d
l want action that will protect them
am disinclined to believe everythin.
this great man says
Suspicious of Conversion
Mr. Mccarthy said no reference wa
maae 10 the telegraphers and Thoma
+. Flahert, of the letter carriers. de
clared he was very suspicious Of Nh
burleson's sudden conversion.
Il objct," he said. "to allowing tn
electrical workers to be used as cats
paws to pull Burleson's chestnuts on
OF the fire and save his face. The DC,
tai workers are no better off becaus
OF this ruling. Burlcson will have .b
electrical workers with him but a fe,
weeks more. The postal employees wi!
SI,RR0C ATEC' NOTIs,Cc