New-York tribune., 1919-09-07
Committee Renews
Its Dem and for
Labor War Truce
Two Men Repudiated by
Head of State Federation
Will Appeal TO Rank and
File to End All Strikes

John F. Pierce and Isadore Epstein
who were appointed by James p. Hol
land. president of the State Federation
Of Labor, to devise ways and means Of
reducing the high cost of living, ant
whose recommendation for a suspcn
sion of strikes for SIX months was re
pudiatcd by Mr.. Holland, announced
yesterday, in letter to Mr.. Holland
that they would continue to work fol
their plan among the rank and file Of
labor and would demand changes il
the fundamental laws Of the Federation
which will deprive false leaders OF
power to cause untold misery" The
letter to Mr.. Holland said in part:
"Our conscience pleads with us to
20 on with the work we have begun
and we will do so as members of The
rank and file of organized labor, max
ING appeal to our brothers of the rank
and file.
Based on Economic Study
"Our report of September was
based on a study of existing economic
conditions. We could see no other way
out Of the difficulties that beset the
country than by the declaration Of a
truce to all industrial warfare and
uniting with the President Of the
United States TO lower the cost of liv-
ing and restore the country to sound
business basis. In his message of Au-
gust 25 President Wilson wrote:
"It-the cost of living will certain
ly be lowered as soon as there are set
tied conditions of production and OF
commerce. Only by keeping
the cost of production on its present
level, by increasing production :.
can we hope for large decreases in the
burdensome cost of living which now
weighs US down
ave REGARD this as a summons from
the commander in chief of all the pco-
pie of the United States to labor and
capital TO cease their comparatively
petty pickering and unite to intensIvely
increase production.
Refuse to Retract
ave retract no sentence, word, syi-
liable or punctuation mark OF our Sep
tember | report. We stand upon II
without excuse or apology to any man.
We insist with all the force wc pos
sess that there should, nay must. be a
complete cessation Of unnecessary
strikes and increased production. or
the effort of President wilson 10 ci-
OF ffr
and replace the country on a sound
business basis will certainly fail. 1t
Is up 10 labor.
The highest organized labor author
itv in the land is pursuing that very
nolicy at this moment. The steel in
dustrv labor leaders and the railway
hrothcrhoods are shaping their course
according 10 the judgment of Samuel
Gompers and the executive councl! Of
tho American Federation of Labor.
The beneficial result OF following tna'
policy has already been seen in avert
ing the disaster OF q railway shop
mems strike.
eve hope 10 see the day very soon
when no trade or industry VIII be al
lowed to order strike without per
mission Of the executive council. II IS
a power too great t. be lc.t IN the
hands Of men who sometimes cXcrci %
Il for reasons not altogether for the
benefit of the rank and lie whose VIII
they are supposed 10, but often do not,
represent.
Should Be Higher Power
There should be ache OK placed
upon such mon. There should be a
higher power within the ranks OF or
qanized labor clothed with authority
to make a final decision before strike
may be ordered.
"The undersigned do not intend to
lower the colores they have raised
They intend to have much more to say
on this general subject in the futuJe
You have debarred them from add
dressing you with authority as your
representatives and have thus lett
them with only one recourse an ap-
peal to the rank and file. We Will ad-
dress our future appeals TO the ?oV'ooo
men and women VINO compose thc OF
ganized army Of New York State.
1--WE will use our utmost efortS 20
rally the many thousands OF honest
loyal. constructive trade union mem
hers TO A movement for changes IN
the fundamental laws Of the fedora
llOn WHICH w III - A"'"N
of powcr 70 cause untold misery.
Archaic Customs and Laws
There should be new concept Of
the relations Of trade unions with then
fellow men. Archaic customs, tradi-
tionS and laws which clash with the
spirit OF the times should be swept
aside. We realize that it is no puny
battle which we have undertaken, but
we are ready for whatever may come
William kohn. chairman Of the Amer.
lean Labor party, yesterday attacked
MIR. Holland fer having appointed
Messrs. Pierce and Epstein TO the task
of devising a policy for labor in the
present crisis. and hinted that the OPP
position Of organized labor to the re-
por, of the two men forced Mr.. Holland
to remove them and to repudiate then
recommendations. although he was
originally in favor Of them. Mr. kohn
called Mr.. Holland "the champion
bungler of labor problems and sug-
cee.ed ga referendum OF all affiliated