Arizona republican., 1919-10-30
SOVIET LOSES
MORE GROUND
IN FEDERATION
Labor Journal Taken Out
Of Croaff-Smith Hands
At Convention And Put
In Charge of Majority

more ground in the convention of the
Arizona Federation of Labor yester
day when the Labor Journal was
taken out of the hands of the present
board Of control and lodged in that of
a special committee on which the five
districts of Arizona are represented.
The surrender was almost without a
struggle. the friends of the board evil
IDENTIFY accepting the lineup Of Tues
day on the anti Croaff- Smith reso-
luton as one likely to hold throughout
the convention in all conflicts between
the radicals and the conservatives.
Before the adjournment on Tuesday
afternoon a special committee was ap-
pointed to investigate the affairs of
the Labor Journal and report at the
meeting yesterday. Its report was to
be the first order OF business. It was
submitted by Chairman w. J. Barry.
Though the report. as to its language,
was moderate, ii was plain. 1t re-
cited that the policy of the paper had
been opposed to the principles of the
American Federation of Labor, of
which the Arizona federation was Il
part and which was the real owner of
the journal; that it misrepresented
the sentiments OF a large majority OF
the state federation; that it glorified
the principles of the l. w. W., and ad
vocated a government opposed to the
government of the United States
1t was alleged also that Secretary
George d. Smith had violated the pro-
vision of the constitution of the fed
Grafton in assuming financial control
of the paper, while the constitution
provides that the editorial manage
ment and the business management
must be one. The report criticized
the conduct of President Croaff Of the
federation and a member of the exec
utive board in control Of the paper in
refusing to support W. p. Doheney, a
returned soldier for the position of
editor and manager, which he had
abandoned to enter the military
service.
This was more marked. said the re-
port, since Mr.. Croaff was federal di-
rector of the L. S. employment service,
which 1t was supposed gave the pref
erence to returned soldiers. There
were some lesser counts. The report
recommended the appointment of a
special committee OF five to conclude
the investigation for which the spe-
cial committee now reporting had not
had time. The committee so to be APP
pointed was to formulate the policy Of
the paper, to hire and discharge edi-
torial and business arrangements and,
in general, to exercise supervision over
the affairs of the Journal.
Smith Is Heard
When the question on the accept
ance OF the report was submitted Sec
rotary Smith said that he desired to
be heard as TO the structures upon
him. Generally, he said, he was in
agreement with the report. 1t was
true. admitted Mr.. Smith, that the
policy of the journal was contrary to
the sentiment of a majority OF the
members of the convention, and should
be changed to conform to the views OF
the majority. Mr.. Smith, though, said
that no act of his in connection with
the paper had been violative Of the
constitution. He had, it was true
taken charge of the accounts and the
business generally Of the paper at the
request of the then editor, Mr.. Free
man. who admitted that he was not a
bookkeeper nor a business man. Mr.
Smith said that his position was
purely a clerical one and that he had
occupied It contrary to his desires.
President Croaff agreed with Mr.
Smith that the policy OF the paper
should be changed to meet the views
OF the majority and it would be SC
changed at once, though the board Of
control, under the constitution, might
remain in office until January 1. HC
did not believe that such specia.
committee as was recommended in Tho
report was necessary and he did no
believe II could be appointed without z
violation OF the constitution, which
prescribed just how the paper SHOULD
he controlled. He would therefore
rule the motion TO accept the report O
the committee out Of order. An ap.
peal was taken from this decision
which was overruled by a vote of q
to 80.
"Disgruntled Majority"
Several of the delegates had Spoken
on the motion to accept the report
One delegate opposing it spoke on tn
division in the convention and allude,
TO the "disgruntled majority" Ant
he was not in fun, but was as seriou
AS was the lone iuryman who, &c
counting for mistrial. charged II L
the unreasoning obstinacy Of the othe
eleven jurymen.
No special bitterness was dlsplaye,
throughout the debate and the serious
ness OF It was somewhat lightened b.
Delegate DeFord of Pima, who sal,
that the policy Of the paper has beef
displcasng to one faction for the las
year and IL was now right that
should be made displeasing to tn
other for the ensuing year. Then
might again be changed, go in tim
everybody would be displeased and ev
erybody would he satisfied
Elected by Aeelamation
The report had only recommends
that the special committee of fiv
should be chosen by the convention
This was amended so that the five dis
tricts should each be represented Of
the board Of control Nomination
were made, and when they wer
closed IL turned out that there wa
only one candidate from each of fou
districts. They were elected by accla
nation. There was a contest in tn
northern district and T. A. Erenc
was elected. The other members of tn
committee are c. ]. Feeley Of Tucsor
Leroy Kennedy OF Globe, Clyde
Undertake OF Phoenix and p. N
Vargas Of Clifton.
The only other business Of the morn
ing session was an address by NJ
Kerwin, a machinist of Winslow, nc
a member of the convention, who's
message was a sinister advertisement
OF the WHY'S Overland car on accour
Of the strike against the compan,
growing out of hours and wages.
Afternoon Session
The afternoon session of the cor
vention was taken up mainly with &C
ton on resolutions of one sort an
another, reports by one or two CON
nittees, and two brief addresse
Resolutions pledging the moral sur
portc of the federation to the Iris
people and protesting the holding
fail Of E,ugene V -Debs and Richar