Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-12-04
ORGANIZED LAB0R'S
ATTITUDE DEFINED
Vice-President VOL of A. F. of
l.. Tells Chairman Hays What
Congress Will Be Asked to Do
for Workers
LONG LIST OF WISHES
Would Abolish Government by Intunc-
ton. R~tify League Covenant. Put
Check on Corporations, Prohibit Child
Labor. Etc, Etc.

Washington, Nov. 30.-organized labor's
attitude toward many questions pending
and likely to come before Congress was
outlined to-day by Matthew VOL. vice.
president of the American Federation of
Labor, replying to a series of questions
submitted to labor leaders by Chairman
Hays of the republican national COM
mittee.
To make the fruits of labor moro
effectively unable for the welfare of the
country, capital and labor. Woll declared,
must be placed on an equal footing by
making all corporation charters provide
that under their powers the holders might
not deny employees the right to organize
bargain collectively through representa-
tives of their own choosing Or to
determine for themselves the conditions
and relations of their service. Without
this check on corporate powers. he said.
1.-THE domestic conflict-now raging-can-
not and will not be permanently ended
Discussing plans to settle or minimize
industrial unrest, Mr. VOL declared
arbitrary exercise of unwarranted and
unconstitutional authority by our
courts could not allay it, adding that
ito avoid building up a judicial aristoc-
racy" the word of the Supreme Court,
the constitutionality OF an act. He pro-
posed re-enactment of the measure.
Government by injunction should be
prohibited. the rights and liberties and
freedom should be fully safeguarded and
the upbuilding of a judicial autocracy
made impossible for all time to come"
VOL said.
Congress, he said. should speedily ap-
prove the covenant of the League OF
Nations including the labor provisions
contained in this remarkable document
which holds the hope for future peace of
the world in its keeping, instead of fill
clustering and adding away like Nero
while Rome was afiame.'
Measures to prohibit child labor. total
exclusions for two years, a government
employees minimum wage and retirement
act, federal employment service, elm
natior Of convict labor competition, SOL
diers land legislation, State loans to
home builders and repeal Of all taxes on
all necessities were advocated.
Mr.. VOL denounced the pending bill
for railroad control, offered by Senator
Cummins, republican, of Iowa, as tho
most un-American piece of legislation
ever proposed by anyone" and suggested
that the railroads be not returned to
private operation for two years to permit
the peonle meanwhile to saw what should
he done with them
Under M circumstances he contended
should anv commission ar other arencv
he authorized to fix waee or hours and
while the federal comnensation law has
done good. If should he amended as 70
TIE r.tee +o keen race with tho cos+ ~
living.
Women should receive equal treatment
and paw with men. but should be given
Tasks only nronortionate IN thejr nbvsical
strength and notentieI motherhood the
latter stated
Discussing accident and acknowledgements
insurance Mr. VOL declared tho true
,.i,,,o,, ,,,, 80 .-,,.. =. 49,. -, -.