Evening journal., 1919-06-20
LABOR TO COMBAT
CASTE IN ARMY
Training Camp Plan Instead
Of West Point System
Advocated

ATLANTIC CITY, June 20.-An ampll-
ncation OF the world war plan OF train
ins camps for officers, as a step toward
the total extinction OF caste" IN the
American army, navy, marine corps
and National Guard, Will, IN all prob
ability, be added TO the funda-
mental policies OF the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor before II concludes the
work or its national convention here.
Strong efforts are TO be made to con-
clude the main business or the most
constructive" session in years in a
wind-up rush, with a view to flnal ad-
Journment on Saturday night
Radical leaders in The labor conclave
said the persistence with which John
J. Lenney, veteran. has been endeavor-
ing 10 make the cause OF the League
Against American Militarists and Mill
tarism" the cause also OF the American
Federation deserves some measure Of
recognition.
Every day Veteran" Lenney and
his lieutenants have ennladed the labor
delegates with anti-millarist bulletins,
relteratlng the claim that caste in
the military establishment is "deslruc-
tive OF morale, efficiency and dcmOc-
raeg." Their claim Is that the RcyOlu-
tionary War, the War OF 1912, the
Mexican War. the Cicil WaH. the BOer
War and finally the World War have
demonstrated beyond CIVIL that superior
military organizers can be developed
in lneE nsrn hot
fore. a longer tenure than 1--WE years Is
un-American and undemocratic
10 Is further asserted that a maximum
tenure OF five years, in effect prior to
our entry into the world war. would
have supplied America with owe: 100
600 competent trained military OIL
GERS.
President Gompers Is understood %
be opposed TO going beyond the fedora
tons established policy OF answering
antagonism 10 universal military train
ing, while conceding the necessity for
an adequate military establishment for
the preservation or order.
In adopting a resolution demanding
the prohibition OF immigration OF for
eign labOrers 10 America for a period
OF four years the convention OF the
American Federation OF Labor attached
a clause specifically calling for the ex-
clusion Of MeXicans. on the platform
at the time sat Luiz MorOnes. general
secretary OF the Mexican Federation OF
Labor. who a few moments before had
been given his credentials as fraternal
delegate to the convention, representing
the workers OF Mexico.
In the hall was Samuel Gompers. who
last November. took a prominent part
in the formation at Laredo, Tex, Of the
Pan-American Federation OF Labor. Mr..
Morones could not participate In the
debate on the Mexican amendment and
Mr.. Gompers did not. But later Senior
Morones. when asked 10 express his
opinion as 10 the effect OF the resolu-
tion upon the Pan-American Federation
OF Labor which is to have a congress
in New York, beginning July Z. said
"desastrosa," which In Spanish, has
even more sister implications than our
English word disaster"
The action OF the convention on i'm
migration, in view Of the Mexican
amendment. transcends I'm importance a
number OF other conclusions, some or
them deeply significant, at which the
assemblage arrived. They included
adopiion OF a recommendation for the
amalgamation OF all existing interna-
tienal unions OF workers in the textile
industry: refusal TO approve the idea
OF a political labor party; approval
Of the reconstruction program OF the
executive council Of the American Fed
Grafton OF Labor, made public some
time AGO: suspension OF the steam
shovel and Dredgemen's international
until il choose to amalgamate with the
steam engineers. and bitter denuncia-
tion OF the 'usurpation OF legislation
and penalizing powers by the courts. "
The immigration question came be
fore the convention in the form OF a.
report by the executive council recon-
mending that every effort should be put
forward TO secure the enactment OF
House bill 1892, prohibiting immigra-
tion OF aliens during the next four
years.
With much debate the report and the
amendment were adopted.