Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-06-19
4, AGAIN
DOWNS RADICALS
Resolution Proposing Inaugural
ton of Policy of Initiative and
Referendum in Organized
Labor Defeated
BITTER FIGHT WAGED
Only Real Agreement Reached Ia IMAM
imous Decision to Ask President Will
son to Remove Postmaster-General
BurlesOn

Atlantic City, n. j., June B.-Radical
and conservative delegates attending
the reconstruction convention of the
American Federation of Labor clashed
again to-day. The contest. which arose
over a resolution proposing Inauguration
of policy of initiative and referendum
within the ranks of organized labor, was
marked by a display of bitter feeling
which, as was the case yesterday, re-
suited in the radical element being
crushingly defeated.
A vote on whether there should be
roll call on the resolution disclosed there
were only 35 delegates out of about 500
favoring the measure. This was inter-
preted as representing even more than
the maximum ratio of radicals within
organized labor.
The clash developed after all the
delegates adopted unanimously a reso-
luton assailing Postmaster-General Bur-
leson for his labor policy and calling
upon President Wilson to remove him.
During the consideration of the resolu-
ton the postmaster general was severely
criticised by delegates and termed IAN
administrative misfit." No delegate de-
Tended Mr.. Burleson.
AS soon as the initiative and referen-
Qum resolution was reported, James
Duncan of Seattle declared the measure
was for the benefit of the rank and
file workers" He accused the resolu-
tions committee, which recommended
non-concurrence in the measure, of being
| unprogressive and holding the belief the
rank and file was not intelligent enough
to consider important questions.
Charles C. Shay of New York, dele
fa ~ ho Theatrical STAGE WARRIORS
denied that organized labor was engaged
| in throttling new ideas. adding:
I'VE are, however, engaged in killing
| so-called new ideas designed to kill the
American labor organization as it is to-
day"
He continued by saying that he and
many other delegates were convinced the
| labor movement would be much better
off with only half as many members,
| II all those members were loyal
I'VE are tired Of having you people,"
he declared, come in here and scream
| about what we should do to run the
government. Those who get up here to
tell US such things would do far better
| II they would take out citizenship
papers and then they could vote
| After roar of applause. banging on ta-
bles and cheers had subsded. "Curey'
Grow Of Los Angles announced he wanted
to be considered a radical, or rather a
| Constructive radical"
j. P. Frey chairman Of the resolution
committee, answered all the radical argu-
ments by pointing out that the rank and
file through officers and meetings, had
complete opportunity to express them
selves on any question and that If the in-
tiative and referendum was practiced in
organized labor it would simply furnish
means to enable certain people to call
general strikes and provide an avenue
through which interests unrelated to labor
might get labor's support for their own
pet schemes.
Among the mass Of resolutions adopted
to-day was one favoring the initiative
and referendum on constitutional amend
ments; one supporting all the legislation
suggested by President Wilson in his re-
cent message to Congress; one favorins
a ''living wage" for government employe
one advocating an eight hour day and
IS day minimum wage for immigration
and customs inspectors on the Canadian
border and one advocating the discon-
tiIuance by the government of civil en-
ployment of men and women in the mill
tary service upon the signing Of the
peace treaty.
A proposal to favor passage by Con-
gress of law to govern prices and profits
on all commodities was rejected. A fed
eral budget system as a means of cut
ting down needless and ''extravagant ex-
penditures'' by the government was
favored.
A resolution that the Soldiers, Sailors
and Marine Protective association and
similar organizations be encouraged to
secure just demands and rights was de-
feated on the ground that soldiers
sailors and marines wanting organized
labor's support should join existing
unions
President Gompers announced that his
pocket had been picked.