New Britain herald., 1919-06-09

the executive council recommended
that it be given further time to COM
plete Its study of the various cOnsid-
eratlons involved and be authorized to
make public it's views at later date
In the name of the American Fedora
ton of Labor.
CONSIDERABLE progress was reported
IN the matter of securing shorter
Workday for various trades and oCcu-
Patrons 1t being added that the rapid
trend toward the general establish
ment of the shorter wOrkday develop
ed during the war must not be allow
ed TO Wane during the period of re-
construction The executive council
recommended that the entire matter
be taken up by the convention for it's
consideration and action.
The labor reconstruction program,
formulated by a committee appointed
by the st. Paul convention, and made
public last December is printed in full
and endorsed in the executive coun-
ellis report. International labor re-
| latlons arc discussed at length and the
results accomplished, which have been
announced from time to time are set
forth
Under the heading Labor and
Peace' the report quotes the declara-
r
ton of Labor March II, 1917, dis
cusses labor's effort to win the war
and continues:
turning from war to peace upon
the signing of the armistice a condi-
ton soon became apparent to every
one that had long been feared by or
gained abor. 1t was made apparent
very early that there had been no
adequate forethought and provision
made for the transition from a war
basis to peace basis in industry and
That as q result a period of industrial
confusion and unemploym was at
hand.
IN addition there were pronounce
ments from high sources among en-
pIOyerS that extensive reduction of
wages would be undertaken The
taunt also was thrown at working peo-
pie that they should have been able
during the war, because of increased
wages, to save enough to carry them
through the period of readjustment
These statements betray either ignor-
ance or a desire to wilfulIy deceive
because they completely ignored the
fact that the rising cost of living had
ABSORBED Whatever increase in wages
had been secured and in MANY cases
sorption effecting an actual decrease
in the purchasing power of the indi-
vidual.
declarations of a policy of wage
reduction came to our attention at
Laredo, Texas. President Gompers
there introduced the subject in open
conference and declared that labor
would resist to the utmost any policy
of wage reduction.
This position has been affirmed
since that date on many occasions
and it is due to this prompt and de-
clsiVe answer to this challenge fully
sustained by labor that there has not
been general assault on wages by
employers who cannot comprehend
the trend of the times.
''The position of labor must be
maintained and advanced at all
hazards. 1t is the opinion of your
executive council that no wages paid
to American Workmen today are too
high, but that on the contrary wages
far too low still are paid in many
industries. Progress is the word to-
day and the progress worth most and
best understood is the kind that
reaches the individual in the form
of better life, a freer and larger
opportunity, and more of the things
by which life is sustained and en-
riched. The progress of our move
ment in realizing these things for the
workers is not to be denied by any
influence or obstacle"
Formation of the Pan-American
Federation Of Labor at Laredo, Texas,
last November, is reported with a
mendatiOn that the American
Federation Of Labor continue it's par
ticipation and send delegates to the
meeting in July. The many war ac-
tivities of Samuel Gompers, president
Of the American Federation of La
Dor, are recounted.
Report on Investigations
The council also reported the re-
suit Of its investigation of suits by
the Coronado Coal company against
the United Mine Workers of Ameri-
ca which have been before the courts
since 1914 and recommendation is
made that the Federation give the
miners union such assistance as pos
sible in appealing the case to the
United States supreme court.
After setting forth the valuable
work done during the past year by
official trade union Journals, Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor publications,
and organizers, the report of the