Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-05-16
REFUSES
TOSUPPORT RED
RULE OF RUSSIA
Federation Makes Plans For
New Political Party to Be
Launched Next Year

James II. Maurer. of Reading,
and Charles f. Quinn, of this city,
were elected president and secre-
tary-treasurer, respectively, without
opposition, at the eighteenth an
nual convention of the Pennsylva-
mia Federation of Labor. Ballots
were taken at the morning session
for the other offices, but results
were not announced until the aft
ernoop session.
States Policy Outlined
Absolute fairness, both to labor
and to tho employing class. is the
policy of the Department of Labor
and Industry, Clifford b. Conneley,
acting commissioner, said in outlin-
ing the policy of the department.
Labor will receive courteous and
fair treatment at all times. but it
must not expect to have the rights
of the employing class infringed on,
he said.
The department is ready to CO.
operate at all times in order to pro-
vide sanitary conditions for workers
in every industrial establishment,
and is working at all times to bring
about this result, he declared. 1t is
to be desired that the State Fedora
ton and the department work in CO.
operation that they may aid in
shaping the policies of the other
Labor laws in general were consid-
cred.
The committee on organization
recommended that every effort be
made during the succeeding year to
secure the affiliation of practically
every labor organization of the
State. The work of the officials in
securing the large affiliation during
the past year was commended.
Plan Labor Party
Resolutions favoring the organi-
zation of a new labor party in Penn
sylvania through which it is hoped
to secure greater political action as
1T concerns labor, were adopted be-
fore the close of yesterdays session.
The executive committee was in
structed to outline principles of such
party to be. further considered at
special convention to be called
next January. This resolution was
passed at the instigation of the
Pennsylvania Lodge, International
Association of Machinists, which
passed a similar resolution at its
meeting earlier in the week.
Resolutions were passed in favor
of the Schantz bill which provides
for forty-eight hour week for
women. in favor of a constitutional
convention and in favor of equal
pay for equal work by schoolteach-
ers. a resolution endorsing the
Soviet government in Russia, was
introduced but was referred for ac-
ton to the convention of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor which will
meet in Atlantic City next month.
1t has been decided to have
The Soviet resolution in effect en-
dorsed the Red government by de-
manding that the United States re-
move the blockade on Russian ports
and permit the Soviet government
TO purchase supplies and foodstuffs
in the open market
Several delegates supporting the
resolution made speeches supporting
the Socialist party but were rebuked
by the presiding officer for not keep
ing to the subject in hand. Thomas
Kennedy, chairman Of the resolu-
tions committee, refuted their argu-
ments and said that his committee
would not support anything that
smacked of censure for the Amer
lean form of government.
committee confer with Governor
Sproul relative to the refusal of the
Mayor of McKeesport to permit the
Federation of Labor to hold meet.
ings in that city. 1t will be urged on
the Governor, it was decided, to
bring pressure to bear on Mayor
Lysle to permit the meetings, on
the grounds that the refusal is a
curtailment of the right of free
speech.
Trade unionists, whether Mayor
Lysle permits or not have made
arrangements for a big meeting at
McKeesport on May IS.