The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-06-28
Less Work, More Pay
American Federation of Labol
Declares for Forty-Four
Hour Week

Atlantic City, n. j., Jane 23-Ihe
American Federation Of Labor, at the
closing session here today Of its an
nual convention pledged 1tseif 10 OBJ
tain q general Al hour week Tor work
ers in all crafts throughout the 1nlteo
States and for employees; in the gov
ernment service The demand was
based on a determine lion to prevent
unernployment, which the delegates
declared is one Of the two primary
causes of industrial unrest. The othef
cause is the decreased puEH haslng
power cf the dollar. Manufacturers
and employees were urged to bridge
the gap" and increase wages Wlthout
any controversy"
Samuel Gompers, president Of the
federation was greeted with roar
iof cheers late in the day when he an
nounced from the platform that three
of the four great railroad brother
thood-the Engineers, Conductors and
Trainmen, had applied for charters IN
the federation The fourth brother
Denver to consider sinnuiar applica-
ton he asserted. If the firemen fol-
low the example Of the other brother
hoods, the ranks Of the federation viii!
be. increase by 100000 men.
Delegates We're Of the opinion that
with the entry of the brotnerhoods
the federation will back the demand
of the railway men for government
ownership and control Of the roads.
This object has been referred TO the
executive council with Instructions
to formulate a policy.
In addition to taking action on the
shorter work day, the. convention to-
day pledged its support to the strik-
ing commercial telegraphers and ap-
pointed a committee to confer with
Postmaster General Burleson in the
hope of obtaining for the telegraphers
the same concessions which have been
granted to electrical and telephone
workers. a resolution was adopted
requesting congress 70 investigate the
alleged suppression Of free speech and
other American institutions in west
ern PENNSYLVANIA while another reso-
luton severely criticised municipal Of
fcials in Toledo for employing dis
charged soldiers in uniform to per-
form civil police duties in a strike.
When the question Of the A hour
week came up it was apparent all dele
gates to the convention as well as all
c1ined to the view that the shorter
work day was one Of the most vitality
important subjects approved by the re-.
construction convention. The report
Of the committee which had been
studying the subject was adopted un-
animously, as expressing the convic-
lions Of the convention.
The report said that the Interna-
tiona1 typographical Union is negoti-
ating for a "A hour week and added
that it will probably receive" the
shortened week through conciliation
Taking up the labor situation the
report said:
There is at the present time a large
volume of unrest among the working
men on this continent. There can be
no doubt that there are two reasons
for this unusual condition-first, the
high cost Of the necessities of life;
second unemployment.
Until wages are so adjusted that
the earnings Of labor will buy the
same amount Of the necessities of life
that could be purchased by the earn
ings previous to the war. this unrest
full exhibit by the working people has
a foundation for its existence that
can not be set aside = The dollar
earned at the present time will
not buy the same amount that the