Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1919-12-12
Labor Convention =
A BILL OF GRIEVANCES TO BE
DRAFTED BY WORKERS
The Washington Convention Will Con-
slider Records of Congressman
and Plan New Fight For
Freedom of Workers

Washington - Labor is to have a
new "Bill of Grievances" to present
to the president and congress. This
will be prepared December 18th at
meeting in Washington of represen-
tatives of all national and mterna-
tional unions, the railroad brother
hoods and farmers organizations.
The extra session of Congress was
the most reactionary in history.
While the people of the country were
suffering from the high cost of liv-
ing and many other evils, congress
turned a deaf ear to the earnest ap-
peals OF the suffering. 1t passed the
months in endeavoring to find some
new way of encroaching on the liber-
tets of the people, especially OF those
who work for wages.
Probably the most damaging bills
introduced related to the turning
over of the railroads to their owners.
First, Senator Cummins submitted a
bill that would enforce compulsory
service of the railroad employees.
President Gompers, of the American
Federation of Labor, declared before
the senate interstate commerce com
mittee that when the railroads were
taken over by the government the
employees were free men.
"But now," he said, "you propose
to turn them back with the employees
handcuffed."
Then Representative Esch came
forward with a plan to make labor
organizations financially responsible
for damages suffered by carrier by
a strike. Representative Webster,
bitter foe of labor, went little
further by submitting an amendment
making not only labor organizations
liable for damages, but the members.
Seventy bills purporting to point
way to driving out anarchists, boil
sheviks and other disloyalists were
introduced. But hidden in the lines
of these bills were "jokers" that will
affect trade unions and their normal
activities. Labor officials point out
that most judges in making decisions
always give the benefit of the doubt
against labor.
The coming conference will there
fore declare against all attempts to
take away the liberties Of the loyal
wage earners under the guise of
freeing the country of those who have
been disloyal. 1t will point out the
dangers to the country if the next
Congress continues its reactionary
policy. 1t will charge without any
qualification that congress is respon-
sible for the growth in numbers of
anarchists and bolsheviks and that
the disloyal elements would have been
far greater if it had not been for the
stabilizing efforts Of the trade unions.
Many members Of congress have
been unusually vindictive. Most of
| them are lawyers, as Inefe are ooI
members of that occupation among
the 521 members of congress. Sen
ator Thomas, who is in sympathy
with the politics of the Colorado Fuel
and Iron Company, Senator Myers
and Senator McCumber have all made
records for unjust charges against
labor. The records of these senators
as well as those of all other members
of congress are being kept for use in
the next political campaign. The
conference will define a political pol
icy for the campaign and is expected
to follow it vigorously. 1t will be
directed against members Of Con-