Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-13
LABOR FARLEY HERE
TO LEAVE POLITICS
TO2 OLD PARTIES
Backers of New Organization
Expect to Be whipped"
by A. FL. Conservatives.

The conference here of labor union
presidents will make no effort to dis
turb the present political party align
ment for the next election. delegates
forecast as the first session of what is
scheduled to be labOr's most impor-
tant meeting of the year opened to-
day. Political redress, demanded by
labor. will be sought through the
election of labor sympathizers from
the two major parties, preliminary
speeches at the conference were said
to indicate. The few supporters of the
new labor party present admitted
they expected to be thoroughly
whipped" by the conservative element
guiding the destinies of the American
Federation of Labor.
Farmers Not Represented.
When the session was called to or
der at A. F. of l.. headquarters, no
representatives of farmer organiZa-
tions were present. Leaders, however,
still held out hope that some would
attend the conference, which may
last through next week.
Proposals that the conference urge
establishment of machinery with
which to force the nomination of labor
supporters in the forthcoming prima-
ries were before the delegates. Three
groups were said to have sought op-
portunities for presentation of the
program.
Unite ON Plan.
Frank Morrison, secretary of the
American Federation of Labor, who
was understood to be acting for the
followers of President Gompers OF
the organization and the machinists
and miners. went on the floor with the
same plan. Action by the miners
representatives came as surprise,
since. at their last convention, they
had Endorsed the labor party idea. But
the mine workers leaders were quot
ed as having said that they felt the
Endorsement was a step in the wrong
direction and welcomed a compromise.
That the conference will give
pointed expression" to its views on
the governments action in the min
ers' strike was foregone conclusion.
Leaders of several unions advocated
that some public statement be made
relative to questions involved in both
the coal and steel strikes. Both ques-
tions are certain to be discussed at
length and there was reason to be-
lieve the debate would end in the
issuance of the conventions views
publicly
Public Rail Ownership Sought.
Public ownership recommendations
were to be sought by the four great
railroad brotherhoods. In asking that
the conference urge government own
ership of the transportation lines, the
four brotherhoods had the support of
the other railway workers, who are
affiliated with the American Fedora
tiOn of Labor.
GOmpefs Presides. -
ut is earnestly hoped" Samuel
Gomlers. who ia presiding at the
conference, declared in a statement
made to federation members, that
out of the conference will come a
plan of action by which the orderly
progress and development of the bona
fide labor movement of America may
continue in it's great work, not only
of extending it's beneficent activities
lin the work, home and life of the
toiling masses of the country, but
also to secure the laws protecting the
fundamental rights and freedom of
the toiling masses of America. The
wage earners of republic cannot by
any process be practically made slaves
and the spirit of a republic endure"