The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-09-19
pPEALS To LABOR
0 CANCEL STRIKES
,auue of Members of A. F. OF l.
Issues Statement.
'OULD END PERIL TO U. S.
SKIS Parent Body to Call Off All
Walkouts to Help in Reduction
of the High Cost of
Living.

New York, Sept 17.-Proposals that
ne president of the United States be
lade q member of the American Fed
ration of Labor and that all strikes
ow in progress throughout the ccun-
" be Immediately Cancelled in order
meet the present "perilous sltua-
on" by which 'the foundations OF
ur free democratic government are
lreatened.' are contained in COM
lunication sent to President Gompers
nd the executive council of the
merican Federation of Labor by the
eague of A. f. of L. Members for
artnershfp and Industrial Democra-
Y, which was made public here.
The league was recently organized
John J. Pierce and IsadOre Epstein,
tho were members of special COM
littee appointed by James z. Holland,
resident of the state Federation or
.abor, to investigate industrial condi-
ions. The report of the committee,
yhich was published Labor day, rec
mmended an industrial truce for six
lonths during which all strikes were
be called off. The report was
promptly repudiated by President Hoi-
and. who discharged Messrs. Epstein
md Pierce from the committee.
Favors Membership Vote!
Seven propositions are continued In
the present communication the first
and second Of which call for the fu-
ture election of all executive union
officials, from the president of the A.
r. of l.. down to the administrative
officers of locals, by direct secret vote
of the union membership. At the pres
ent time the general rule is for cleo
ton by delegates.
The third proposal requires that no
salary be paid to any local union Off
cial during the tendency of strike
by his union.
Under the fourth the president of
the A. f. of l.. is given authority TO
suspend any strike, when in his judg-
ment ''the welfare of the government
or people of the United States, or OF
any state or municipality, requires
such action"
The inclusion of the president of the
United States in the ranks of the A. f.
IF L. is dealt with under the fifth head
:ng. It is proposed that he become au-
.omatically during the term of his
office a member of the executive cOun-
I'll without vote and shall have author
ty, with the consent of four other
members of the council, to suspend
pecificaIly mentioned strikes during
)eriod of national emergency. The ex-
silence and duration of such an emer-
:ency is to be decreed by presidential
PROCLAMATION.
May Suspend Officers.
The authority to call a general strike
INVOLVING more than one industry Is
,ested solely in the executive council
# the A. f. of L. under the sixth prop
,sitiOn, and by the seventh the power
# the council is further extended TO
enable it to remove any elected or ap-
pointed officer of any international or
ocal union, state federation or affilia-
ed organization.
In urging these propositions the
eague says:
'The United States is confronted
with a perilous situation which is with
out precedent, and, if industrial con-
iitions are not very soon changed for
the better there will be widespread
misery among the people of the Unit
ed States and those of the war-strick-
IN European countries. The situation
Is so serious that the foundations of
our free democratic form of govern
ment are threatened.
''In our opinion the one way to re-
iieve the world of its troubles is to
provide Europe with the goods and
machinery necessary to reconstruct
her demolished industries, give en-
olOyment to her hundreds of thousands
IF idle men and set her on her feet
economically"
Many Strikes "UncaIied For"
After referring to the need of In
Vt solving the high cost of living, the
communication declares that, while
many strikes have been necessary to
bring unjust employers to terms, I'VE
also strongly assert that there have
been a great many strikes which were
Incalled for and which should not have
)een ordered We hold that during
hese dark times the union which goes
IN strike without provocation of the
most extreme nature is guilty Of NOR
Il treachery to the government and
people of the United States and OF in
luman conduct toward the struggling