The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-09-06
LABOR COMMITTEE
CALLS FOR TRUCE
New York State Federation
Would End Disputes to AS
sist. President

all strikes throughout the United
States and the declaration OF a labor
trace on the basis of the status quo
for six months or more TO enable
President Wilson TO bring about re-
duction in the cost OF living is rec
commended in a report OF commit
tee of the New ork State Federation
Of Labor made public here today.
The recommendations urged Amer
ican organized labor TO cease wage
and hour controversies in order to IN
crease production and restore normal
conditions. They express the hope
that no new strikes will be ordered
except to relieve workers from M
tolerable oppression
The committee was appointed oy
James P. Holland, president of the
federation. on July % and made its
report after ocnferring with represen-
tatives of industrial. commercial man
ufacturers, financial. transportation
and other interests with view to de-
vising plans to lower the cost OF Nv
ing. Business men, it explained, were
in a state OF apprehension due TO rap
idly changing conditions since the
signing Of the armistice and industry
had been disturbed and dislocated 10
a degree never before experienced.
your committee is convinced, .
says the report. that this CONDITION
is wrong and can not be permitted 10
continue unless we-and by we your
committee means not labor alone Dat
the people of the whole United states
wish to invite a disaster unparallei-
ed in history The people must be
given a breathing spell. There must
be suspension of struggling Tor
class and party advantage. All Amer
leans must bend their backs to the
oars and pull steadily against the
storm tossed waters until our boat
again rides safely on the placid sea
of prosperity"
Continuing, the report says:
AS result of President Wilson's ap-
peal, backed by the attitude OF Sam
uel Gompers, president Of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor. ana leaders
of the railway brothers, the threat
ened railroad strike was aVerted and
the country spared a terrible tragedy.
..On every hand there are strikes
and threats of strikes. Most of these
disturbances have been provoked by
radical agitators who have not the
interests. Of the toilers at heart, but
who seek to promote industrial war
fare for the purpose Of destroying on1
present economic system and subsu-
So1 hi n
proletariat' Fortunately the sane
leaders of organized labor have, after
a short period. succeeded in regaining
control of their temporarily rebell1ous
unions and restoring orderly proce-
dure under the laws and rules of the
American Federation Of Labor.
The conduct Of men who call
themselves loyal supporters Of trade
unionism in breaking away from the
authority of their duly elected OIL
cials and inaugurating uncalled Tor
unnecessary and unauthorized strikes
should at all times be severely con-
demned and the agitators who To-
ment such, outbreaks should be visit
ed with the severest penalties pos
sible under trade union rules: For
trade unions to permit themselves to
be brn- Int under the influence OF
lawless agitators at this time Of ma
tional stress is treason not only to
the principles Of trade unionisin But
the United States Of America. rtIt
wkould not be too severe punish
ment to revoke the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor's charters OF, such
unions and oust them outside the pale
of decent organized labor.
"Your committee is Of the opinion
that President Wilson's reasoning Is
based on sound economic principles
and that organized labor owes duty
to the president to give him whole
hearted assistance in his efforts to re-
duce the cost Of living and place the
nation on strong business basis. We
owe the president of the United States
the safe loyal support that we gave
him; during the war, even though we
may suffer from temporary disad-
vantage which after all may be more
apparent than real