Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-26
LABOR WILL FIGHT
ANTESTR|KE BILL
Federation Leaders Declare Pas
sage Would Mean General
Walkout of Workers.
"DIRECT ACTION" THREATENED
Say They Will Uphold Right of
Railroad Men to Strike
at All Costs.
Thy Associated Pros,

WASHINGTON. Oct. 25.-organized
labor Will go any limit to preserve
the right to strike. officials of the
American Federation of Labor said
today. in warning that the passage
by either house OF Congress OF the
antistrike legislation proposed in the
pending railroad bill. would result in
an immediate general walkout over
the country.
william III. Johnston. president of
the International Association Of
Machinists the second largest union
aa.f1nliated with the, federation. said
% ais s,f action" might be, resorted to
interests Of the unions failed He re.
tssrred particularly to what he termed
n rpg enp h,t OF employers to shutoui
individual contracts.
Order Strike Vote Mt Once,
Mr.. Johnston announced that. with
: me inn passage n OF the antistrike legisia-
vote vote on ne /, " strid order immediatcly n
bers Of his association and PREDICTED
nat!on ae heads headS Of the other 1la inter
action. Other federation o s1h,iaas
aE WSiI. with ;bl +, this view.
solely to railroad workers, MANI Of
VIII WHOM ON are not affiliated with the fed
legislation was one OF the princinaI
reasons Why the heads OF the unions
IN the federation were to be sum
nenr fnt mere LOT conference in the
, Officials OF the four railroad brother.
G Go1ps eon,erred today, with Samuel
OF the federation. It has s"s se.0 0Hi GERS
posed that the co.nperation OF the
fir iblthe nas So be enlisted in the general
or the principle of collective barea,oi
ing and representation by the ctosan
sPohesmen OF labor.
Farmers Arc Represented.
Present at the conference also were
representatives OF the following ,arm
ers examinations: the National ROAD
ton OF rn s1j1 organizations Ln1. the Fedora
Farmers Union '"o Na'iohai
.. Mr. Gompers issued the following
meeting: ''ie
conference was held in the Amer
t tfia , Ffteaeratlon OF Labor Building
tives OF the American Federnt,on a.
Labor. the railroad brotherhoods and
cipat to fa Gene, organizations nerti
regarding the legislation pendin msuf fm
Ciongsess in!mical to. the rights and
i in Ssrests OF industrial and asricul-
Legislation Is Discussed.
Further discussion ensued regard
ing legislation which should be Urged
at the hands OF Congress in tho in
terestS of the above "
IT WAS decided that the call or the
conference determined uDon nv the ey-
ecutlNe council of tine American Fed
GRAFTON OF Labor should be Jointly is
sued by the executive council Of the
American Federation of Labor and the
ra ilroad brotherhoods '"e
1t was decided that the conferences
should take place In yVashin cton 81
urdav. December 10. ga
The representatives OF the farm
ers' organizations. although in entire
sympathy with the discussion and
purposes. stated that thew had no au
t thority from, their, organization to
that their conventions which would
would be glad to receive invita- ton.
upon which to act and select dele
gates for the December 13 conferences"
May Mean Labor Alliance.
Some close observers of the ,ndus-
trial situation said today an ALLIANCES
broth erhoods appeared more than than
probable. They pointed to the anti
strike legislation and the notice OF
me railroad workers that they soon
would seek to force Increases in
wages as reasons whv the brother
noods would desire such an alliance.
In line with the call from president
Gompers for financial support Of the
steer strike. 1t was announced that an
assessment of 81 week on the entira
membership OF the machinists' aeaoe
citation as a defense fund" wouid he
next month.