Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-14
SHOULD NOT STRIKE
IN AID OF MOONEY
Secretary Wilson Tells Workers
Delegates Government Is
Pressing Further Inquiry.
NO ROOM FOR BOLSHEvlSM
Federation Convention Heartily
Applauds Sentirnent-Gompers
Praises Labor Department.
NO ROOM FOR BoLsHEvIsM
tBy Associated Press.1

iroy HSsociated Press.
ATLANTIC CITY, y. j., June l3,-
secretary OF Labor Wilson. speaking
before the convention OF the American
Federation OF Labor today. urged or
gan:zed labor 10 refuse TO support the
nation wide strike which has been pro-
posed as protest against the con-
viction OF Thomas Mooney
Mr.. wilson told the delegates that
the government was investigating the
claim that new evidence justified a
new trial and that ne himself was
devot!ng much time TO the case The
secretary declared tina. So far the gov
ernments inquiry had shown that the
Judge and jury before whom Mooney
was tried had conducted themselves
properly. and that on the evidence the
jury had 10 convict. He admitted tina [
rev evidence might develop which
would alter the situation.
But he continued. for organized
labor TO participate in such strike
as is proposed would simply mean
that labor was trying Mooney. without
the benefit of evidence. Very few OF
us are familiar with all the evidence.
yet every workinSman is asked TO
make himself a juror. Justice cannot
be obtained in that way"
Pays Resp~cis TO Bolshe vism.
Secretary Wilson then turned his at
tention to Bolshevism and was heartily
ment OF American labor would stand
for Bolshevism for a moment when
the true meaning of the movement
was understood.
Inc conditions In Eastern Europe and
the United states were entirely dtf-
terent and always had been.
<''foree in Europe may have been
necessary" he declared. Force 10
overthrow monarchy may be Erea;
PATRIOTISM. but force in overthrowin =
democracy. as some people are ad-
vocat!ng. is high treason against the
We can settle things by evolution.
There is no necessity for revolution
President Gompers. after a roar OF
applause for Secretary Wilson had
subsided, said that workers everywhere
realized the truth OF the secretary s
statements He then took occasion TO
refer TO Representative Blanton. o.
Texas, as 'bleating Blanton." for re-
marks the Congressman made recently
about labor.
Predicts BIsnton'. Eiiminati tion.
"As time goes on" said Mr. Gompers
"Blanton Will be eliminated or left Al
home as others Of his stamp have
been"
He then sketched the history OF the
Department OF Labor and added:
There seems TO be policy to
siarve this department out OF exist
where its efficiency and value to the
working people OF the country will
be materially reduced. lie, ME tell
partments which had 10 do with ships
and soldiers during the war. the De,
partment o. Labor did more toward
soon that the world will sway from
military TO industrial activity. | pre-
dict tina, the War and Navy Depart
ments will become less and less potent
and that functions of the Labor De-
partment will become vital TO the ma
ton. Let me announce. too, that the
american Federation OF Labor will
weaken or destroy the department"
service Men speak.
Two discharged soldiers and dis
charged sailor addressed the conven-
,iod, lion This af.ernoon .i,o as tSpresen,a-
rines Protective Association. explain
ing its aims as shortening Of the work
day, vocational training for all ser
and n years pay for all men discharged
from the service.
President Gompers announced that
committee consisting of c. l.. Baine,
OF the boot and shoemakers; Martin
F. Ryan, OF the car workers. and D.
II. Mccarthy, had been appointed to
master-General Burleson in an effort
TO 10 ward @ on the ELECTRICAL and ;ele-
dies garment workers OF Cleveland
an and au'horiEing a. the grantins Of "A
zaiions OF city policemen were adopted.
Negroes Petition Presented.
Resolutions dealing with petitions
OF negro Representatives were then
presented. The committee recommend :
ed that il did not concur with the re-
quest OF the negroes for A separate
international charter, but that il re-
commended the convention adopt a
reiGflno1 to,orsd pr,0yddinE for the Srgan-
where they could not obtain admission
10 unions already existing. specia
charters. for colored unions be issued
The recommendation OF the com
mittee reporting on the negro resolu-
lions was adopted. with one dissenting
vote. after lengthy debate.
Restriction CT immigration. govern
ment ownership OF railroads. according
to the plan favored by the railroad
brotherhoods, proper enforcement of
the seamen's act, increase in the salary
Of President Gompers to $4,000 year,
approval of Secretary Lanes project
TO furnish land for soldiers and sailors.
a protest against the. Emergency Fleet
Corporation charging excessive rents
for housing facilities furnished by it
also were submitted as deserving the
approval OF organized labor as a body.
Want Labor Day Changed.
Several resolutions propose the
changing or LABOR Day TO May l. one
Of them asserting that employers OF
the country fixed the September date
as means OF preventing organized
labor in the United States from max ing
the same occasion OF the day as Eu-
ropean workmen.
4 resolution severely condemning
the American Tobacco Company for
alleged practices affecting ciEarmakers
was adopted.
The convention voted down resolu-
tion proposing that the federation ap-
prove action by state Legislatures in
fixing by law standard minimum wage
for workers.
The convention then adjourned until
Monday.
begin wilkins Case Monday.
MINEOLA. n. Y, June 1S-Selection
OF the jury that will try DIR. Wake r
x. wilkins for the murder Of his wife.