New-York tribune., 1919-06-19
Proposal for Initiative and
Referendum i'll Organiza-
! ton Gets Only 35 Votes
! Out of 500 Delegates
Jas. Duncan Leads Fight
Delegate From New York
Attacks Extremists in Hot
Debate Over Resolution
Stcff Correspondence

StCg Correspondence
ATLANTIC CITY. N. j., June 49,
Another decisive rebuff was handed the
radical wing in the American Fedora
.tion of Labor convention here to-day.
OF 500 delegates voting on the demand
that a resolution to ilaugurate the in
itiative and referendum within the or
ganzation be put to Z roll call, only
thirty-sive Supported James A. Duncan.
of Seattle. who led tire radicals fight
on the floor.
The resolution, which. would have
invoked the referendum on any meas
ure whenever 5 per cent of the fedora
ton membership so petitioned, was re-
ported unfavorably by the resolutions
committee.
Duncan declared it was drawn for
the benefit of the rank and file," and
charged that the committee's stand
showed it to be "unprogressive" and
imbued with the idea that the rank and
file was not intelligent enough to pass
en- vital questions.
Charles C. Shay, delegate from the
New York Theatrical Stage Workers,
said organized labor would be better
of if the radicals would get out and
continue their efforts for social revo-
lutions elsewhere"
Some of those who come here and
scream about how things should be
run would carry more weight if they
would take out American citizenship
papers," he said.
Curly Grow OF Los Angeles, spoke
in favor Of the resolution, but urged
both radicals and conservatives to
show more moderation and unity.
j. P. Frey, chairman of the resolu-
tons committee, said that all union
men affiliated with the federation had
chance in their meetings ard through
their officers to Voice their views on
any question and asserted the i.,tia-
tive and referendum would merely en-
hance the opportunities OF acitators to
bring about general strikes.
The group OF irish sympathizers who
yesterday upset the plan of the ad-
ministration of the Federation not to
do anything that might in anv way
embarass President Wilson by forcing
the passage of a resolution calling
upon Congress to recognize the Irish
Republic. now threaten to make i'm
possible the unqualified Endorsement
OF the peace treaty and the league of
nations thai has been looked for from
the conventions.
The specific objection is to that
clause in the learra covenant guaran-
teeing the integrity of the sirratory
powers, which, as the o5jectors .ead it,
means that Ireland must remain part
OF the British Empire
The Irish objectors are not tie only
ones. The delegates, in conversation
along the Boardwalk, in the hotel and
other places, do not hesitate to criticise
the document freely So strong has the
anti-league sentiment become that lead
ers of the convention are privately ad-
mltting that they do not know what the
convention will do.
No reply has yet been received to
the request cabled President Wilson in
Paris through the State Department
asking for exact information as to the
status OF the labor clauses and for a
statement of Mr.. Wilson's position.
The convention to-day adopted the
resolution, published last week by the
postal employees, calling for the dis
mlssal or impeachment of Postmaster
General Burleson. There was no op-
position to the passage CT the resolu-
ton. Thomas ]. Flaherty, of the postal
employees, said in the convention that
masmuch as President Wilson has
gone on record as indorsins the sanity