Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-25
Vote on National Walk
Out Would Follow
Inhibition by
Congress.
READY TO GO LIMIT,
A. F. L. LEADER SAYS
Assessment of ST a Week on
Membership Planned to Raise
Defense Fund.

Defense Fund.
| Passage by either house of Congress
of the anti-strike legislation contain
ed in the pending railroad bill would
result in general strike vote
| throughout the country, officials of
| the American Federation of Labor said
| today.
We are willing to go to any limit
to maintain the right organized labor
has enjoyed for twenty years" said
one federation official.
William H. Johnston. president of
the International Association of Ma
chinists. the second largest interna-
tlonal union affiliated with the fedora
ton. said heNwould order vote of the
$4,000 members of his association.
He and other officials said there
wasn't a doubt that similar action
would be taken by all of the 112 af-
fiiated unions.
Shut Out Trade Unions.
Mr.. Johnston said there was in
some employers to bind their workers
with individual contracts so as to
shut out trade unions. This was par
ticularly true, he said, in the metal
Il
resorted to if all other means Of ad-
vancing the interests of the unions
failed.
1t was made known that the propos-
ed anti-strike legislation would be
one of the subjects to be discussed
at the forthcoming conference here of
union labor chiefs.
In line with the call from Presi-
dent Gompers for FINANCIAL support Of
that an assessment of 81 a week on
| the entire membership of the ma
chinists association as a defense
fund" would be proposed next month.
No Date for Meetings.
No date has been announced by
President Gompers for the meeting Of
the representative from the 1l2 in
transitional labor unions, affiliated
with the American Federation OF Lac
Dor. ordered by the executive countA
to be held in this city at an early
day.
, The call for the conference will be
/. sent out at an early date. 49,
! Mr.. GompeB swhen asked what
would be the program Of this confer
/ ence said that that matter would be
determined by the men who will be
called here to participate.
| 1t is probable, leaders of the ma
tional labor movement say. that this
conference will bring about some
| form of stability in the pending and
/ threatening labor troubles that have
/ caused the industrial unrest, and that
the conservative policy so long the
! rule of President Gompers and his
executive cabinet will bring about
some kind of solution Of the pending
! troubles.
May Seek General Cooperation.
! 1t is believed that the cooperation
of the four big railroad brotherhoods
and the farmers of the country. as
well as the labor organizations OF
Canada, probably will be sought in
furthering whatever program the
chiefs of the international labor or
CARNATIONS of the country who are
to be called to Washington for a con-
ference may determine upon.
President Samuel Gompers. in max
ing the announcement that such a
conference is to be called, declined to
go into details regarding the coming
conference, the date of which has not
jects to be discussed would rest with
the union chiefs representing 112 in
iternational unions that will be repre-
scented in the conference.
whether there was any connection
between the proposed conference and
the notice given the railroad admin
istration by Timothy Shea of the fire.
linens brotherhood, that the railroad
workers would fight for general in
creases in pay before the government,
relinauished> control of the roads was
\ not disclosed.
= Not Affiliated With A. F. off.
The brotherhoods are not affiliated
with the American Federation of La
| haan oil
Grafton between the organizations
Leading officials of the brotherhood
recently have held frequent confer
ences here with officers of the fed
GRAFTON and announcement was made
day or two ago by the committee
conducting the steel strike that tine
brotherhood chiefs had given tba;r
ers employed in and around stee,
. mills involved in the present con.
troversy in the steel industry.
Mr.. Gompers' announcement of the
, coming conference of the interna.
tional officials of orgaized labor was
contained In a telegram to the iii.
I nois Federation Of Labor at Peoria
His message was In reply to one in
: which the Illinois organization aske
: that a special convention Of The
American Federation of Labor ht
called to perfect an alliance of tho in
ternational unions of the United St,te,
and Canada and the railroad hrother.
5 hoods more effectively to fight on,
/ the life-and death struggle OF the
workers now in progress '">
, Federation officials also no;,t,a
D that the Illinois branch nronnsaS 80
the aid of the farmers be enlisted nc
: that assessments aggregatinp ona.
, fourth of the net earnings Of ore,o,
! lied workers be made until III ah
: jects OF this drive be accomplished