Omaha daily bee., 1919-10-26
ORGANIZED LABOR
WILL PRESERVE.
RIGHT TO STRIKE
Leaders Give Warning Passage
in Congress Of Anti-Strike
Legislation Will Mean
Nationwide WaIk0ut.

Washington. Oct. 25.-Organized
labor intends to preserve the right
to strike. officials of the American
Federation of Labor said in warning
that passage in the congress of the
anti-strike legislation proposed in the
pending railroad bill would result in
an immediate general walkout over
the country.
William H. Johnston, president of
the international Association OF
Machinisists, second largest union
affiliated with the federation, said
direct action" might be resorted to
if all other means of advancing the
interests of the unions failed. He
referred particularly to what he
termed the efforts OF employers to
shut out unions by binding their
workers with individual contracts.
Mr.. Johnston announced that with
the passage of the anti-strike legis-
lation he would order immediately a
vote on strike of the $4,000 men,
bers of his association and predicted
that the heads of the other liz in
ternational unions in the American
Federation of Labor would take
similar action.
Why Heads Summoned
1t was said today that this legisla-
ton was one of the principal rea-
sons why the heads of the unions
in the federation were to be sum-
moned here for a conference in the
near future.
Officials of the four railroad
brothehoods conferred today with
Samuel Gompers, president, and
other officers of the federation.
Present at the conference also
were representatives Of the follow
ing farmers organizations:
The National Board of Farm Or
CARNATIONS, the Federation of Milk
Producers, the American Society of
Equity and the National Farmers
union.
Mr.. Gompers issued the following
statement at the conclusion of the
meeting:
General discussion ensued re-
garding the legislation pending in
congress inimicablc to the rights
and interests of industrial and agri-
cultural workers.
Further Discussion.
Further discussion ensued re-
garding legislation which should be
urged at the hands of congress in
the interests of the above.
1T was decided that the call the
conference determined upon by the
executive council of the American
Federation of Labor should be
jointly issued by the executive
council of the American Federation
of Labor and the railroad brother
hoods.
at was decided that the confer
ence should take place in Washing
ton, Saturday, December IS.
The representatives of the farm
ers' Organizations, although IN en-
tire sympathy with the discussion
and purposes, stated that they had
no authority from their organiza-
tons to join in the call for the con-
ference. but that their convention,
which would be held within a month
from now, would be glad to receive
invitations upon which to act and
select delegates for the December
Is conference"
Appeal to Farmers.
Some close observers of the in
dustrial situation said an alliance
between the federation and the
brotherhoods appeared more than
probable. They pointed to the
anti-strike legislation and the notice
Of the railroad workers that they
soon would seek to force increases
in wages as reasons why the BROTH
erhoods would desire such an alli-
ance.
Charles S. Barrett, president of
the National Farmers union and one
of the farmers representatives in
the national industrial conference
here, issued an appeal to the farm
ers to "be prepared to aid our be-
loved country in her present hour
of need"
"Menaced by entrenched privilege
On the one hand and a perilous red
propaganda on the other" said Mr..
Barrett, "the nation is facing the
most dangerous situation since the
civil war. Although revling in plenty,
though business was never more
plentiful, though employment was
never more gnral, the country is
sitting on a powder magazine which
threatens at any moment to explode