Omaha daily bee., 1919-08-31
STILL TRYING TO
!. ORGANIZE STEEL
MILL WORKERS
Hope Amicable Adjustment OF
Mems Demands May Be
Reached Before Strike,
Gompers Says.

reached before any outbreak or
cessation of work shall be inau-
gurated," Samual Gompers, head OF
the American Federation of Labor
said Saturday in a statement sum-
marizing the work of the federation's
executive council.
The council has been in session
considering the labor situation
over the country, but Mr.. Gompers
did not deal with the situation as
whole. Nor did he indicate upor
what was based the hope that the
controversy between the steel mer
and the United States Steel corpor'
alton would be adjusted without re-
sort to a strike.
President Wilson was asked yes
terday to intervene in the contro-
versy, but as he yet made no move
some officials believed he had de-
clined to take a hand. Meantime
the time limit set for Chairman Gary
of the Steel corporation to answer
the mems request for a conference
has expired without an answer be-
ing received.
Endorse Two Strikes.
Endorsement of two strikes
those of the cigar makers and actors
by the federation's executive coun-
Gil was announced. The cigar max
ers we're pledged the full moral and
financial support" OF the federation,
which promised to appeal to all labor
and friends of labor to come to the
financial and moral assistance OF
those engaged in the strike.
AS to the railroad brotherhoods'
plan for tripartite control of the
railroad generally known as the
Plumb plan, Mr.. Gompers said the
council had considered this of such
importance to labor, the people and
the country that no action would
be taken until a special committee
had gathered and presented all the
facts.
Regarding the Amsterdam confer
ence of international trade unions
which he attended as an American
delegate, Mr.. Gompers said it had
voted overwhelmingly against any
bolshevik principles or tendencies.
The report of the American dele
gates. he said, showed that the wave
of bolshevism had rcceded.
No reference was made by Mr..
Gompcrs to the presidents decision
not to grant general wage increases
to railroad employees at this time.
Mr.. Gomper's statement follows:
Gomper's Statement.
"The executive council of the
Federation of Labor was
called into extra session to con-
slider a number of vexatiouuus ques-
tions which are occupying the at
tention of the working people and
the people generally of our coun-
try. They desired to have imme-
diate information regarding the &C
tivities of the delegation of the
Federation of Labor at
the Amsterdam conference of in
ternational trade unions-the con-
ference which our delegation held
with the representative of labor
in those countries. The delegation,
consisting of Samuel Gompers, Dan
iel J. Tobin and John J. Hynes,
submitted their report in writing,
and while it will be made public
very shortly, we are not prepared
to give that out at this time, be-
lieving that it is most appropriate
that the report be made direct to
labor first and jointly with it to
the general public. This much can
be said for the report that it showed
clearly that the wave Of bollshevism
has receded and that the interna-
tional trade union conference at
voted overwhelmingly
against any bolshevik principles or
tendencies; that the international
trade union movement is founded
now upon a more democratic basis
that is, that the representation of
workers such as the Uni
ted States, England, France and of
Germany, should have its seat in
those international conferences and
that the offices and officers have
been taken away from Germany.
Considering Still Organizing
"The executive council had under
the iron and steel or
ganizing effort and have endeavored
to bring about the very best results.
The efforts are still being made,
and the hope is entertained that an
adjustment may be reached
before any outbreak or cessation of
work shall be inaugurated.
The cigar makers of the United
States are engaged in strikes for
conditions occasioned by
the high cost of living, and there are
l25,000 of that industry who are now
in the struggle. The execu-
tive council endorsed that strike and
pledged its moral and financial sup
port to it and will issue additionally
an appeal to all labor and friends to
come to the financial and moral as
sistance Of the men engaged IN that
I'm regard to the actors situation,
4 new charter was issued to the
Actors Equity society, and the old
TIME White Rats association under
the title of Actors and Artisans
Associat of America, and the
pledge was given for the full sup
port of the federation with its mem
Dership to the actors engaged IN the
contest.
To Report on Plumb Plan;
"The executive council had be-
.ore it the representatives OF the
abor organizations and their coun-,
,el, who favored the Plumb plan OF
.ailway ownership, of railway con-
rol and administration. The coun-
ii considered the plan as we'll as
he provisions of the Sims bill
lealing with this important subject.
rhe plan and the BILL, so the coun-
ii declared, are of such transcend
..4 :,n,or4,,ca to 1ahor tO the DeO-