The sun., 1919-10-26
labor THREATENS
GENERAL WALKOUT
r.dorotion Warns That Anti
Railroad Strike Legislation
Means Tieup.
ALLIANCE Is CONSIDERED
Motherhood Chiefs and Farm
ers' Leaders in Conference
With GOmpers.
ALLIANCE IS CONSIDERED

WARRINGTON, Oct. 25.-Organized Ia
a.. intends to preserve the right to
-, oa,cials Of the American Fedora
~, n Labor said to-day in warning
.,., MASSAGE in Congress of the anti
.,-,., legislation proposed In the pend
~ abroad bill would result in an i'm
...aste general walkout over the coun-
IN. - o.,a.rt ~ tbs
,.,.rnational Association of Machinists.
,asond largest union affiliated with the
s.Ssration, said direct action" might be
...orted 10 II all other means of ad-
,,nrlng the interests of the unions
,.red He referred particularly to what
a termed the efforts Of employers TO
lint out unions by binding their work.
20 With Individual contracts. Mr.. john
.,or announced that with the passage
n the anti-strike legislation he would
O,ssr Immediately a vote on a strike OF
a. as0 900 members Of his association
IA nredicted that the heads OF the
,,hsr 112 International unions In the
,nsr,oan Federation of Labor would
,,ts similar action. Other union Off
cials agreed with this view:
While the legislation against strikes
,ov nending in Congress applies solely
IA yailroad workers, many OF wnom are
M. affiliated with the federation. 1t was
,aId to-day that this legislation was one
A ths principal reasons why the heads
A the union in the federation were to
| IA summoned here for a conferences In
tho near future.
Labor Chiefs in Conference.
od'cials Of the four railroad brother
hoods conferred to-day with Samuel
Gompers, president, and other officers of
the federation. 1t has been proposed
that the cooperation of the brotherhoods
be enlisted in the general fight now be-
j ins waged for recognition of the principle
Of collective bargaining and representa-
ton BY the chosen spokesmen OF labor.
Present at the conference also were
representatives OF the following farmers
organizations: The National Board OF
Farm Organizations. the Federation OF
MIX Producers, the American So
clety Of Equity and the National Far
mers' Union.
Mr.. Gompers issued the following
statement at the conclusion of the meet
ing:
"A conference was held in the A. F.
Of L. Building this afternoon in which
representatives Of the A. F. Of L.. the
railroad brotherhoods and the four farm
ers organizations participated. General
discussion ensued regarding the legis-
ation pending in Congress inimicable tc
the rights and interests of industrial and
agricultural workers.
Further discussion ensued regarding
legislation which should he urged at the
hands OF Congress in the interests OF the
above.
ut was decided that the call the con-
ference determined upon by the execu
tive council of the A. +. of L. should bt
jointly issued by the executive council oi
the A F. Of L. and the railroad brother
hoods
at was decided that the conference
should take place in Washington Satur
day, December 10.
The representatives OF the farmers
organizations, although in entire sym
pathy with the discussion and purposes
stated that they had no authority from
their organizations to Join in the cal
for the conference. but that their con
ventions, which would be held within 6
month from now, would be glad to re
| ceive invitations upon which to act ant
select delegates for the December IL
conference.
Alliance Seems Probable.
Some close observers of the industria
situation said to-day an alliance betweel
the federation and the brotherhoods ap
Feared more than probable. They pointed
to the anti-strike legislation and tn
notice OF the railroad workers that the,
soon would seek to force increases II
wages as reasons why the brotherhood
would desire such an alliance.
Charles s. Barrett, president of tn,
National Farms Union and one OF thu
farmers representatives In the nationa
Industrial conference here, issued an ap
peal to-day to the farmers to "he pre-
Jared TO aid our beloved country N he
present hour OF need"
"Menaced by intrenched privileges OF
The one hand and a perilous Red propa
eanda on the other said Mr.. Barrett
The nation is facing the most danger
Gus situation since the civil war. Al
though revelling is plenty, though bust
ness was never better, though employ
ment was never more general, the coun
NY is sitting on a powder magazin
N''N"NSAS ol hHy cX
pode bringing devastation and untol
suffering in its train.
The failure of the Industrial confer
ence 10 accomplish any concrete thin
MAKES necessary an offensive and de
.enslye alliance between all construc
1--WE forces Of the country against tn
.olf'h9h enemy OF extremlsm. 1t place
cas ns question where it was before III
inference assembled and leaves an ad
.lstment to the individual and collectiv
so'nlnoh sense, common honesty an
'OnHon patriotism Of the people.
IN this crisis in the nations histor
~'e farmer must get to the helm, and h
aust stay a: the helm until :he shin O
rest" s' 'i'e maven
plea for real sanity also was mad
O'uay by Secretary Lane, who acted a