Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-10-25
BIG CONVENT!O
Of LABOR CHIEFS
WILL BE HELD At
WASHINGTON SOON
Samuel GomperS Announces
That Conference Has Been
Called to discuss Present
and impending Disputes.
FARMERS OF AMERICA
ASKED TO TAKE PART
Canadian UnioniSts May Also
Be Asked to Join in Farley;
Cooperation of big Four"
Will Also Be Sought.

IsY MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wlREl
Washington, Oct 24.--What may
prove one OF the greatest industrial
battles in history was believed by
some observers here to be forecast by
the announcement today by Samuel
Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor that confer
ence of the heads of the one hundred
and twelve international unions affih-
ated with the American Federation of
Labor, would be held in Washington
in the near future" to discuss pres
ent and impending disputes.
Cooperation of the four big rail-
read brotherhoods and the farmers OF
the country as we'll as the labor or
g9niZations of Canada probably Will
be sought, it was said, in furthering
whatever program the union chiefs
decided upon.
Mr.. Gompers' announcement was
contained in a telegram to the Illinois
Federation of Labor at Peoria, His
message was in reply to one which
the Illinois organization asked that
a special convention of the American
Federation of Labor be called to per-
feet an alliance of the international
unions of the United States and Can
ada and the railroad brotherhoods
more effectively to fight out the life
and death struggle of the workers
now in progress
Propose To Assess Workers.
Federation officials also pointed
out that the Illinois branch proposed
that the aid of the farmers be enlist
ed and that assessments aggregating
one-fourth of the ,ear1ings of or
ganized workers be made until the
objects Of this drive be accomplish
ed"
Decision to issue a call for the
meeting of the international union
chiefs, was reached by the fedora
TONS executive council Tuesday nignt
but the announcement was withheld.
At that time labor officials had be-
come convinced that the national in
dustrial conference would be unable
to reach any basis for the establish
ment of Industrial peace,
1t was on the following day that
Mr.. Gompers, in Withdrawing organ
lied labors representatives from the
conference, warned the employers
group that when they met in confer
ence again with the spokesmen for
union labor they would be glad to
talk collective bargaining.
Details Are Withheld.
Federation officials today declined
to go into details regarding the forth
coming conference, They said sub
iects to be discussed would rest with
the union chiefs themselves and the
time of the meetings had not been de-
termined
Whether there was any connection
between the proposed conference and |
the notice given the railroad admin |
istration by Timothy Shea, of the |
firemen's brotherhood, that the rail-
road workers would fight for general |
increases in pay before the govern
ment relinquished control of the |
roads, was not disclosed.
The brotherhoods are not affiliated !
with the American Federation of La
Dor but there has been close CO.
operation between the organizations.
Leading officials of the brotherhoods |
recently have held frequent confer
ences with officers of the federation
and announcement was made day |
or two ago by the committee conduct
ing the steel strike that the brother
hood chiefs had given their consent
to a strike of railroad workers en-
ployed in and around steel mills in
volved in the present controversy in
the steel industry.