Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-06-09
LABOR DEMANDS
CURB ON COURTS
AMERICAN FEDERATION De
cLARgs JUDGES EXCEED CON.
sTiTUTioNAL RIGHTS.
REFORMS IN JUDICIARY
ARE BEING DEMANDED
Federation Plans to Get Back Of Leg.
isiation Favorable to labor-Packers
Alleged to Be In Combination to
Control Prices Of Many Articles Of
Food.

Food.
Atlantic city, y. j., June 9-lm-
portant projects for the advancement
Of labor and improvement of working
conditions as we'll as comprehensive
outlines Of what has been accomplish
ed on labor's behalf during the last
year. are set forth in the report of the
executive council of the American Fed
the officers and delegates attending
the opening session of the thirty ninth
annual convention. u
The advent of peace taken by the
! council to hold out bright prospects
for labor. OF the peace treaty, itself,
the labor executives forming the coun-
| ell, after endorsing the triumph OF
| freedom and justice and democracy as
| exem plified in the covenant of the
| league of nations says that the labor
| sections are, compromise but that 1t
must. however. "be a source Of deep
est satisfaction to the American work.
] lIH ptopIt " Nlo" NHai tht
| position and the American declara-
tons as presented for insertion in the
| treaty ranked above all others in point
| of progress measured and in point OF
actual and practical application in the
| lives Of the working people. Whatever
| of compromise appears was made be-
cause of the claim that other nations
of the world could not pledge them
! selves to an immediate and definite ac-
ceptance as the established practice OF
our day.
| Would Curb Courts.
Foremost among the matters sub
mitted by the council to the convention
are suggestions dealing with legisla-
ton to prevent any invasion of the
/ rights and prerogatives of the legis-
| lative branch of our government by
| the judiciary The report Of the
| council on this subject was made in
| accordance with a resolution adopted
| by the 81. Paul convention. In that
! resolution the council was ordered to
STUDY 1.-The successive steps which have
| been taken by our federal and supreme
| courts thru which. without Gonstitu-
| tional authority and in opposition OF
| the action of the constitutional con-
vention. they laid hold upon power
which they now exercise" The study
mas now been practically completed
and contains remedical suggestions
| made by Jackson H. Ralston, attorney
of the American Federation of Labor,
Three propositions are submitted in
| the report OF the consideration of the
y AZ. r,I
authority Of the supreme court to pass
upon acts of congress should be can
| celled or abridged.
Arguments for and against the pro-
| posals are discussed at considerable
| length Mr.. Ralston giving it as his
| opinion that, coupled with judicial re-
| forms there should 20 hand in hand
| the initiative and referendum, proper
| tional representation and the prefer
entail ballot without. which, he says,
! methods OF attaining justice Will lack
| much of completeness"
This section of the report closes with
| the statement that the writer is con-
WINGED that in this subject the execu-
tive council has had before it 'one OF
the gravest fundamental questions
| with which we will have to deal-the
| preservation of a truly democratic
| government against what has often
been called the .aristocracy OF the
robe.
| Labor Legislation.
| Considerable attention is devoted by
| the report of labor legislation. 1t Is
said that some rule should be adopt
ed In congress which would prevent
| obstructive legislation methods. Inc
report lists among the measures stalied
I by THE weary waste or worthless
words" in the last congress ana III
which labor was especially interested
| the appropriation bill. for the wal
| labor board. United States employment
| agency, women industry service, work
| ing conditions service, and the investi-
| CATION and inspection service.
l The executive council suggests thai
! the convention authorize the printing
| and wide circulation Of a list OF meas
| ures In which the American Fedora
| ton Of Labor is interested, among
/ which are the bill forbidding immigra-
! ton for four years during the period
| OF industrial reconstruction, bill for
j an old age retirement system Tor led
4 eral employees In the ciassirled ser
4 vice, q bill providing a minimum wage
i Of three dollars day for federal EN-
4 ployees, Secretary Lanes bill TO fur
1 nish land for soldiers and sailors, Q
4 bill to give states the same power over
i products of convict labor from other
L states as they exercise over the pro-
l ducas of their own prisons, industrial
vocational education for persons
crippled In industry, Increased pay foi
Il teachers, and educational ills designed
to end a dull illiteracy in the United
II States.
4 Appropriations for the department OF
labor are discussed at some length
n It is stated in the report that con-
sress is granting meager funds to tha'
II department has failed to interpret
correctly the spirit and trend OF pres,
u ent-day development" especially a
HI q time when there is world wide re-
cognition Of the fundamental import
ance Of Industrial problems"
"We maintain" the report continues
E.that the importance Of the Interest,"
at issue and the faithful, loyal SER
vice the workers have given thu
government and society, have earned
| for us the right to a fair consideration
IN, the exnepditura of national funds.