New-York tribune., 1919-08-31
Statement ssue d by
Compers Says Plan to
Control Roads Must Be
Carefully Considered
FederatiOn's Power
Was Being Used
Action Taken by Secre.
tary Morrison While
President Was Abroad
New York TyIbsms
H0stinOto,t PuTen4x

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Aug. 30-The Amer.
lean Federation Of Labor is not for
the Plumb plan of solving the railway
problem-at least not yet. In a state-
ment summarizing the Iabcrs of the
last three days Of the executive coun-
Gil of the federation to-day, President
Samuel Gompers said the council had
decided to defer final action determin-
ing the position Of the federation
thereon.
Another importan. feature of the
statement was the announcement that
efforts are still being made to settle
the controversy between the steel work.
ers and the United States Steel Cor
poration, and that the council enter
tains hopes of averting a strike.
Statement BY Gompers
The statement given out by Mr..
Gompers reads
THE executive council Of the
American Federation Of Labor was
called into extra session to consider
a number Of vexations questions,
which are occupying the attention of
the working people and ths people
generally Of our country. They de-
sired to have immediate information
regarding the activities of the dele
gaelon Of the American Federation
OF Labor at the Amsterdam confer
ence of international trade unons.
ter No.
CATION held with the representatives.
of labor in these countries. The
delegation. consisting OF Samuel
Gompers, Daniel J. Tobin and John
j. Hynes, submitted its repor. in
writing and it will be made public
very shortly. We are not prepared
to give that out at this time, be-
lievlng tnat 1t is most appropriate
that the report be made direct to
labo- nrst, and jointly with it TO th~
general public
This can be said for the report.
that it showed clearly that the wave
OF Bolshevism has receded, and THAI
the international trade union con-
ference at Amsterdam voted over
"heimlngly against any Bolshevik
principles or tendencies; that the
international trade union movement
is founded now upon a more demo-
cratic basis, that is, that the rep
resentatives of organized workers.
such as the United States, England,
france and Of Germany, should have
It's seat in these international con-
terences, and that the Offices and Of
ncers nave been taken away from
Germany.
Iron and Steel Situation
The executive council had under
consideration the iron and steel or
ganizing effort and have endeavored
TO BRING about the very best results.
Tie efforts are still being made.
and the hope is entertained that an
amicable adjustment may be reached
before any outbreak or cessation Of
work shall be inaugurated
The cigarmakers of the United
States are engaged in strikes for
improved conditions occasioned bv
the high cost of living, and there
are $4,000 of that industry who
are now engaged in the struggle.
The executive council Endorsed that
strike and pledged its moral and
hnanclal support to it and will issue
additionally an appeal to all labor
and friends TO come to the financial
aid and moral assistance of the men
engaged in that controversy.
I'm regard to the actors situation.
new charter was issued to the
Actors Equity Society and the old.
time White Rats Association under
the title Of Actors and Artists AS.
soclation of America, and the pledge
was given for the full support OF the
federation with its membership to
the actors engaged in the contest.
The executive council had before
1t the representatives of the labor
organizations and their counsel who
favored the Plumb plan of railway
ownership or railway control and
administration. The council consid-
cred the plan as we'll as the provi-
SONS OF the Sims bill dealing with
this important subject.
Final Action Is Deferred
The plan and the bill, so the coun-
Gil declared, are of such transcendent
importance TO labor, 10 the people
and to the country that the council
decided to defer final action deter
mining the position of the American
Federation Of Labor thereon. and
IN the meantime sub committee
was created for the purpose of ex.
amlnlng into all the facts and evil
dence obtainabie to secure the advice
OF all we can Who can contribute to
i"ii uHuSi StdnulHg OIL the subject.
ard the subcommittee after its ex-
animation and investigation is to re.
port to the executive council of the
American Federation Of Labor upon
the entire subject.
There were other matters of i'm
portance considered by US that are
regarded as hardly of public interest"
In making its statement in regard
to the Plumb pm the council seem
to differ with Frank Morrison, secre.
tary OF the federation. who appeared
before the House Interstate Commerce
Commission early this month, repre-
senting," as he said the American
Federation of Labor. to testify that i
stands behind labor's plan for tn,
reorganization OF the railways"
At the same time Mr.. Morrison sale
Samuel Gompers had accepted tn.
honorary presidency of the Plumb Pla,
League, the accuracy of which asser
| tion is now in question.
AS Mr.. Morrison is member Of th,