Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-10
SEVEN UNIONS ASK
1. s: RAIL CONTROL
IN PLEA T0LAB0R
NECESSARY to Provide
-Gheaper Transportation"
Resolution Declares.

MONTREAL, June 10.-Government
ownership of railroads is urged in a
joint resolution presented by seven
International unions to the American
Federation of Labor at its annual con-
/. yention today. The resolution de-
cdares government ownership is neces-
4 sary to provide more adequate and
, cheaper transportation and to eliml-
mate the sinister influence of rail-
usoad corporations from our national
1ife."
The resolution is sponsored by the
delegates of the Brotherhood of Rail-
way Carmen, International switch
mems Union, Brotherhood OF Halfway
Clerks, Sheet and Metal Workers, In
ternational Association of Machinists
and International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers.
Military training in the schools and
the establishment of compulsory mill
tary service or training are condemned
as unnecessary, undesirable and I'M
American" in resolution proposed
by the American Federation of Teach
ers.
The American Federation of Labor,
in annual convention here today, reject
ed a proposal to create a permanent
educational department to distribute
propaganda urging support of the fed
erations policy of craftsmanship in
politics.
The delegates unanimously adopted a
report of the committee on organiza-
ton, which recommended that this step,
proposed by the Central Labor Union
Of Poplar Bluff, Mo, not be taken at
this time. because it was unnecessary
and would entail unjustified expense.
The proposal included provision for a
large campaign fund.
A cable message from the executive
committee of the Irish trade union
congress was read, urging the fedora
ton to demand release of "Comrade"
James Larkin, Irish labor leader, and
to use every effort to secure for Ire
land the principles for which America
claimed to enter the war" Larkin
now is serving a prison sentence for
criminal anarchy after conviction in
New York city.
International POliceman's Union.
The convention authorized the ex-
ecutive council of the federation to
charter an international polceman's
union as soon as the membership of
local policemen's unions totals 5000.
A petition that an international union
be chartered was presented by the
Oklahoma City local
The first contest came when the or
ganiZation committee refused to con-
cur on a resolution presented by the
Chicago Federation of Labor, which
urged the executive council to appoint
a special committee to Investigate the
feasibility of combining all workers
in the food and catering industry of
America into a food-producing and dis
tributing department.
Delegates from Chicago led by Max
Hays, spoke in support of the resolu-
tion. declaring that the gigantic no.
tel interests of the country had COM
bined against union workers and
must be met by a similar organization"
Members of the organization commit
tee declared combination of these work.
ers was unnecessary, and added that
too many special departments would do
the federation more harm than good and
incur unnecessary expense. The con-
vention referred the matter to the exec
utive council with authority to call a
conference of interested unions
Eliminate Color Line.
After bitter debate, the federation
adopted a resolution requesting the
brotherhood of Railway Clerks to elimi-
nate the color line" from it's constitu-
ton and give the negro full member
ship.
Representatives of the Brotherhood of
Railway Clerks and southern delegates
made lengthy addresses against the ne
groes' demand for membership, declar-
Ing that the negro was being given a
square deal"