The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-07
American Federation Against
Anti-Strike Laws-GOmpers.
Notice To Be Served on Both
Party Conventions.
LABOR LAWS CONDEMNED
Kansas Court Declared Already
Proven Failure.
GOmpers to Garry Edict to Two
Party Conventions.

Montreal, June Amy attempt to
enforce compulsory labor by making
strikes unlawful must be resisted at
all costs, Samuel Gompers. president
of the A. F. of L., declared today in
his address at the opening of the fed
eration's fortieth annual convention.
The American Federation of Labor
! is meeting for the second time on for
eign soil The fortieth annual con-
vention opened here with more than
500 delegates present when called to
order by President Samuel Gompers.
Coming to the convention fresh
from personal contact with the rank
and file of union men in all sections,
the delegates plunged Immediately
into consideration of a comprehensive
program of economic, political and So
cial issues.
squarely to the attention. of leaders in
the Republican and Democratic nomi-
mating conventions at Chicago and
San Francisco.
Garry Report to Parties.
President Samuel Gompers of the
fe deration may leave his convention
here before its close to carry labor's
mandate personally to the Republican
! convention in Chicago.
Gompers also. as head of the fed
eration's national nonpartisan po-
litical campaign committee, will pre-
sent the program to the country as
pat of organized labor's fight against
reelection of senators and congress
men listed as enemies.
A preliminary draft of the program,
prepared by the federation executive
committee as part of its annual report
and presented to the convention prac-
| tically as the first order of business,
is expected to receive little amend
ment from the delegates who. how
ever, may consume two weeks in con-
sidering it before they accord COM
plete approval
Scores Palmer Hard.
The program is regarded by Com
pers and other federation officials as
the most important ever presented.
! Reviewing the struggles of the year
it demands repeal of the Esch-Curn-
minis transportation act condemns
profiteering. scores Attorney General
Palmer on many counts and presents
a detailed plan for new legislation to
reduce living costs. The plan to re-
duce living costs is presented in the
form of six demands which are:
( l. Government purchase of standard
commodities direct from producers and re-
sale at fixed prices thru regular retail
| channels.
3 Retirement of the floating debt and
part of the funded war debt thru tax on
! 1910 and 192o''
3. Extension of powers Of the federal
farm loan bank enabling it to advance
credit to farmers cooperative societies
I which are no less vital and worthy of
support than the railroads which were
/ given hundreds of millions of dollars"
a. Control of credit capital to be taken
from those whose chief interest is the
| cumulation of profits" placed in the
hands of a public agency and adminis-
methods"
). Labor department to compile and is
sue monthly statements on the cost of
manufacture of staple articles.
g. Establishments of government boards
/ to investigate prices and profits and public
/ inspection of all income and other tax re-
turns.
/ Wages Fail to Keep Pace.
/ Labor department reports were
/ quoted to show that since 1913, wages
generally have advanced but SIS per
cent while living costs have advanced
{ S3.1 per cent and in some cities be-
tween 90 and 100 per cent.
: Attorney General Palmer's cam
paign to reduce living costs was de-
scribed as a campaign of stupidity
seeking "only here and there to pill
lory some trifling merchant while per-
mitting great aggregations of capital
upon which enormous profits have
been reaped to escape in the enjoy
ment of a monumental blunder.
Replying to proposals of employers