Evening star., 1920-06-17
j. s. OWNERSHIP
OF RAILROADS GETS
SUPPORT OF LABOR
Resolution Calls for Demo-
cratic 0peration-Bittef
Debate at Convention,

clated Press) s).-Government ownership
with democratic operation of Ameri.
can railroads was indorsed today by
the American Federation of Labor
convention here after a bitter fight.
Roll call showed that government
ownership was indorsed by a vote of
2S.059 to S34a
Disorder Interrupted the roll call
several times when delegations Of
the various crafts divided on their
votes.
Charges of steam roller were
hurled at the chair by James Duncan
OF Seattle and other delegates when
1T denied the right of roll call to
delegations that split on the ques-
tion.
Applause and "boos" and Kisses
alternately greeted delegation votes.
The building trade delegations
present almost a solid front against
Gompers and administration forces,
Supported Railroad Workers.
The railroad workers were support
ed by the great voting power Of the
United Mine Workers. machinist
unions, textile workers, garment
workers and the metal trades crafts.
The first clash on the roll call oc-
CURED when w. l.. Hutchinson. presi-
dent of the Carpenters Union, an
l
3,3l3 votes against the proposal. J.
a. Ross of the carpenters denied Mr..
Hutehinson's statement and asked
permission to cast his 414 votes for.
government ownership.
More than dozen delegates pro-
tested when Gompers barred the Ross
vote counting the entire carpenters
vote against the proposal
Gompers' ruling resulted in the
molders' delegation casting it's en-
.lre vote for the proposal. despite tho
fact that John Frey of their member
snip opposed the proposal.
Prior to the voting Matthew Won,
wee president of the federation. de-.
clared that neither government con-
troi nor government ownership"
nao been sufficiently defined" in the
propositions before the convention for
hlm to decide which he favored, but
SAID he was against any proposal that
would indorse the Plumb plan.
Did Not Support Any One Plan.
samuel Gompers. president of the
federation. dema nded of the sfRner1
OF the report for government owner
SIP pI,l II i5 was an Endorsement OF the
Plumb plan. They declared 1t did not
lndorse any particular plan"
Wnen there was another demou-
| stration Gompers announced: .DslS-
| gate Gompers is now recognized 10
ADDRESS the convention"
!. He declared he had not indorned
the report of the executive souncil
1or government ownership ~
| Ihe accepting of government own
ersnip, Gompers declared. would mkt
! ernment ownership and control. but
would also by necessity be az.
| tended to all the tributaries to the
rallWay service. making all Of the
workers government employee"
he warned the convention of the
dcIlElll6S OF the. T.
past IN preventing federal employees
from exercising their rights and
participating in political activities.
When Frank Morrison. secretary Of
tne federation, took the floor and an
nounced that he would support gov
| ernment ownership OF the railroads
tnere was demonstration by the rail
workers and their supporters.
secretary Morrison declared that ha
was only supporting the fedAratioA'e
reconstruction program and the exec
utive councils report TO the last con-
vention.
For Self-Determinatson.
I'VE hear lot of seIf-determina-
tion,' he added. This thought is be-
ing sunk into the heads of men, wom-
| en- and children of all countries. We
have here proposition from all rail
| workers asking assistance IN securing
government owne rship of raiiFoads
because they believe their trials and
tribulations under government own
| efship will be far less than they have
been in the past or will be in the fu-
ture under private ownership"
John Z. Frey, who spoke aEainst
government ownership, told the dele
gates that in his address yesterday
he had been misunderstood and had
not intended to put the stigma Of
made in Germany" on government
ownership.
he ~ L Il laf -
good for them." said William Green,
secretary of the United Mine Work
ers. and they are not going to let Mr..
Frey or any one else tell them what
to do" Green declared that conditions
could not be worse under govern
ment control"
When GreeN announced that the
would vote for government ownership
there was another outburst Of ap-
plluse.
In doing so.' he added. I'VE are
only following the teachings of the
American Federation of Labor favor
ing government ownership"
Demands Of Labor.
Organized labor yesterday called
upon Congress to curb prodteertnS,
indorsed President Samuel Com
pers' non-partisan political program,
approved the Irish republic and re-
quested withdrawal Of armed forces
from Ireland.
The federation declared war on the
Kansas court of Industrial relations
and anti-strike legislation now before
the legislatures in Colorado and Ma
braska.
The recent railroad strike was con-
demned by the federation as "seces-
sionist movement" to discredn thA
recognized organizations in the rail-
way service. Any union giving moral
or financial aid to such walkouts was
threatened with revocation OF char
ter.
Congress was also urged by vote
of the convention to. enact legislation
for the absolute exclusion OF lJapa.
nese and other Asiatic immigrants ana
picture brides.
A declaration was adopted to the
effect that the federation had never
countenanced discrimination oeceuse
Of race. creed or color"
National Steel Workers.
The federation instructed the exec.
,,t;vs council to call a conference Of
ali the interested internation1
nnions." and Immediately start . new
organizing campaign in the steer an
dustry. x..., Stee,
workers was approved
Tha cloth Hat and Cap Makers In
,ernationai Union was ordered 70 re-
iinouish jurisdiction over the sIraw
Hal workers, by 1921. or forfeit tneir
charter. The Jewelry workers aiso
were ordered to give up ,,,nsu 9us1 NINE.
tv days or have their charter revokeu.
rhe convention expressed regret
that Congress had failed to enact
single constructive measure tnas
would aid in checking prontsepkH -.
nress Iabors specific proposals con-
pet;{wt;rr program of remedy" for