Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1920-05-26
Organized Labor Says Enemies
Need to be Defeated This
Year.

NeeO 10 De DSiSdlSo &AiS
Year.
Washington, May 23.- (By the
Associated Press)-The American
Federation of Labor has issued its
expected call to the celebrates for
"an overturn in congress-"
Under the signature of President
Samuel Gompers, the current issue
of the American Federationist, the
official organ, carrying an indictment
of congress and the executive depart
ments for incompetence on the cost
of living ISSUE" and outlining pro-
gram of "deep cutting measures"
declared:
"There must be an overturn in
congress. Enemies must be defeated;
friends must be elected"
Presenting an itemized list of cor
poration profits, similar TO that re-
Gently introduced in speech by SEN
ator Capper of Kansas, Mr.. Gompers
declared that while 21 enumerated
corporations last year received prof
its averaging 435 per cent. above
normal, the average cost of living in
creased 96 per cent, and the average
wage SIS per cent. The deep cutting
measures which Mr.. Gompers writes
will be necessary to "guard the ma
tion's distributing machinery against
assaults from the pirates of trade
and commerce" follows:
Measures Asked.
'Immediate adjustment of wages,
both in private employment and in
government service to at least meet
the living costs that have outstripped
incomes by reason of this era of fren
zied proftering and gambling.
Immediate effective action to pre-
vent continued increases in the cost
of living.
"An end to the kind of legislation
typifed by the Esch-Cummins rail-
road law and the Kansas court of in
dustrial relations law. There must be
an end to legislative repression, re-
striction and circulation. Not only
must there be an end to the enact
ment of legislation of this character
but there must be repeal of legis-
lation already enacted.
'sThe congress will do we'll to give
Immediate and exclusive considera-
tion to the proposal of the American
labor movement that control ofcred-
it capital be taken from private fl
nanciers and placed in the hands of
public trust to be administered up
on principles voluntary and coopera-
tive in character. This will strike a
vital blow toward eliminating the
abuses of profteering and exploit
alton.
Congress should provide immedi-
ate,y for full publicity for income
tax returns.
"There must be immediate steps
towards equalization of wages and
cost of living and legislative steps to
prevent new margin from replac-
ing the one to be discontinued. This
means that there must be pernla-
nent remedy for the high cost of liv-
ing.
The working men of the United
States are speaking in mandatory
= erms. If those in the control of the
country do not consider the needs OF
the workers at least the workers
themselves understand. They know
the limit to their endurance. Their
demand to be heard is a demand
which comprehends the welfare of
the country"
Proposals by Wilson.
President Wilson proposed meas
ures for relief, Mr.. Gompers Wrltes'
"but congress gave no heed and
since the signing of the armistice
'the American political and indus
trial bourbons have laid a course OF
plunder, restriction and coercion"
eff congress had seen fit to re-
l ~ tho wishes of the presi-
dent" writes Mr.. Gompers, "and en-
act some of the legislation suggested
by him it would have been possible
to curb, at least, to some extent, this
unlicensed plundering in the neces-
sites of life. For congress to deny
that relief is possible, is congress to
confess the incompetency of which
oon1,intc ~