The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-06-14
SAYS PEOPLE Of
j. s. FOR LEAGUE
Gompers Declares Failure 10
Ratify Is "Pitiable" in
A. F. L. Address.

| MONTREAL, June 14-"It is pitt-
able" that the United States has not
ratified the league of nations. Samuel
| Gompers, president of the American
Federation Of Labor declared here to-
| day in an address before the fedora
uons convention, II the league coven-
ant were submitted to the American
people without any other entangling
questions, 1t would be overwhelmingly
accepted" he said.
1T is pitiable that the United States
| mas not ratified the league of nations" "
said Mr.. Gompers, but has forgotten
the effort of the nations of the world
to prevent another horrible conflict
such as that which started six years
| ago.
The labor draft of the league coven-
ant he added, would "help in the re-
union of the working people of the
world and would help workers in the
most backward countries"
| Mr. Gompers made a strong appeal
10 the convention to support the league
and lend a helping hand to the toilers
of the smaller countries and aid them
to take their places among the civilized
nations of the world
international organization of the
worlds union workers to further their
was advocated by j. w. Ogden, fra
ternal delegate of the British Trade
| Union congress, today before the Amer
lean Federation of Labor.
Mr.. Ogden, however, warned the fed
Grafton that it must ignore any "in-
Russia or other countries.
The spirit of organization is speaking
In England and the "nonunionist is
almost extinct in that country" Mr.. Og-
den declared. He predicted that the
British congress would have a mem
bership of 10000 by next August, an
increase of 100000 members in II
months.
British workers are constantly fight
| ing the high cost of living, Mr.. ogden
said adding that they. had assured. the
| government If it would smash" prices
and profiteering the workers would
ask no further wage advances.
Mr.. Ogden asserted that the labor
party in NEngland was the second in
power being outsripped only by the
| coalition party
]. A. McClelland, fraternal delegate
from the trades and labor congress of
Canada, urged the federation to ap-
point committee to investigate the
Catholic Labor Union movement and
take steps to end its activities in Can
ada.
The Catholic union. which has been
| in existenc about 10 years, he asserted,
is opposed to any international labor
| organization and has been organized
| IdDOT eIlelnN Ill CdIlduH
Mr.. McClelland declared that organ
ized labor was slowly conquering the
one big union movement"
Central labor bodies which aided the
| unauthorized strike during the re-
| cent railroad walkout in the
| United States were condemned
| in resolution presented at
the annual convention of the American
Federation of Labor here today. The
resolution was proposed by P, c. Cash
EN-, of Cleveland, in behalf Of the In
| ternatonal Switchmen's union.
| Mr.. Casnem charged that number
of central bodies throughout the coun-
try had aided switchmen during the
I Unauthorized strike ly raising strike
funds and furnishing them with meet
| ing halls.
The striking railroad men, he pointed
out, were members of yardmen's as.
sociations which were not affiliated
| with the federation and were members
of rival organization They would
not have received labor's support, the
resolutions said.
The International Ladies' Garment
Workers union today was pressing its
| fight to have the federation urge the
| eIease of all political prisoners and the
repeal of the espionage act.
The central labor conference body OF
| New York which is backing the resolu
| tion, has placed before the delegates a
statement declaring that from April l.
1917, to February 2S, 1920, there were
1921 men imprisoned as political pris-
Oners, conscientious objectors and mill
tary offenders"
I'VE feel that through general am
nesty and appeal of the wartime laws
we can wipe out the wartime animos-
| ties and by that regain our peace al
| home,' said the statement,