The Washington times., 1920-04-23
ID. c. LABOR VOTES
TO GUST FERGUSON
Hagerstown Convention Asks
Gompers to Remove Him
as Organizer.

HAGERsTowN. Md. April 2S.-The
victim OF convention politics, In
which Washington and Western
Maryland delegates lined up with his
Baltimore enemies. John II. Ferguson.
president OF the Baltimore Federation
OF Labor, was struck two heavy blows
yesterday by the Maryland State and
District OF Columbia Federation OF
Labor. The actions were taken over
the protest of Mr.. Ferguson's friends
and during his absence from the con
vention as a result OF what his
friends believe a "frame-up.'
A resolution requesting Samuel
Gompers, president OF the American
Federation OF Labor. to revoke Mr..
Ferguson's commission as national
organizer for Baltimore was the frst
move approved by a majority OF the
convention. 1t was followed by
another resolution. withdrawing the
Endorsement OF the State and Dis
trict Federation from the Labor
Leader. the unionist newspaper pub
lished by Mr.. Ferguson. This move
also was adopted.
Victory For Opponents.
Early in the day IL became appar-
ent that a clique opposed to Mr.. Fer
guson and the conservative" wing In
Baltimore had gained the upper hand.
When the result OF the election or
officers was announced late yester-
day afternoon II was found that this
clique had been successful in filling
four of the five contested offices.
The fifth place-chairman of the
State Nonpartisan Political League
held by Mr.. Ferguson during the past
year. was won by Henry +. Broening,
of Baltimore, secretary of the league
last year. The vote for Mr.. Broen-
ing was largely a personal one. He
tion of the convention for his work
as chairman of the Legislative COM
mittee at Annapolis. George A. Mil
Ter, of Baltimore, was the contestant.
The vote was 122 to 100.
Mr.. Broening was defeated, how
lever, for the office Of secretary OF
the federation by Newton A. James.
of Washington. Other contested
places decided were: Third vice presi-
dent. Carl Muller. Baltimore. defeat
ed Fred w. Heuer. of Baltimore;
sixth vice president Robert Bing-
ham, Hagerstown, defeated Charles
Dipple, Baltimore; delegate to the
American Federation OF Labor con-
vention, z. d. Bleretz. Baltimore, oe-
feated Jesse G. Francis, Baltimore.
The office of chairman of the Po-
litical Leaghe for Washington, ID. c..
which had been overlooked in the
nominations, was filled by Burd w.
Payne.
Salisbury was chosen as the con-
vention city next year.
Recalls Dry Docks Fight.
The resolution to Withdraw Mr.. Fer
guson's commission as organizer was
signed ard advocated by the same
group Of Baltimore labor men who
strike at the Baltimore Dry Docks
and Shipbuilding Company. Among
them are Thomas Hickey, interna-
tional organizer of carpenters; Oliver
S. Rye. organizer of marine machin-
lists; w. A. Lang, w. G. Lee. Edward
10. Bieritz and nearly a score of other
enemies of the Baltimore chief.
The resolution was based on Mr..
Fergusons alleged actions during the
dry docks strike. 1t condemned him
"for branding officials who handled
the strike as radicals" and stated
that "the undersigned feel that his
action was that Of an enemy of labor"
A resolution introduced by Delegate
Luther NJ. Brill. of Hagerstown. would
place the convention on record as OPP
posed to the overall craze" The fad
increases the cost of denims for bona
fide workers and directs attention
away from the true remedies for the
high cost of living, according to the
resolution.
The convention went on record as
opposing Sunday moving pictures for
Baltimore. Continuous work entailed
for operators and the fear that Sun
day movies" would result in other
crafts being compelled to work seven
days a week were the reasons.