Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-06-07
federation OF
LABOR I'm an
NuAL Meeting
Cummins Railroad Bill and
Kansas Industrial Court
as Solutions De-
nOunced.
DENOUNCE BOLSHEVIK
Demand That Government
tax Excessive war
Profits.
(By the Associated Press

Montreal, Que, June 7.---Denuncia-
tiOn of Bolshevism, prOfiteering, the
action of the United States government
in invoking the food control law
against the late miners strike, and the
failure Of the American congress to
take action to control the cost of living
are among the outstanding features of
the annual report of the executive
council Of the American Federation of
Labor presented today to the annual
convention here.
With the councils review of Orga-
nized labor's position and activities for
the last year, was also presented "a
specific program for remedy"
The Cummins railroad law was de-
nounced, as was the Kansas law es-
tablishing the court Of industrial rela-
-tions. The high cost OF living was laid
largely at the door Of big prOfiteers
while the report declared the United
States government principally through
the department Of justice. has con-
Quoted campaign Of stupidity"
Assail Congress.
Congress was aSsuiled for cutting ap-
preparations designed to carry on the
work of the collateral branches OF the
department of labor and for various
proposals., such as the .seditiOn bill,
which the report says the labor move
ment was instrumental in defeating.
In its references to the foreign field
the report denounced what it charac-
terized as propaganda for American
Intervention in Mexico and declared
that the executive council sees no
justification for interference which 1t
argues would be in the interest of the
exploitation of its workers, and its
boundless wealth Of oil and minerals.
The United States Steel corporation
was assailed for its refusal to deal
with labor organizations in the recent
unsuccessful strike, and the authorities
of Boston also were denounced Tor
their attitude in the celebrated strike
of policemen in that city.
Defeat One Union Plan.
The workmen of Canada were con
graduated for defeating 1.-The one big
union" idea and their stand was char
acterized as "a magnificent triumph
for trade unionism, and vindication
of the purposes, policies and achieVe-
ments of the American Federation Of
Labor :,
"A Il program VI SpStihS ''A'>''
for existing conditions the couhciis re-
port proposes the following:
I'VE demand that the government ne
authorized to buy standard conmodl-
ties direct from producers ana thaI
these commodities be distributed
through regular retail channels at
retail price to he fixed by the govern
ment.
1--WE demand that this power ne
made use of as a corrective for prof.
iteering and we call attention to the
fact that the government has establish
ed a precedent for such action in It's
sales Of surplus war supplies.
Tax War Profits.
I'VE demand that the federal Cover
ment through the internal revenue de-
partment ascertain the amount or eA-
cessive war profits extorted from the
American people during the years lol"'
1917. 1918. 1919 and 1920, and that
these excessive war profits be taken
through it's taxing power by the federal
government and applied to the eNtih-
enlistment of the floating debt of tlie
government and to the partial retire
ment of liberty bonds at par in order
that the existing inflated structure OF
currency and credit may be reduced
and that the government may carry ou'
it's sacred obligation to the people 10
maintain its liberty and victory pohds
at par.
.Cooperation should he encouraged
rs an effective means of curbing proi-
iteerinr. To stimulate rapid develop
mcnt of coopcratives the federal farm
loan act should he extended SO as 10
give credit to all property orsahi"eo
cooperatives. just as credit Is now
given to individual farmers. Coopera'
ton is no less vital aud worthy OF sup
mort than are the railroads. which were
given hundreds of millions of dollars
and an area of land equal to New
England TO facilitate their establish
ment. There should be legal enactment
to protect cooperativcs against diScr'-
mination by manufacturers and whole