Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1920-01-07
LAW
FOUGHT BY LABOR
A. r. of [. and Rail Unions Join in
Finish Fight.
DEMAND U. S. KEEP ROADS
Want Government to Rule Lines for
Two Years More-President Viii
lard of Baltimore G. Ohio Corr
fers With Gompers.

Washington, Dec. 0O.-Organlzeu III
Dor united here to direct an unrelent-
ing fight against return of the rail-
roads to their owners March 1 and, if
that cannot be averted at this time, to
prevent enactment of railroad legisla-
ton which will include anti-strike pro-
visions and penalties against workers
who cease their employment.
The American Federation of Labor,
the four railroad brotherhoods and the
ten railroad shopmen's unions affiliat-
ed with the American Federation of
Labor joined in the declaration of war
and issued a statement asserting them
selves in favor of tWO-year extension
of government control of the railroads
in order that government ownership
might have a fair test.
A. r. of L. Calls Meeting.
The action was taken at confer
ence called by Samuel Gompers, presi-
dent of the American Federation of
Labor, who presided. Frank Morrison,
secretary of the federation, also at
tended, together with 10 officials of the
An unusual circumstance during the
conference was the arrival at the
American Federation of Labor head
quarters of Daniel Willard, president
of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. His
coming apparently was unexpected.
Mr.. Willard was ushered into Mr..
Gompers' private office and the fed
GRAFTON president was sent for. He
Immediately left the conference and
was in conference with Mr.. Willard
for nearly an hour.
Neither would discuss the subject of
their talk, although it was inferred
that it had to do with the important
subject of railroad legislation, in
which both are vitality interested. Mr..
Willard seemed much surprised when
confronted by newspaper men when he
left the conference.
Mr.. Gompers' statement at the close
of the conference was as follows:
"On Friday last a number of repre-
sentatiyes of the railroad organiZa-
tons, both shopmen and those in train
service, met in my office, and we dis
cussed railroad legislation. l issued
in invitation to the executives of the
ten shOpmen's organizations affiliated
with the American Federation of La
Dor and the four railroad brother
hoods, asking them to meet me here
today. We began our meeting at three
o'clock and adjourned shortly after
eight
"The entire time of the conference
was taken up with discussion of the
parliamentary situation of the railroad
bills in congress.
Want u S. Control.
eve reached these conclusions:
"That it is the sense of the confer
ence that control of the railroads by
the government of the United States
should be extended for period of not
less than two years, in order that a
proper test might be made as to gov
eminent control.
THAT such test has not been given
a fair opportunity during war times or
since then.
"That this conference is opposed to
legislation making strikes of workers
unlawful
"That it is the sense of the confer
ence that penalty clauses in pending
legislation on the railroads against
workers ceasing their employment
should be eliminated.
"That this conference favors the en-
actment of the beneficial features of
the railroad bills which tend to estab-
fish better relations between the en-
ployees and the carriers, and that these
beneficial clauses should be extended
to the sleeping car and Pullman COM
pany employees"
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