Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-06-11
Labor Leader Finds Fault
With Republican Plat
form as Adopted.
CONTRARY TO WHAT
LABOR DEMANDED.
Plumb Addresses Federation conven-
tion and Advocates His Plan
Declares All Railroads Are Di.hon-
estly Manased-Admits That He
Would Be Dishonest Were He i
Railroad Manager.
BY Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
Montreal, June II. - The labor
plank adopted by the republican ma
ional convention was condemned here
today by Samuel Gompers, president
Of the American Federation of La
| Dor.
He referred especially to the see
ton Of the plank providing for tho
settlement of public utility strikes
lisubject to the Esch- Cummings traris-
portation act of 1920.
The plank, Mr.. Gompers,j asserted
is directly contrary to what labor had
demanded of the republican party.
Charges that Smanagements OF
American railroads are dishonest"
were made today by Glenn E. Plumb,
originator for public ownership Of
railroads, in addressing the conyen-
tion. They cannot be otherwise. he
said. under the present system In
the United States witch surrounds
them with Temptations.
There is every inducement to be
dishonest at the present time" he
adNed. They can not be condemned.
I would mot trust my own integrity
as a leader Of = great Izifroads'
Plumb Plan Solution.
The Plumb -plan..he asserted. Wa
the solution Of the problem. a. tt
would give railroad managers an op-
portunity to be honest Hescited tha
management Of the PennSyIYani6
railroad in support Of his chargea.
asserting that the interstate COM
merce commission showed that Of
ficials Of tho railroad were stock
holders in from Afour to twenty -nine
corporations selling supplies to ths.
railroads.
He declared. however, that the
Pennsylvania railroad '1s no worse
off than others"
Mr.. Plumb declared that his plan
would take the railroads out OF pol,
itics on which they were born"
He appealed to the federation to
support it in order to give the pubs
Tic Ownership and democratic cbn-
troll of the railroads"
The convention gave Mr.. Plumb
a tremendous ovation: voted to have
his address printed in the proceed
ings. and suggested that it be dis
tributed thru the country to workers.
After a resolution was introduced
calling for investigation OF the sal
mon canning industry on the Pacific
coast, the convention adjourned un-
til tomorrow.
Color Line Wiped Out.
The American Federation OF Labor
wiped out the color line" and warn
ed its affiliated international unions
that negro workers must be given full
and equal membership
The action came at the end Of a.
stormy session, which nearly resulted
in a race war" between delegates
from the southern states and the me-
groes and their sympathizers..
An appeal to the workers to desert
the federation and align with the one
big union was spread broadcast thru
the city today. It asserted that craft
unionism was doomed The cir
cular was the first open attack on
the. American federation by the ono
big union organization In Canada.
The steel and coal strikes and the
recent railroSd strike. the circular
said, showed the federation delegates
have specialized in co operating
with tho bosses and government, and
all together have railroaded and jail
ed the representatives Of our class"
Rejecting the recommendation OF
its organization committee, the fed
Grafton threatened the autonomy OF
an affiliated union by requesting the
Brotherhood Of Railway Clerks to
give the negro freight handlers, ex-
press and station employees rfuIl
membership and eliminate from its /
constitution the words white
only"
The discussion drew the fire Of the
negro delegates and OF several north
ers states, chiefly Illinois and New
York.
In the exchange of oratory in
which the negroes charged taxation
without representation and dis
elimination" to which their oppon-
ents replied with accusations and.
sighted betrayal by negro workers in
past labor disputes.
Indignation of the negro delegates
was aroused several times when
speakers referred to them, as
niger freight handlers and their
objection to such remarks was sus-
tanned by the acting chairman.
James Duncan.
Frank Morrison, secretary Of the
American Federation of Labor. made
an unsuccessful attempt to halt the
debate by explaining that arr4nge-
monts were under way to get all
unions to take in negro members.