Evening star., 1920-06-15
LABOR SUPPORTS
RECOGNITION FIGHT
Of FLONGSHOREMEN
Montreal Convention Pledges
Itself to Oppose Open
Shop Policy.
By the Associated Press.


minis transportation act of 1920.
The executive council was in.
instructed to take steps to bring
about this action.
MONTREAL, June 15.-The American
Federation OF Labor. at todays session
Of its annual convention, pledged support
to striking longshoremen on the Allan
tic and gulf coasts "in their fight for
recognition" and their opposition to
''the policy Of the open shop"
A. c. Anderson Of New York, rep
resenting the coastwise longshore-
men, In asking the support of the fed
GRAFTON, declared that the steamship
companies are refusing to arbitrate
and compromise the issue" and are
employing strikebreakers'
Texas is corporation representa-
tive" declared the speaker, describ-
ing alleged conditions at Galveston.
He asserted that the martial-law edict
there was unnecessary and an attempt
to break" the strike.
Conventlon In Tumult.
The convention was thrown into q
tumurt when Thomas Sweeney Of Chi
cago. charged that the committees
hAA "a motive" in holding back the
business Of the convention by falling
to report and would probably at
tempt to ram things down the throats
Of the delegates the last day"
president. had restored order he re-
piled to the charges by declaring
that the attempt to '1mpugn the in
tesrity" of the committees was un-
fair. AZ they were faithfully per-
forming their duties" He assured
the convention that there would be
no "stearn-roller tactics"
The delegates then by an over
whelming vote defeated motion to
appoint committee to get q report
on the activities Of the various COM
mittees now in charge Of the i'm
portant proposals before the conven-
ton. The delegates then took a brief
adjournment.
The convention in supporting the
strike OF coAstwise longshoremen took
its first step against the open shop"
policy inaugurated by transportation
Galveston and other ports on the gulf
and Atlantic coasts.
Refer to SS,0o0,oo0 Fund.
Several other resolutions scheduled
for consideration refer particularly to
the action Of the Merchants Associa-
ton Of New York in raising fund OF
| 81, 900, 900 for an open shop" fight on
organized labor.
'sThe coastwise branch Of the inter-
Longvhoremen's Association on the
Atlantic and gulf coasts" read the
resolution adopted today, have been
out on strike for over two months.
contending for recognition and
adjustment of demands, filed by them
with the coastwise steamship com
panies more than nine months ago for
Increases in wages and betteFment OF
conditions Of employment.
The companies refused their de-
mands, pleading poverty, Inability TO
grant any increase In wages and re-
fusing to arbitrate and compromise
the issue. on the other hand employ
| inx strtkebreAkers and declaring for
arherefore. be It resolved that we,
the delegates to the federation OF
labor, in convention assembled. AND
the various crafts directly affected
pledge our support to the coastwise
ionrshoremen In their fight for recog-
milton and against the policy OF the
open shop in said craft
Program for ToAay.
Resolutions demanding government
ownership and democratic control 9.
railroads, lifting OF the blockade
against Russia, recognition Of the
Russian soviet government. release
Of political prisoners and reclassi-
fcation Of government civil service
employer were up for discussion to
day before the convention OF the
American Federation Of Labor. Inc
committee on resolutions announced
It probably would complete its re-
ports on these proposals before the
The railroad resolution. supported
by the brotherhood Of Railway Car
men, International Switchmen's Union,
Brotherhood OF Railway clerks ana
a number Of other organizations. de-
act Of 1880. and enactment Of legis..
lation providing for governmen
ownership and democratic operation
Of the railroad systems and neces-
sary inland waterways"
Non-PartIaan Political ProErnna.
Organized labor OF the United States
was appealed to by Samuel Gompers
Of the American Federation OF Labor
here today to give its support to the
non partisan political program of the
ederation and to urge upon Congress
the adoption OF the league OF nations.
Characterising the failure OF the
United States to ratify the covenant
before the annual convention Of the
federation, said "if the question was
submitted TO the people. without any
other entAngling problems. am posi-
tive that the people of our country
would say by an overwhelming vote
''ft il reerettable," he added, that
the question In itself has not had an
opportunity to be presented for the
90 onsideration and determination OF
the people Of our country"
Mr.. 0ompers was brief in his ap-
peal to the federation to continue to
stand by his non partisan political
program, asserting that this subject
may be In concrete form before the
convention" within the fiext few days