Evening star., 1920-06-14
GOMPERS ATTACKS
LEAGUE |NACT|0N
Declares 1t Is "PitiabIe" U. S.
Has Not Ratified Plan
as Proposed.

MIN HIAL, June l4.-lt Is pltl-
able" that the United States has not
ratified the league Of nations, Samuel
Gompers. president of the American
Federation OF Labor, declared here to-
day in an address before the fedora
tion's convention. If the league cove
people without any other entangling
questions" 1t would be overwhelm-
ingly accepted. he said
International organization of the
worlds union workers to further their
aims and prevent another world war
was advocated by ]. w. Ogden. fra
ternal delegate of the British Trade
Union congress. In an address here to-
day before the American Federation
of Labor
- 7; { G cashem Of Cleveland was given
resolution on behalf Of the Interna-
tional Switchmen's Union, condemning
central labor bodies which recently
aided the Unauthorized" railroad
strike In the United States. The reso-
luton was referred to committee.
Mr. Cashem charged that a number
OF central bodies throughout the coun-
Try mad aided switchmen during the
unauthorized strike by raising strike
FUNDS and furnishing them with meet
ing halls. He referred especially to
the San Francisco central body, which,
ne understood. had raised big strike
fund for the strikers.
Should Not Receive Support.
The striking railroad men, he point
ed out, were members of yardmen's
associations which were not affiliated
with the federation and were members
OF rival organization. They should
not nave received labor's support, the
resolution said. AS the constitution
OF the federation does not provide for
any punishment for such action, Mr.
Cashem urged that the labor bodies in
question be condemned and warned
not to aid any similar strike in the
future.
The International Ladies' Garment
Workers Union today was pressing
its fight to have the federation urge
the release of all political prisoners
and the repeal of the espionage act
The resolution would have organized
labor protect against further useless
and inhuman incarceration of social
idealists and demand their immediate
release, as well as complete restora-
ton of the freedom of the press, as
semblage and association without any
restrictions. qualifications or judicial
Interpretations in order to. attain
thooC Gioc, w hiCA dIHl dl lHe Te-eSIAD-
ltshment Of the sovereignty of the
Constitution of the United States over
the capitalistic class"
Conference Backs Resolution.
The central labor conference body
of New York, which Is backing the
resolution. has placed before the dele
gates a statement declaring that from
April /, 1917. to February %, 1920,
there were 1921 men imprisoned as
political prisoners, conscientious OBJ
jectors and military offenders"
I'VE feel that: through general am
nesty and appeal Of the wartime
laws we can wipe out. the wartime
animosities, and by that regain our
peace at home" said the statement.
Teamsters Ask Support.
A delegation of twenty-five repre-
sentatives Of the International Team
sters' Union arrived here from New
York to urge the federation to give
its support to the striking transpor-
tation workers in their fight against
the proposed ''open-shop" policy of
the Merchants Association. They
with the international officials of the
Frank Morrison. secretary of the
president of the International Bridge
were made chiefs" by Iroquois Indi-
an Indian village on the outskirts of
Montreal. The Indians gave a big
fete in honor Of the labor leaders.