Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-12
Montreal Resolution Declares
Convention "Turned Back
on Wage Earner."
WILL SUBMIT IDENTICAL
DEMANDS TO DEMOCRATS
Allege Industrial Enslavement and
Abrogation of Rights as
Precious as Life"
By the Associated Press.

I WIN NIhEAL, June 12.-Amid tre-
mendous applause. the American Fed
Grafton of Labor at its annual con-
vention here today adopted a report
condemning the republican convention
In Chicago for turning it's back upon
labor" in adopting it's platform.
During reading of the report, pre-
sented by Samuel Gompers and Mat
thew Woll. president and vice pres!-
dent of the federation, various sec
tions of republican planks criticised
/ ny the labor leaders were Kissed while
their critics received applause.
II will be noted that the platform"
said the statement, "is silent on the
essential right of wage earners to or
ganlze into trade unions and to select
tneir own representatives, and ignores
the fact that only by collective bar
Wage-Workers can industrial justice
| be attained"
Silent ON Labor's Demands.
The labor leaders also pointed out
that the republican platform was si-
lent on labor's demand that "ConRress
snouio take action to prevent the fed
erai courts from continuing the usur-
patton OF authority in declaring un-
constitutional acts passed by Con-
gress. and on labor's proposal that
judges of all federal courts shall be
elected by the people for terms not
exceeding six years"
The report was ordered printed and
distributed to organized labor. 1t as
serted that the labor declaration of
the republican platform proposes an
/ Industrial enslavement and an abro-
cation OF rights as precious as life
itself" and that 1t denied the right to
strike.
Mr.. Gompers announced that the ex-
ecutive council has directed that la
bor's demands submitted to the repub-
lican convention be presented in iden-
tical form to the democratic national
convention.
Analyze Democratic Platform.
! Mr.. Gompers added that the demo-
cratic party's platform, upon adoption.
to labor identical in form to that
made on the republican document.
The demands Of labor will be laid be-
| fore the democratic In San Francisco
/ by Mr.: Gompers, Mr.. Woll and other
The statement Of Mr., Gompers and
a1s NJ, VOL among other charges de-
while there is in the platform a
certain shrewdness in selection Of
tunity for doubt as to the true mean
ing of their provisions relating to
labor
| Assails Pronteering Attitude.
The statement which was presented
to the convention by President Com
pers goes into great detail, pointing
out labors grievances against the re-
sails the republicans for neglecting
anti-profiteering legislation recon-
mendations.
The republican platform practi-
cally ignores the prcfiteer." the state
tent added. "and while recognizing
no remedy for that condition. Spe-
cific proposals submitted by labor for
relief from the high cost of living
and profiteering are given no place in
the platform"
The Mexican plank Of the platform.
the labor leaders charged. clearly
aims to undermine the sovereignty of
the Mexican people and to make the
maintenance of order in Mexico the
business of the government Of the
United States.
Exploitation Of Mexico.
1T proposes the fulfllment Of what
have long been the hopes and aims
Of those whose sole object is the ex-
ploitation of the people and boundless
resources of Mexico" according to the
labor chiefs. The republican in
dorsement of the transportation act of
1920 was declared to be complete
denial and reputation OF the demands
submitted by labor and is an emphatic
Endorsement of the labor provisions
Of the Cummins- Esch railroad act"
The section of this plank referring
to peaceful arbitration Of wage dis
putes'' was said to be denial Of the
lawful right of the workers to cease
working"
This denial of the right to strike"
the labor chiefs assert ''the party
proclaims as one of its greatest
achievements"
1--WE hold no brief for the democratic
party" continued the statement COM
menting on the republican condemna-
ton of the democratic administration for
failure to enforce the anti-profteering
laws, but we call attention to the
fact that specific proposals on this sub
pletely.
Offers No Remedy.
''The republican platform evades the
issue and offers no remedy; it denies
the Importance of profiteering as the
leading cause Of the high cost of living,
and endeavors to put a part of the re-
sponsibility upon what 1t falsely calls
'disproportionate wage advances We
have no knowledge of any substantial or
effective anti-profiteering laws passed
by the republican Congress"
The plank regarding labor's right to
demands and contemplates the erection
of government machinery for the coer-
cion of labor and for the suppression and
limitation Of its proper. lawful and nor
NAL activities" said the statement.
TT proposes to erect government
tribunals vested with the power to
compel involuntary labor. The entire
plank is a denial of freedom, and In
addition subversive of the best inter-
ests Of our republic"
The labor leaders asserted repubii-
cans failed to mention in their plat
form 1abor's demands for a federal
law for the legal right of voluntary
to protect themselves
against ''unwarranted Issuance Of writs
Of injunction" and the vigorous en-
forcement of the seamen's act and the
most liberal Interpretation OF its pro-
visions"
Organized labor pledged itself to
purchase only union-labeled goods.
after several delegates had declared
that the union label must be given
more patronage" If the union shop.
hours. wages and working conditions
were to be obtained.
The convention adjourned until
after adopting resolutions ia