New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-25
!Compers Says
ate Is
Election Issue
Warns Trade Unionists at
State Convention Com.
ing Campaign Is Life
and Death Struggle
Bohm Is Denied a Seat
A. F. of L. Chief Declares
Right to Stop Work Is
Challenged by EMPLOYERS
FROM a ssaJ Correspondent

B1NGHAMTON, N. Y, Aug. "a
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, opened
the annual convention of the New Yorl
State Federation of Labor here TO-DAY
with an address almost wholly politi-
cal in tone.
Without specifically commendinc
any candidates, he warned trade union.
lists that the issues involved in tho
campaign were a matter of life and
death 10 organized labor He pointed
to the policy of making it unlawful
Tor workman to stop work" as the
issue of paramount Importance now
facing the workers of the country. In
combating it, he declared, little help
could be expected either from the Re-
publican candidates or third party.
He referred to the shut-downs and
discharges of large numbers of en-
poyees on certain railroads and in
mills in New England as IAN obvious
attempt on the part of these EMPLOY
ers to coerce their employees into
voting Tor candidates favored by
them. He said he expected further
e'loSHSe u CHS Until Election Day.
but was satisfied that if it were seri-
ously continued the employers would
be forced to remove this coercion or
do their own work"
New York Man Unscated
1t was remarked that there was a
more emphatic political atmosphere
about thus years convention than at
any previous time. Evidence of inter
Ia! trouble IN the state body cropped
out soon after the opening of the meet
ing at Hotel Bennett, when the conven-
ton refused 20 seat Ernest Bohm, sec
rotary O. the Central Federated Union
OF New York. Robert P. Brindell. also
OF New York, insisted on Bohm being
barred under the provision of the con-
Sututlon making actual employment at
trade necessary qualification for
mem bershlp IN the convention.
There was host of officials on hand
10 welcome the delegates, among them
Lieutenant Governor Harry C. Walker
Edward +. Boyle, chairman of the State
industrial Commission; Mayor George
+. LUnn Of Schenectady, and DR.. John
b. andrews, secretary of the American
James T. Holland, president OF the State
Federation OF Labor, presided
Mr.. GomperS commented on the rati-
hcatlon OF suffrage by Tennessee
Let ME point out" he said, that
the working peoc.e were the first to
advocate equal opportunity and equal
pay for equal work by women. am
glad TO have been associated with this
movement, and know that trade union
lists often went on strike to see wom-
cn get the same pay as men for tie
same work
Nov that woman is enfranchised
with man. it is the duty of the new
woman to take her share of the work
efs burdens and duties seriously, and
1t derolvcs upon her to contribute to
the struggle IN securing justice, right
and freedom. To do this she can do
no better than help in the movement
Of the wage earners of the country"
Defends Strike as Weapon
Mr. Gompers then attacked those
who say that the strike is an obsolete
weapon of labor. These same men"
he went on, now undertake to make
strikes criminal and unlawful Some
people. 1t IS true, are Inconvenience
by strikes, and it is good that they
are. or they would not pay any atten-
ton TO the workers.
The labor chief asserted that some
OF the corporate interests were trying
to scare the men of labor. I'VE find
this condition. he declared. existing,
IN several plants, typitied particularly
by ,he Pennsylvania Railroad and
WOODEN mills in New England. The
Pennsylvania Railroad, in it's answer
10 ny declaration that this was done
tor political and not industrial pur
pose. said they had q lot of men whom
they did not need. Ten days later
1900 men were ordered discharged,
and a. the same time the officials of
the road announced that they must
close down number of the plants and
stop the handling of certain amount
of freight because of a shortage OF
labor"
Nj Holland deplored the fact that
the open shop question had been re-
vived. lie asserted that labor does
not want strife and is always willing
to discuss its grievances amicably.
He referred to complaints that the
worker was not producing enough,
blaming this upon inefficiency of man
agement AS for high wages, most
Of the employees pay, he asserted,
was now being goLbled up by the
pr iteering landlord. He scored the
traction companies of the state for
the unrest now existing on many
lines, pointing particularly to the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company,
which he said wanted a strike in
order to be able to force higher
fare
Miss Lucy Robins asked that the
Federation give more attention to the
movement to obtain general amnesty
for political prisoners, while DR..
Andrews and George Eisler, secre-
tary of the American Fellowship on
Americanization, urged that more at
tention be paid to intoxicating the
proper ideals among f.reigners and
immigrants. The various measures
which the convention will be asked to
support will be placed before the body
to-day IN the form of resolutions.