Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-06-07
REPORT OF A. F. L. EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE DENoUNCES
MANY THINGS.
BoLsHEvIsM INCLUDED
IN ITS CRITICISMS
Cummins Railroad Bill, High Cost of
Living, Profiteerins, Congress and
Employers in General Subjects of
Adverse Comment - Report Pre-
sorted at Annual Convention in
Montreal, Canada.
by Associated Press.

49, NOnkVCdly SdHdOds -
by Associated Press.
Montreal, Que, June 7.-Denuncia-
ton of bolshevism, profiteering, the
action of the United States govern
lnent in invoking the food control
law against the late miners strike,
and the failure of the American con-
gres, to take action to control the
cost of living are among the out
standing features Of the annual re-
port of the executive council Of the
American Federation of Labor pre-
sented today to the annual conven-
ton here.
With the councils review of Or
ganized labor's position and activi-
ties for the last year, was also pre-
sented "a specific program for rem
edy.''
The Cummins railroad law was de-
notlrlced. as was the Kansas law es-
tablishing the court of Industrial re-
lations. The high cost Of living was
laid largely at the door of ''big prof.
iteers, while the report declared the
United States government, princi-
pally thru the department, of justice,
has conducted campaign of stupid
ity." ss
Congress was assailed for cutting
appropriations designed to carry on
the work OF the collateral branches Of
the department of labor and for var
ious proposals, such as the sedition
bill, which the report says the labor
movement was instrumental in de-
feating.
In its reference to the foreign field,
the report denounced what it charac-
terized as propaganda for American
Intervention In Mexico and declared
that the executive council sees mo
justification for interference" which
It argues would be in the interest "of
the exploitation Of its workers, and
its boundless wealth Of oil and min
erals"
Steel Corporation As.aiied.
The United States Steel Corpora
tion was assailed for it's refusal to
deal with labor organizations in the
authorities Of Boston also were de-
nounced for their attitude in the cele-
brated strike of policemen in that
city,.
The workmen Of Canada were con-
graduated for defeating "the one big
union" idea and their stand was
characterized as "a magnificent tri-
umph for trade unionism, and a vim
dication Of the purposes, policies and
achievements Of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor"
The Industrial conferences called
by President Wilson were character
lied as unsuccessful because ''the
employers stubbornly resisted every
attempt at Cancellation" and would
not accept any resolution on collec-
tive bargaining unless it was so
worded as to be anti-trade union in
spirit and to provide encourae ament
and support for comEe@. unions"
The machinery proposed by the sec
ond conference, the report attacks, as
In many respects actually PERM
cious," and it declares that 'the ma
chinery designated by the presidents
commission is entirely out Of con-
tact with the life for which 1t was
designed and entirely untitled for
the needs Of that life.'
Existing machinery the report de-
clares lis superior in every respect"
Specific Remedy Program.
As a program of Specific remedy"
for existing conditions the councils
report proposes the following:
I'VE demand that the government
be authorized to buy standard COM
modities direct from producers and
that these commodities be distribute
ed thru regular retail channels at q
retail price to be fixed by the govern
ment.
I'VE demand that this power be
made use OF as a corrective for prof.
iteering and we call attention to the
fact that the government has estab-
lished a precedent for such action in
its sales of surplus war supplies.
I'VE demand that the federal gov
ernment thru the internal revenue
department ascertain the amount of
excessive war profits extorted from
the American people during the years
1916, 1917, 1918, 1919 and 1920. and
that these excessive war profits be
taken thru its taxing power by the
federal government and applied to
the extinguishment Of the floating
debt Of the government and to the
partial retirement of liberty bonds at
par in order that the existing inflated
structure Of currency and credit may
be reduced and that the government
may carry out its sacred obligation
to the people and maintain it's iber-
ty and victory bonds at par.
Corporation must be encouraged
as an effective means of curbing pro-
fiteering. To stimulate rapid devel-
opment Of co-operatives the federal
farm loan act should be extended so
as to give credit to all properly or
ganized co-operatives, just as credit
is now given to individual farmers.
Co-operationis no less vital and wor-
thy of support than are the railroads,
which were given hundreds of mil
lions Of dollars and an area of land
equal to New England to facilitate
their establishment. There should be
legal enactment to protect cooper
atives against discrimination by man
ufacturers and wholesalers.
Control of credit capital by those
whose other interest is the culmina-
ton of profits results inevitably in
the open door for profiteering. We
repeat and emphasize the demand of
organized labor that control and cred
1t be taken from the hands of private
.financiers and placed in the hands
OF public agency to be administered
by voluntary and cooperative meth