New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-14

ming of September 10, at which Mr..
Gompers will preside. Each local
union is to be represented by three
delegates. At that meeting the new
central labor body Of greater New
York is to be formed
This plan Of procedure is also the
one that was adopted by the Brooklyn
Central Labor Union but rejected at a
previous meeting by the c. T. u. The
communication from the A. f. of /. was
couched in the form or ain ultimatum
and was reinforced by the presence of
Hugh rayne, local organizer of the
a. f. of L., who in addressing the
meeting informed the delegates that
they were bound to accept the A. F. Of
L. plan or stand the consequences OF
having their charter revoked.
Bad Faith Charged
Mr.. Lefkowitz, Mr.. Kohn and others
Of their faction charged that the plan
forced by the A. z. of L. men upon the
c. I. L. was in reality the direct oppo-
site of that proposed by Mr.. Gompers
and the council Of the Federation in
their original proposal for the amalga-
nation of the central labor bodies OF
greater New York. Lefkowitz asserted
that Mr. Gompers and the A. f. of L.
leaders reversed themselves when. as
he said, they realized that their origi-
nal plan would not bring about the
realization of their purpose-the crush
ing of the progressive forces of the
labor movement in New York"
Lefkowitz charged also that the new
plan ordered by the American Fedora
ton of Labor was in violation of the
rights of autonomy of central labor
bodies provided for in the American
Federation of Labor constitution. LEI
kowitz contended that the real plan of
Gompers and his lieutenants in this
city was to reorganizc the labor move
ment in New York so that it would
repudlate the Labor party and indorse
the Democratic party. 1t was charged
by other delegates that the local Com
pers men were seeking to recapturc
the labor movement of this city for
Tammany Hall.
After prolonged and bitter discus
sion the meeting by large majority,
adopted the plan of the A. f. of L. Coun
Gil. When, however, the Labor party
faction. bowling to the decision Of the
majority, suggested that the C. f. T.,
on it's own account. send notices to
the 600 local unions in this city call
ing their attention to the decision of
the A. f. of l.. and asking them to
comply with it, Delegates Kehoe and
others of the GomDers faction fought
the motion.
This immediately provoked an at
tack from the Labortes to the effect
that by their opposition to this motion
the Gompcrs' spokesman "indicated
the measure of their sincerity" The
Gompers men then withdrew their OBJ
lection to the motion and it was
adopted.
Another point on which a fight was
provoked was on the charges brought
hy Lefkowitz and others against Peter
J. Brady to the effect that he had sup
ported the Lusk bills. Mr.. Brady de
clared he was ready to be tried by
the body in full session. Delegate
Rybicki. Of Typographical Union No G,
proposed that the matter be referred
for trial to the executive committee.
The motion was voted own by the
Gompers men by ajority of u few
votes
During the vote cries of "Fraud! "
were raised BY the opposition, Rybicki
and others charging that men who
were not delegates had voted on the
motion, some of them raising both
/ hands. On Mr. Bradys own proposal,
/ however, following demands for a roll
call and on indications that the OPP
position would demand roll call on
the verdict that might be rendered,
the Gompers faction reversed itself
and voted to refer the matter to the
| executive committee