South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-09
NAME COMMITTEE
To MOBILIZE ALL
TRADE UNION MEN
American Federation of Labor
Claims Congress Failed
to Do Its Duty.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONED
has given encouragement and sup
port 10 autocratic and rcactionary
policies. It's dominating thought has
been the repression OF labor.
Every effort 10 secure remedial
and constructive legislation has been
strangled. Every appeal for redress
has met with subtle and open hos
tiHty. The halls OF congress have
been used by labor's enemies to
foster and spread a vicious propa-
ganda against the efforts Of the toll
ers 20 exercise their normal and law
ful activities for the protection and
promotion Of their interests and well
fare. Labor has appealed for re-
lief in vain.
The hour has arrived when those
who believe in the maintenance Of
democratic institutions must marshal
their forces in defense OF their rights
and ideals.
Odopt Program.
1T Is lntolerable that a people
who spared no cost 90 hnake the
world safe for democracy should be
forced 90 submit to any restriction
OF the glorious liberties inherited
from the founders of our nation.
The perpetuation Of our fundamen-
tai rights and the enactment OF es-
rrtfr f.rTa 4
mand the election Of men. regardless
Of their political affiliations who are
truly representative OF American
ideals or liberty
Conscious Of its responsibilities
impressed by the grave problems re-
sulting from the great war the
American Federation OF Labor at
its annual convention ir June. 1919.
adopted a reconstruction program
This program defined the essential
industrial policies and legislative en-
actments required 90 establish q full
measure or justice and opportunity
for labor.
Because Of grave emergencies
which arose since that convention it
became imperative that the repres-
entatives OF organized labor and OF
farmers should assembl and confer
10 devise ways and means for safe
guarding their rights and liberties as
free men and citizens. on Deem
Der IS, 1919, a conference Of rep
resentatives of labor and Of farmers
met in Washington, ID. c.
This conference expressed 1abor's
grievances, protests and demands
Fail 90 Act.
NO favorable legislative action
upon the recommendation contain
ed I'm the American Federation OF
Labor reconstruction program. or
those expressed at the December
conference. has been taken by con-
gress. Instead many congresmen
have endeavored 10 enact Iegisla-
ton providing for compulsory labor.
Despite the patriotism and sacrifice
OF the masses OF labor of America.
during the World war. under the
guise or anti-sedition laws the effort
has been made to repress free asso-
citation. free speech and free press.
ScOrned by congress ridiculed and
misrepreseuted by many members OF
both houses. the American labor
movement finds il necessary to vi
gorously apply its long and weII-es-
tabIished bipartisan political pol
iJv.
Constructive law Needed.
Confronted by a succession Of
hostile congresses. the American
Federation of Labor i'm 1905. an
nounoed its historic bill Of grie-
yances. This was followed bv
vigorous and successful non-parti-
san political campaign. In 1908.
1910 and 1912. the same program
was energetically applied. As a re-
SUE many or labor's congressional
enemies were defeated and all Of the
essential legislation i'm labor's bill Of
grievances in 1906 was enacted.
Constructive legislation has new
or been so necessary as at present:
never has been so essential to secure
the defeat Of labor's enemies and the
election OF its friends anS supporters.