Evening star., 1921-06-21
|A.F. Of |. AGAINST
| GRAIN Gambling"
Seeks to Combat Living
Cost-LeWis Gains Votes
for President.
By the Associa ted Press.


DENVER. Col, June 21.-Abolition
of gambling in grain futures on the
Chicago Board of Trade" establish
ment of cooperative producers and
consumers organizations and govern
ment regulation Of corporations and
monopolies were urged today by the
convention of the American Fedora
the high cost of living.
The work Of the Federal Trade Com
mission was commended and Congress
was urged to provide funds for in
vestigation Of all industries and pub
lioation Of statistics showing the cost
Of production and marketing OF all
staple commodities.
IF the people are in full possession
of all the facts Of costs OF distribu-
tion and the profits made on the nee
essaries of life. public opinion would
have powerful effect in reducing
prices and there would be no neces-
sity of prosecution under the Sherman
antitrust law" the declaration said.
In urging the abolition of gambling
in futures and unnecessary recon-
signme nts and brokerage operations"
the resolution said there ARE too
many overturns between the pro-
ducers and consumer, which ultimate
ly increase the cost Of living"
Oppose Fixing Of Wages.
The convention went on record
against legislation fixing the wages
of the workers. declaring that IF
American standards are to be gov
erned by laws enacted by a Congress
made up of men not alive to main
tanning those standards the workers
Of the country will suffer irreparable
injury by legislation governing their
wages
An educational campaign to give the
the truth about the labor movement"
and meet the propaganda in the
schools Of the country in furtherance
Of the so-called open shop" was au-
thorized by the delegates.
Lewis Gains Votes
Campaigners for both John L.
Lewis president of the United Mine
Workers. and Samuel Gompers,
candidates for the presidency, were
working at top speed today when the
sessions Of the annual convention of
the American Federation of Labor
were resumed
The Lewis supporters today added
the Ama1gamated Association of Iron.
Steel and Tin Workers, Mine, Mill
and Smelter Workers and Railway
Carmen, and nearly $50 single votes
of state and central bodies to their
list which already includes the ma
chinists' union. mine workers and
carpenters and joiners' union-the
three largest in the federation-with
a combined voting strength of 1854
The election. labor leaders said,
would be made special order of
business for next Friday afternoon.
Irish Report Ready.
The most important issue to come
before the convention today was the
Irish question, on which the resolutions
committee was ready to report. This
port unfavorably the declaration calling
for boycott on British made goods.
and urges the convention to adopt the
resolution expressing sympathy for the
irish cause and urging recognition of
the Irish republic by the United States.
The group Of Irish sympathizers sup
porting the boycott announced that
they will attempt to have the conyen-
ton repudiate the committee and adopt
their resolution, which they declared
was drafted by high official of the
Irish republic"
They made public a telegram from
Harry Boland. secretary to Eamon
the Irish republic" which said "noth-
ing but water-tight boycott can re-
strain Britain's denominations in Ire
On the other hand, the Irish SYM
pathizers. headed by Peter Brady of
New York, were prepared to vote
against the boycott and support the
bother resolution, which they sub
mitted. Their resolution described
alleged abuses in Ireland by Great
Britain and in nine numbered sections
reafhrmed the action Of the Montreal
convention in demanding recognition
of the Irish republic. 1t also de-
manded withdrawal Of the British
troops from Ireland, urged United
States officials to demand from Great
Britain interest and loan due now,
and proposed a campaign to secure
trial and punishment of members of
the British regular infantry.
Yesterday's Session.
A resolution was adopted at yester-
days session pledging the federation
against all efforts to, destroy the
United States Department Of Agricul-
ture.
s.The Department Of Agriculture has
stood in the way of those who have
mercilessly bled the farmers white
for years and years. the resolution
said. 'It is believed by the enemies
Of the farmers that II the Department
1ConfInUed On Pare 2 Column 81