Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-04-26
Federation WILL
PROBE: CONDITIONS
IN COTTON MILLS

selection of Macon as the conven-
ton city for next year, the twenty
third annual convention of the Geor-
gia Federation of Labor came to
close Saturday afternoon, after hav-
ing been in session at the Labor
Temple since Wednesday.
J. G. Valentino, of Savannah, and
a member of the machinists' union,
was unanimously elected president.
Mr. Valentino was nominated by T.
e. Whitaker, of the Atlanta Ma
chinists' union. and no other nomi-
nations were made. Mr.. Valentino
has served. the federation for the
past year as one of its vice presi-
dents, and has for a number of years
been a leading figure in the organ
lied labor movement in Georgia. He
is a resentative-elect to the leg
islature Yrom Chatham county.
Louie P. Marqtardt, of Atlanta,
who was elected secretary-treas urer
by the executive board to I'LL the
unexpired term of J, A. Mccain, de-
ceased. was unanimously eiecteu 70
that position. while the five vice
presidents chosen. were: o. E. Petry,
Columbus; A. G.. Smith, Augusta: j.
O. Morgan, Macon: P. o. Kohn, way.
cross. and Mrs. Maggie SeWell, OF
Atlanta. ~
Mrs. sewell is the first woman to
be elected to an executive postum
by the federation since 1t was or Or
ganiZed twenty-three years ago. She
is vice president of the Atlanta Feae
grafton of Trades, and president OF
the Atlanta label committee, and was
delegate to the CONVENTION from
Garment Workers local, No. ~.
J. A Miller, Of Atlanta. assocla55
ted with the law firm of Howard
Ecu W. Tho hos hnen associate
counsel for the federation for the
nast two years. was unanimously
a1ected counsel for the ensuing year
ana uncovered to appoint an as
sociate, if one was found TO Dc heo-
essary. .47o+, tho retir-
-, " w ,rnsident was unanimously elect
"a The federation's delegate TO tne
ennnaI convention of the American
Moderation of Labor, while Geors99
n Haney, of Atlanta. was na1Ileu
delegate to the convention OF the
GEORGIA branch of the Farmers
I'LL Mill Mill Charge Probe Ordered
TnonadiateIy after the afternoon
session convened, jerome Jones, rep,
resenting the Atlanta Federation VI
Tra6es, introduced resolution au-
thorizing the incoming .presluenI ~
investigate charges ah% 49,
National Textile association. VINO a.
Laced that women and children We're
heing forced to work seYenty-LMo
hours and more per week IN Gel on
textile mills in Columbus I'D, altu
that if they were found to be as r s1e
resented by. Mr.. C "a 4aniev - state
charges against H. M. Stanley sIa'o
commissioner of labor. ,.,,+
The charges, if any are brought
will ne according to the text of the res
be filed with Governor-elect
Hardwick. and will allege mlscon-
duct and negligence while , IN once
on the part OF me colli IN q Ieeathv
s+etement. asserted that the condi-
lions under which textile workers
had been working in Columbus, were
the worst he had ever foand any
where. and he further alleged tI.a'
MANY women and children We're oe-
ing forced to work from tMelVe Az ~
fourteen hours per day. he de-
ecribed the sanitary and living con-
ditions as "abominable. 49,, ,oa-
A resolution calling upon the teg-
fslatu to amend the law prescrlo
ing the maximum NUMBER OIL noul
per day and per week that women "
the state are required to work. was
adopted unanimously alIel eo4A''
cradle discussion.
The resolution asks that the law
he changed from 10 hours per day
to nine, and from sixty hours per
week to fifty. 1t further asks tlaI
anyone found guilty of violating the
sections of the law De punlSHeo Ao4
a misdemeanor.
An attempt was made to recon
slider the action of the convention
on the recommendation made on
Friday by the committee on social re-
which was received by
the convention but not concurred IN
The attempt, however, was lost by
a close vote.
In a voluminous report that COW
cred twenty typewriter pages, and
which was read by George F. Bell.
chairman of the committee. it was
among other things
that public control in the manage
ment of big business be urged and
fought for by org organized labor that that
gandists be condemned, and that the
labor forces exert every
effort to have the anti-injunction
laws passed.
Amnesty Is Asked
The features of the Saturday
morning session were the passage of
two resolutions, one calling upon
President Harding to Immediately
grant full amnesty to Eugene V.
Debs, and all other political pris-
oners, and the other urging that
trade relations between the United
States and Soviet Russia be estab-
lished speedily.
The resolution calling upon Presi-
dent Harding to grant amnesty to
political prisoners was adopted by a
close vote. after an address by Mrs.
Lucy Robbins, secretary of the gem
eral amnesty committee in Washing
ton, and the American Federation of
Labor's representative on that COM
mittee who reviewed the history of
political prisoners in the United
L. E. Whitaker. of Columbus. in
speaking on the resolution asking
that trade relations with Soviet Rus
STA and the United States be imme-
diately established. declared that 1t
was matter that had the entire SUD-
port of the American Federation of
Labor. He said that Soviet Russia
had the money and means to buy
made goods, and that this
country should do business with
them.
eve need the trade that Soviet
Russia will bring to this country"
asserted Mr.. Whitaker. 1T will help
conditions wonderfully in this coun-
try, and I hope that this conven-
ton goes on record as unanimously
ldNOIlIg Iue ISSO1uIlOll''
The resolution passed unanl-
mously.
Just prior to the installation of
officers and final adjournment,
Louie P Marquardt, in behalf of the
federation presented to w. P. Raoul,
the retiring president, a handsome
chest of silver as a token or ap-
probation of his services during the
past year.
Officers were then installed, and
J. G. Valentino, the new president,
took the chair. The convention rose
and sang, God Be With You Until
We Meet Again" and President VAL
entino declared the twenty-third an
nual convention adjourned.