New-York tribune., 1921-06-18
Labor Pledges
Its Support to
Meat w orkers
Resolution Condemns Pack
ers for Atte m pting
''to II e duce Millions
to u State of Poverty"
Miners Split ON Lewis
Illinois Leader to Oppose
His Candidacy if He
Runs Against Compers

DENVER, June II. - The American
Federation Of Labor, in convention to-
day, unanimously pledged it's support
to the packing house workers of the
country in their fight against further
wage reductions.
The "Big Five" packers were con-
demned for attempting to- reduce al
| most million workers and all their
dependents "to a degrading state Of
poverty with all its attendant depriva-
tions" and thus cause an unfortunate
condition that because Of It's farreach-
ing result will also impede the progress
Of the nation"
In making an appeal for organized
labor to keep up its fight to- free
Thomas Mooney and Warren K. Bill
lings, convicted in connection with the
San Francisco preparedness day bomb
plot, J ohm Mooney, brother of Thomas
Mooney, told the convention that these
men were kept in prison by criminal
conspiracy on the part of the State Of
California"
Mr.. Mooney said that when his
brother comes out Of prison he will
again take his place in the ranks Of
organized labor, as che believes in only
one organized labor movement in the
United States--that is, the American
Federation of Labor"
Interest in whether John Lewis,
president Of the United Mine Workers,
would oppose President Samuel Comp
ers for reelection continued at high
pitch to-day.
Lewis continued to maintain silence,
but it was learned that he had estab
lished headquarters at local hotel,
where representatives of the mine
workers from all sections of the coun-
try were gathering. Practically all the
executive board members Of the organ
| lzation were reported to he in the city.
Lewis Boomers Active
Lewis boomers were active through
out the day, canvassing the various
| delegations, but owing to the strict
secrecy being maintained it was i'm
possible to get any accurate estimate
as to the probable voting strength
mustered by the mine workers forces.
That the mine workers delegation is
split on the candidacy of Lewis was
learned tonight, when Frank Earring
ton, president of the Illinois district of
mine workers, announced that he would
not support the miners chief. He also
declared that two other delegates were
against Lewis and would cast their
votes against him if he decided to run,
An interesting sidelight on the pos
slble election contest developed to-day
with the arrival of J. B. CIinedinst. Of
Newport News, Va, representing the
Virginia State Federation of Labor.
he said that he had been sent here bv
his federation to cast It's single vote
for Mr.. Gompers.
The Virginia federation, Clinedinst
said, originally decided not to send a
delegate because Of the expense. When
newspaper reports reached the organi-
zation's officials that Gompers migh4
be opposed he said: "They instructed
me to reach Denver as quickly as nos
slble with the vote of Virginia"
Inc Federation also received a mes
sage from the Washington, D. c., Cen
tral LABOR Council urging the reelection
OF PRESIDENT Gompers as a reply to
the "outside influences that are at
tempting to disrupt the labor move
ment and endeavorng TO undermine
and destroy it's leaders,
Efforts to unseat all male Delegates
who did not wear union label on all
articles of wearing apparel were de-
1eated by an overwhelming vote to-day
IN the annual convention of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor.
The debate on the proposal was long
and stormy. Members Of the union
label committee contended that such a
resolution could not be enforced, as the
Federation was a voluntary organiza-
tion. Delegates of the tailors' union
argued for an anteroom examination,
where delegates would be inspected be-
fore they could enter the convention
hall.
Demand that Congress take action to
protect the nations interest against
the growing menace of Japanese i'm
migration and colonization" is made in
a resolution submitted to-day to the
convention.