The New York herald., 1921-12-28
LABOR WILL FIGHT
LOCKWOOD DEMANDS
Proposals to Curb Power of
Unions Alarm Leaders
Here.
BIG CONFERENCE TODAY
Incorporation Under State
Law Not Relished by
A. f. of i.
SOME POINTS YIELDED
Fear Expressed That Radicals
Will Gain Strength Through
Change.

Labor leaders are preparing to fight
the Lockwood Committees proposal 10
curb the power of unions by compell-
ing them to incorporate under State
laws. The American Federation of La
Dor, apparently alarmed by the at
tacks made by Samuel untermyer
counsel to the committee, has called
n conference of all organized labor
to-day at the Hotel Continental to
start counter move.
Mr.. Untermyer's demands that the
unions discontinue Objectionable
practices" as disclosed in recent ses-
sions of the Lockwood Committee, will
be taken up in detail in the conference
to-day. A few of the demands may
be met. The labor leaders declare they
are ready to make any reforms they
can from within, but they give notice
they will fight to the last any attempt
at regulation or control by any agency
outside of their ranks.
Delegates from the American Fedora
ton, the State Federation of Labor, the
Central Trades and Labor Council and
the Building Trades Council have been
invited to the gathering to-day to dis
cuss certain transfers and practices
among the building trades as disclosed
by the Lockwood committee. James p.
Holland, head of the state federation;
Hugh Frayne. representative in this
State of the American Federation and
spokesman for Samuel Gompers, and
dozen or more local leaders will at
tend
Plastercrs Union Yields.
The locals appear to be eager to &C
cept the demand from Mr.. Untermyet
for reform at the very moment the ma
tional leaders are lining UP their forces
for test of strength. Several unions
have declared their discontinuance of
certain practices of which complaint is
made.
The Plasterers Union announced yes-
terday it had acceded to all of the I'm
termyer demands. The executive COM
mittee of this union. whose organization
was shown to be tighter than any
cement made. adopted resolution de-
claring its discontinuance of ''objection-
able practices. That did not satisfy
Mr.. Untermyer. He gave notice some-
thing more must be done. Accordingly
Michael j. Calleran. the president has
called meeting of the whole union for
January to ratify the action of tho
executive committee
Mr.. Frayne said yesterday he did not
Know what action would be taken to-
Gay IN the conference. This is the first
Ilme the American Federation has taken
formal and official notice of the at.
tacks by the Lockwood committee. and
lts opposition is aroused by the proposal
TO bring the unions under State reguIs
Ilon by forcing them to incorporate
such drastic law would be n death
piow 10 unionism, the leaders assert.
II the state were authorized to pre.
scribe rules and regulations for the
conduct of all unions. labor men de,,aro
II would give employers an advantara
which would wipe off all that organi.
Eation has accomplished for their cause
in decade.
Fear Grip of RadfcnIs.
Dangers which threaten organized
labor from the attacks of radicals ~
all brands now trying to unite In one
Dig party will be emphasized by the
union leaders as reason for noninter.
terence by the State The unions have
been fighting hard battle to down
radicalism, they say, and the issue t.
not yet decided. Any move which
weakens unions az this critical time will
heIp indirectly the radical cause.
Inere are many socalled abuses shown
UP Dy Mr.. Untermyer and which he
insists must be eliminated IL he is NOT
tc go to the Legislature to ask for tho
enactment of his proposed incorporation
statute. one of these is the union sys.
tenn of issuing permit cards whereby
MT Untermyer charges the member
ship of unions is restricted. Nom
union members are assessed s25O a
week and union members SO a month
ond 1t is demanded this be stopped and
.ne membership thrown open to all
applicants.
Through the use of the permit n is
charged. the unions maintain a closed
corporation and by keeping down thei,
membership and forbidding employment
or other than union men, under threat
of strike, maintain absolute control a,
building and prices. Il is expected the
conference to-day will take decided
stand in support of the permit system.
Affects Collection of Dues.
Others of the "objectionable nractices.,
which the conference may consider 10.
uay WIN a view to advising the unions
how TO deal with the Lockwood commit
tee include the keeping OF books for
audit by the State; strict regulation OF
'he dues collected by union leaders reg
ulations regarding the employment al
helpers and foremen union rules pro.
hibiting use Of casts. fabricated work In
factories plumbing fixtures attached nj
factories and many other labor saving
devices.
Tho American Federation and It's OIL
Hes may indorse some of the demands.
especially those which would curb
unions in collecting funds from MEM
bers, but 1t Is regarded as settled that
the national leaders will accent the chal.