Great Falls tribune., 1921-02-24
UNIONS PREPARE
0 BATTLE FOR
JUSTICE IN j. 8.
Conference Considered
Epochal in History Of
American Toilers.
Federal and State Leg
islation to Help Cause
Gets Attention.

Washington, Feb. 23.-Issues.
of the most serious character af-
fectng our people and our repub-
ilc' are faced by organized labor,
Samuel Gompers. president of the
American Federation of Labor
declared here today at the opening
of the extraordinary conference of
representatives Of national and i'll
ternational Unions.
The issues 'in the main are
known to I'll, though not under
stood by all he said. adding that
our concern is for the democratic
institutions Of our country and for
the safeguarding of our freedom
wherever those things may be at
tackled, whether the attacks are
made by olutocratic reaction Or
because of the insiduous propa-
ganda of European insanity"
Washington. Feb. 23.-Representa-
tives Of the 100 national and interna-
tional unions affiliated in the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor gathered here
wednesday in an extraordinary con-
ference to organize against attacks on
the union labor movement
The conference. called by President
Gompers, is considered one of employees
epochs and one of the few of its kind
ever held in the history of the confer
ence.
"BiII of Rights"
The first business was the presen-
tation by the executive council of a
bill Of rights" and recommendations
for labor program. The council
framed its report after being in con-
tlnuous session nearly all day Tuesday.
The program was understood to pro-
vide for campaign against anti union
shops. wage reductions, compulsory ar
bitration, labor injunctions and "open
shop propaganda.
One Of the proposals, it was said,
calls for publicity campaign to offset
the propaganda of the enemies of
union labor.
Plan Labor Legislation.
Federal and state legislation to fur
ther the cause Of organized labor also
is to be considered.
The conference. union leaders said,
Is expected to determine the attitude
the federation will take in it's relation
with the incoming Republican admins
tration. Conditions Of industrial condi-
tons throughout the country was be-
Ing taken by labor leaders here for to-
days meetings and all agreed that the
present depression was the worst the
federation had faced in years.
'The coal mining industry has been
hard HIT" said John l..
Lewis, president of the United Mine
Workers Of America. production is
less than 60 per cent of normal"
Michael Tghe, president Of the
Association of Iron, Steel
& Tin workers, said he had never seen
conditions 30 bad, but added he believed
the worst will soon be over.
Conditions Bad In Trades.
Conditions In the metal trades were
described as bad by A. j. Berries, head
Of the metal trades department.
Thousands of our men are out Of
work." said William Johnston, presi-
dent Of the International Association
of Machinists. 1.-THE railroad situation
u especially bad, hundreds Of work
ers being laid off because Of reduced
working forces"
Industrial depression and widespread
leaders said, would not
ieter the federation in its plan to COM
,at attempts to further reduce wages
md inaugurate the "open shop"
There are more than 200 delegates
present. the majority being executive
officers OF various unions.