The Washington times., 1921-02-23
|GOMPERSASKS
LABOR TO ARM
Calls on Heads Of 109 Unions
To Fight "PIutocratic
Reaction"
ISSUES ARE FUNDAMENTAL
Must Safeguard Freedom"
He Says, Addressing Con-
ference Here.
sSUES ARE FUNDAMENTAL

Samuel Gompers. president Of the
American Federation Of Labor, to-
day called upon organized labor to
protect "the democratic institutions
of our country" from attacks "by
plutocratic reaction" and "insidious
propaganda of European insanity"
TO FIGHT OPEN SHOP.
Gompers. addressing the opening
conference Of heads of the national
and international unions affiliated
with the American Federation of La
Dor. called upon the representatives
of labor to meet 'the issues of the
most serious character affecting our
people and our republic"
The conference was called to COM
bat the open shop movement. to draw
up a bill of rights and make demands
for legislation protecting the rights
of labor for collective bargaining, and
to organize against movements for
reduction OF wages and longer work.
ing hours.
Mr.. Gompers statement was as fol-
lows:
"This conference of officials. repre-
senting the national and international
unions has been called to consider is
sues of the most serious character
affectig our people and our Republic.
ISSUES ARE FUNDAMENTAL.
"It is not possible to forecast the
manner in which the conference will
deal with these issues. but 1t 10 certain
that the thought expressed will be for
the bencft Of our country. and for
the advancement Of the interests,
standards and freedom Of our people
"The issues that oonfxopt sAhAs on
ganixed people and all OF ouf pe0pl6
are Of the most fundamental nature.
cannot undertake to recount them.
In the main they are known to AL.
though not understood by all.
This / may say before the CONFER
ence opens: Our concern Ia for the
democratic institutions Of our co1htry,
Tor the safeguarding of our freedom,
wherever those things may be at
tackled. whether the attacks are made
by plutocratic reaction or by the in
siduous propaganda Of European in
sanity"
100 UNIONS PRESENT.
Represent tatives Of 100 international
unions amliated with the American
Federation OF Labor were present
when the conference convened. The
executive council Of the federation
submitted for their consideration an
outline of the stand which organized
labor will take in the present econo-
mic and industrial crisis. 1t is not ex-
pected that the program of the coun-
Gil will be materially altered by the
conference Of union leaders.
The program submitted by the
council, 1t is understood, dealt in de-
tail with plans for increasing the
power and membership Of the unions
and broadening their scope, with pro-
posed legislation affecting organized
labor and with the campaign against
the open shop. 1t 10 expected the con-
ference will take a determined stand
against any reduction of the present
wage scales or lengthening of the
present hours of labor.
A NOTICE TO HARDING.
Coming Immediately before the in
auguration of President-elec Hard
ing and the installation Of the new
Administration, this program. con-
sidered as "labor's bill OF rights" IL
expected to serve as formal notice
to the Harding regime of what labor
expects and will demand.
Some of the organizations sent sew
eral delegates and nearly two hun
hundred union leaders were present
when the meeting was called to order
behind closed doors.