The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-25

ing and severing relations with
 the International Federation of
 Trade Union, was sustained to-
 night by an overwhelming vote
 of the annual convention of the
 American Federation of Labor.
 Denver, June 24-The convention of the American Federation of Labor today voted down constitutional amendment designed to give women equal rights and privileges of mem bershtp in the union of their trade or industry" All affiliated unions, however, were urged not to discrimi nate against the woman wage esrner and admit her to membership.
 Efforts to wipe out the color line" m organized labor organizations also failed. The convention took the stand that national and international unions could not be compelled to recognize negro workers, and that this was a matter to be adjusted by conferences between the negro wage earners and the various organlza- tons.
 Both questions were the subjects of long and stormy debates in which discrimination by certain unions against the negro and woman wage earners was bitterly denounced
 The committees report rejecting the constitutional amendment to give women 'industrial equality" defend- cd the federation's stand on women in industry and cited efforts to get better wages and working conditions for them.
 Little Discrimination
 It declared that only few unions were discriminating against women and for that reason disapproved the amendment and urged that those national and international organl- zations which do not admit women to membership give early consideration for such admission"
 Equal rights for women in industry was voiced by delegates from the cigar makers and the laundry work CTS union, who declared 'if a woman does mans work she should receive mans pay.pt All dScrared that or- ganized labor should proteetgtae wonl- en wage earners
 W. D. Mahon, president of the AmaI- gamated Association os Street and Electric Railway Employees of Ameri- can, declared that his organization would not allow the federation to dictate to it in the matetr of woman's labor. He said he was in favor ot protection for woman workers but he did not believe that the back platform of street car was the | place for a woman"
 The defeated constitutional amend ; ment would have provided for the issuance of separate charter by the | federation to a woman's local with 1 out the consent of the union having | Jurisdiction of the particular trade.
 The negro question arose on the report of the committee on laws, which disapproved resolution call ing for the suspension of unions that discriminated against negro workers. 1 The committee, however, was upheld by overwhelming vote.
 l The Color Line | Replying to q question from the l floor IS to whether it was possibie to force any affiliated union to wipe out the color line,' President Com pers said:
 "Ihe American Federation of La bor has previously declared that it 1 is the duty of all workers to organ l ize regardless of sex, nationality, | race, pOllllEdl OtiiSi VT toiOi. l The federation, however, cannot | force this view upon individual or affiliated union without their con sent"
 Jordan w. Chambers, negro del. | esate of the railway coach cleaners of St. Louis, declared that confer ences between members of his race 1 and the union had been ordered tt previous conventions but never had been held, and urged drastic action l to compel recognition of the negro l workers.
 Union labor organizations of Wheeling, w. Va. were voted c.ssist' ance of the federation in fighting 4 court injunction served on them yes | terday A telegram read to the con- | yention said none of the attorneys O. Wheeling would consent to represent the union in their court action. | The telegram said that an empio' ers' organization had obtained an m junction restraining virtually aI' 1 trades unions of Wheeling from holding meetings, consregationg on the streets, in public meeting places 1 or in rooming houses because of Q building trades strike now in prog | ress" The unions, members, ein' ployes and officers were also en 1 joined from interfering with any member of the employing organiza | tion it's patrons or prospective pa- irons. the telegram said
 Both Candidates Confident
 Both candidates--John L.. Lewrs and Samuel C;ompers-were equally confident tonight that they would win the presidency of the Americ n | Federation of Labor tomorrow.
 Their supporters were winding up | tonight one of the hottest political campaigns ever waged in the histoi ' of organized labor. Throughout tne day electioneering ragged on the flocr of the convention. Time and again the proceedings were interrupted uy cheering of delegates. Protests were made to President Gompers that steps be taken to keep order. | Once. during the day Mir. Gompers warned organizers of the federation ] to stay off the convention floor and not attempt to do any electioneering il. connection with the election of of ficers. He also ruled that delegates must keep their seats but this or der was not generally obeyed.
 The Lewis supporters claimed they had made gains and sufficient votes 1 to elect the mine workers chief by several thousand majority. while the | Gompers boomers asserted that the veteran labor leader would win easily"
 lit in the ranks of the miners delegation threatened to deprive Lewis of i.5a6 votes. as it was an
 bounced tonight by Frank Farrins
 ln, president of the Illinois district nat neither he. Alexander iowat. of ! the Kansas district nor Robert liar.