The New York herald., 1921-06-14
COMPERS SAYS OPEN
SHOP HAS FAILED
Ranks Of Trades Union
Movement Intact. He De-
claIes at Denver.
ASKS FARMERS AID
Would Combine Against.
Would Combine Against,
industrial Captains and
Princes of Finance.
SCOTT BILL PROTESTED
Convention Fears Effect on
Navigation-OppOse Depart
ment of Public Welfare.

DENVER. June 13.-Samuel Gompers,
addressing the opening session of the
forty first annual convention of the
American Federation of Labor here
to day. declared that the enemies of
labor and the advocates of the open
labor and the ranks OF the American
trades union movement held intact.
Similar sentiments We're expressed n.
the report of the. executive council of
the federation.
A year of progress was predicted
for 1921. Gompers declaring that be
fore the next snow falls we shall have
passed the 100000 mark in the
America Federation of Labor"
Closer alliance and cooperation be-
ers of the country and the farmers
was urged by the veteran labor leader
in order that we shall not be crushed
by the reaction of industrial captains
or princes of finance
The first official action of the con-
vention was to adopt resolution to be
submitted to Congress protesting against
the Scott bill now pending. which 1t was
alleged would increase the length of the
navigation season on the Great Lakes.
reduce the number of skilled seamen en-
ployed on ships end increase the hours OF
labor Tnat action was pronosed by
delegates Of the international Seamen 9
Union. VINO declared that the bill would
eliminate provisions in the seamen's act
and would increase the dangers incident
to navigation.
Advise Flood Relief.
The convention unanimously adopted
declaration of the executive council
calling rpon all local and international
unions to aid the Pueblo flood sufferers
The Plate Printers Union of Washing
ton, p. c.. and the Brotherhood of Rail-
way Clerks. it was announced, had each
contributed $500
Urging world wide disarmament in
lis address at the opening of the con-
tention, Gompers said
"I believe the time will come and we
have earnestly striven and we will con-
tlnue 10 strive Tor the ''fne Wnen there
shall be total disa rmament in all the
countries of the world and that disar-
mament will be based upon universal
agreement"
He made an emphatic appeal 10 the
workers to unite in opposition to the
movement designed to create a depart
ment Of public welfare.
Under the pretense of trying to cre-
ate q department of public welfare, it
is seriously proposed to destroy the De-
partment of Labor and the Department
OF Agriculture" he said. mo one can
foretell where reaction leads AS
matter Of fact these are the only two
departments in the Government of the
United States that represent at All the
producers OF the wealth of our country,
and it IS seriously proposed to destroy
these two departments.
The labor leader urged the delegates
10 discuss the questions confronting the
convention with moderation. with In
iercst. with intelligence, with intense
feeling. always driving al the Just point.
While we love every human being,
lie added mo mater where he may have
been born or where he now resides, and
will help as best we can, there Is one
principle from which I feel we cannot
depart America first