The New York herald., 1921-06-17
LABOR FEDERATION
BY UNANIMOUS VOTE
REJECTS big UNION
Repudiates Scheme to Have
All Contracts With En-
ployers Expire at the
Same Time.
BALKS GENERALSTRIKE
Executive Council Attacks
International Federation
as Revolutionary; Re-
fuses to Affiliate.
kU KLUX START UPROAR
Resolution Against Klan Is
Blocked: Lewis Adherents
Claim Votes Enough to
Beat Gompers.
KU KLUX START UPRoAR
By the Associated Press.


Federation of Labor to-day unani-
mously repudiated the 'one big union"
idea Without discussion, the forty
first annual convention Of the fedora
ton sustained the action OF its COM
mittee on organization in not concur
ring on resolution calling for 'one
body of workers through amalgama-
tions, declarations and protective agree
nlents."
The resolution presented by J. t.
Pauley of the West Virginia State
Federation of Labor also urged all
national and international unions to
insert clauses in their working agree
ments whereby they can render such
assistance as is needed by any and all
crafts when called upon to do So" 1t
asked that all unions arrange the dates
of their contracts so that they would
expire at the same time.
The executive council of the fedora
tion has finally and completely repudi-
ated the International Federation of
Trade Unions as 1t is now conducted.
This announcement was made tonight
at the convention headquarters of Presi-
dent Samuel Gompers. who made public a
copy OF a letter sent to the secretariat
of the European trade union movement
In Amsterdam.
Communication Denounced.
After denouncing as offensive and in.
sulting' recent communication from
the International Federation asking the
council to reconsider it's action in with
drawing its afiiIiation, Mr.. Gonper4. on
behalf of the council, In the letter said:
TN so far as our affiliation with the
International Federation OF Trade Unions
at the present time Is concerned. We
must repeat the former declarations
made In our communications to you. en-
phasize them II possible. and await the
hour at which IL may be possible to full
nj our hopes of united movement on a
basis that accords with the philosophy OF
democracy. with autonomy for all. free
dom for all. and a common goal of a
Better time for all the toilers and all the
7eopies."
sSeviewing the alleged revolutionary
activities and war nanifestos of the in
ternational. which caused the council t.
sever connections with the European
movement several months ago. the
American labor chief further stated that
American labor must decline to ac-
cept your declarations and proclarna-
;ions as truly expressive of the senti-
ments of the whole trade union move
ment of Europe"
I'VE have faith" said President Com
perss letter, Gin the good sense and
.I.t.- Atf.p f.f Ian mn ant
with whom we proudly stood side by side
IN the great war for democracy and
human freedom and We are hopeful
that the time is not far distant when
the trade union movements of all the
nations of the world may cooperate on
basis of common good will. under
standing and constructive effort"
Offensive Reference.
Replying to the Internationars COM
rnunication. which is alleged to have in
timated that the war time proclama-
tons and appeals issued by its head
quarters had been read carelessly or
only In part. and that false under
standing of their contents has been con-
veyed to the membership OF the Amer
lean Federation of Labor" President
Gompers's letter said:
''your letter in connection with this
portion of the discussion IL particularly
offensive and Is resented. Ii is. more
over. clumsy effort to make 1t appear
that the American Federation OF Labor
is "A supporter of reaction and OF war.
AN example Of this is found In your
statement that we must candidly con-
fess that VIC fail to understand how II
is possible for you. as Democrats, to
set yourselves in opposition to the strug-
gle against reaction This is a state
ment that might we'll come from the
plutocrstic. selfsh interests allied against
tii. workers. but that can be considered
as no less than insulting when coming
from the officers OF an organization pre-
sumsbly representing trade unions ad-
dressed to bona fide organization Of
trade unionists.
Fede eratton's Uecord.
Tho American Federation of Labor
does not need to defend its progressive
record. IL does not need 20 proclaim here
Its unendng struggle against atrtocracy
and greed. Those who oppose labor and
those who make even o pretence at be-
Ing Informed understand those things
fully
Your manifesto is not misunderstood
Its full implication was thoroughly COM
pretended. and II was precisely because
such was the case that our opposition 10
IL was so firmly stated"
Tho letter declared that while the
autonomy Of each trade union centre Is
guaranteed by the International's consti.
tuition these guarantees have been ut
terly and hsgrantly violated and dis
regarded"
President Gompers's letter stated that
the autonomous rights OF the American
federation must be safeguardcd and the
federation would not submit to be die
tatcd 10 or instructed to carry out pot
Continued on Fourth Pogo.