Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-23
j. S. RAIL CONTROL
FAVORED BY LEWIS
Naturalization Of Mines Also
Advocated by Candidate for
Federation President
eoMPERs POINTS TO RECORD
BY the Associated Press

~ efC fhSftVtdttu EreSS
Denver. Col. June 3.--Government
ownership Of the railroads and nation .
alization of the mines are the two major
issues on which John l.. Lewis hopes
to win the presidency of the American
Federation of Labor, It was learned
today. On the other hand. President
Samuel Gompers was striving for re
election upon his record OF the last
forty -one years as leader in the Amer
lean labor movement.
In his first, public statement as tc
his platform, Mr.. Lewis, president Of
the United Mine Workers. said:
II stand for Government ownership
Of the railroads and naturalization Of
The mines, and other progressive legisla
ton which will give the workers O,
America the freedom and justice in in
dustry they deserve.
Health Insurance Demanded
Il stand for health insurance. old
age pension and unemployment ins,r-
ance-all progressive measures for the
relief of the working masses. The en-
actment of laws covering these subjects
would give the workers ADEQUATE rro-
lection and reward for the service that
they have rendered industry
Mr.. Lewis said he had taken no def
mite stand on the subject of relations
with European trades union move
ments. adding:
II believe, however, that some logi
L..
which the American labor movcment
again can be affiliated with the Inter .
national Federation of Trade Unions,
OF course. the autonomy of the Ameri .
can organization must be fully guuran-
teed
In any event, believe we should
not lose contact with the European
federation. and we should be in com
munication with that body"
All my policies" he continued
will be formulated on a sane and con
Structive basis and be designed to NEE,
and adequately dispose of the great il
sues that confront organized labor as
they exist today"
GomDers Stands on Record
While President Gompers issued nc
statement. supporters in his behalf de.
clared that Ibis record in the American
labor movement during the last forty
one years would re elect him to the
presidency This made the issues be-.
tween the two candidates clear, AS
President Gompers has already gone on
record against Government ownership,
unemployment insurance. health insur-
ance and other similar proposed legis
lative measures.
Line Ups Virtually Unchanged
Supporters of both candidates con
tinucd their campaigns at top speed to :
day. carrying their elcctioneering to the
floor Of the convention. where they went
from group to group of delegates So
Letting their support. Little change.
however. was shown in the lne-ups for
the candidates.
The Lewis boomers made public n
telegram sent by John HaSler, president
aud William Mitch. secretary of the In =
diana district. United Mine Workers,
to Frank Harrington, president of the
Illinois district: Robert Harlan. prcsi =
dent Of the Washington district, and
Alexander Howat. president of the Kan
miners leader All three Of these dis
trict mine leaders are delegates to the
convention and are reported opposed
to Lewis.
The telegram said that the executive
board Of the Indiana district had held q
meeting and cnnvasscd the situation
and it was convinced that the great
mass of Indiana miners overwhelmingly
favored change in the presidency OF
the American Federation of Labor"
The railroad organizations up to to-
day had failed to declare which can
didate they would support If they reach
agreement, labor leaders said. their vote
probably would decide the election.
Resolutions Adopted
Among the more than a score of res
olutions adopted yesterday were in =
cluded declarations:
Urging passage of the Nolan bill to
make the minimum wage for Govern
mcnt employees So.
Supporting the executive councils re
port on adverse court decisions and
urging enactment of a national anti
injunction law.
Supporting efforts of seamen to get
workmen's compensation and accident
insurance.
Supporting the United Mine Workers
in their court cases growing out OF the
coal strike.
Opposing the Calder Coal bill in the
United States Senate.
Approving the Massachusetts law
relating to formation Of operative
banks and credit unions.
Requesting large appropriations for
the Federal Employment Bureau.
Approving the executive council :
report condemning the zone big union, -
and urging international union with
members in Canada to affiliate with the
Canadian Trades and Labor Congress.
Approving a court of adjustments for
civil service employees to settleS dis.
putes
Referring to the executive council for
investigation and action proposal to
ask for reduction of railroad executives,