The Washington times., 1921-06-12
LABOR WILL
CHALLENGE:
'OPENSH0P'
INTERESTS
Denver Meeting to Draft Cam
paign For Bitter Fight on All
Opposition Industries.
BY MILDRED MORRIS.
Internatiensi News Service.


DENVER, Jine 12.-Fighting for
existence, the organized labor hosts
of America will sound their battle
cry when representatives of approx
imately 100000 workers Of the
United States and Canada gather
here tomorrow for the forty-first an
nual convention Of the American
Federation of Labor.
"OPEN SHOP. MENACE.
The convention is expected to taks
the most militant stand in the history
of the American labor movement. IL
will map out a campaign of war
against the open shop" and the
movement to reduce wages. II will
issue a challenge to all interests
which have been hghting organised
labor.
Leaders declared today that never
In It's history has labor faced such a
crisis as that which now confronts II.
The enemy" is fighting II on all sides.
and IL has the problem of nearly
100000 unemployed to meet
I'VE cannot be beaten, and when
the present business depression Is
over. we will emerge, more powerful
than ever" said Frank Morrison, ssc--
retarY OF thei re0eratiOn. we EnNtl
draft a program of reconstruction" 2
with the arrival OF John l.. Lewis.
president of the United Mine Workers
of America, speculation Increased as
to whether he will oppose Samuel Com
pers for the presidency of the fedora
ton. Lewis still refuses to discuss
reports of his candidacy. A defaits
statement is expected from him, and,
according to predictions, II will be %
the effect that he will not be a csndi-
date. s. .,.
UP TO "oPPosITION.-
According TO his supporters he will
run II the Opposition" to Gompers de-
mands it. Not until the machinists'
delegates and the railroad union repre-
sentatives hold caucus win II be de-
termined whether any effort will be
made TO oust the veteran head OF the
federation. Because of his connection
with the National Civic Federation, q
cannot vote for him. Their delegation
has given no indication, however, that
they will name a candidate.
The Opposition" may make a slate
to elect two members on the executive
council--most probably William H.
Johnston. president of the International
Association of Machinists. and Joseph
Franklin, head of the Boilermakers'
international Union. IL is expected to
concentrate its fight on efforts TO re-
buke Gompers leadership by repudi-
ating policies for which he is declared
responsible.
demonstration is planned when
Irish resolutions now under draft arc
presented TO the convention. The Irish
sympathizers will meet tomorrow night
to make their program.
PLAN IRISH DEMONSTRATION.
j. II. Thomas, head of the British
railroad workers and n member of the
British Parliament. who win sit in the
convention as fraternal delegate from
the British Trade Union Congress- 10
expected to answer Samuel Gompers'
charge that European labor has red"
policies.
ing Trades OF the American Fedora
tion OF Labor yesterday will have the
most sweeping effect in the building
industry in the history OF the labor
movement. leaders declared today.
One which resulted in the suspen-
sion OF the United Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners, regarded az
the most powerful body In the Ameri-
can Federation OF La1or. declares that
Inter-union warfatu which has tied up
building operations costing millions OF
dollars must stop
The other will result In a clean up"
OF the building situation in New York
The departments action yesterday In