Evening star., 1921-05-05
URGEPUBL|C WORK
FOR UNEMPLOYED
Plan Drive Against "0pen
Shop" at Opening of A. F.
of L. Conference.
BY the Associated PreAs.

CINCINNATI, Ohio, May 5.-De-
the United States as a remedy for the
present unemployment situation was
urged here today by Frank Morrison,
secretary Of the American Federation
of Labor, in a statement at the opening
of the ten-day session of the fedora
tons executive council
There are at least 100000 workers
out of employment" said Secretary
Morrison, land conditions are showing
no improvement. Many of these men
could be put to work on national. city.
county and state public work.
When the nation is enjoying pros
perity it is not the time to develop
public work. The time for public i'm
provement is an industrial lull. such
as we gre experiencing now"
President Samuel Gompers. who ar
rived here this morning with his bride,
declined to make any statement re-
garding the proposed councils pro-
gram.
When asked what he had to say
about the nationwide "open-shop"
movement. MIR. Gompers replied:
They'll have fine time doing it,"
Oficials of the executive council Of
the federation, which is also meeting
here. said today that the council would
reiterate its stand against wage re-
ductions. They declared that in many
cities where there are strikes and
lockouts the workers had been with
m ~ f<,p h haf
employers had attempted to change
the wage schedules.
J. B. Malloy, grand vice president
of the United Brotherhood of Main
tenance Of Way Employees and Shop
Laborers. appeared before the council
in an effort to settle the jurisdictional
controversy between his organization
and the International Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners.
The maintenance of way employes'
, union, with it's membership of about
100000. was suspended from the fed :
Grafton in December 1919, because of
this controversy. If an adjustment
can be made here the union will be
reinstated.
Discuss Important rPObIems.
The important problems confronting
the organized labor movement in the
United States were discussed today by
the executive council of the America n
Federation of Labor. While the fodera
tionS council, under the direction Of
President Samuel Gompers, was taking
up matters pertaining to the general sit =
uation the executive council of the
building trades department Of the
federation was in session consider
ing the building trades labor situa-
ton.
Among the first of the major is
| sues TO be taken up by the fedora
tiOn council was plans for continu-
ing nationwide drive against the
open shop and the american plan"
| federation's membership over the
| 100000 mark were also scheduled
| for discussion.
The council will also receive a re-
port from President Gompers on leg
! islation affecting organized labor.
length. will deal with past legislation
and that now pending in Congress.
To Oppose Injunctions.
| Plans tor a nationwide anti-in-
! junction r.ght is also to be considered
| by the council. This matter will be
! brought up in an appeal from the
! central trades and labor council Of
| New York, which asks the exeuctive
council to aid its campaign already
| under way in New York state Re
peal of the Kansas Industrial court
law and compulsory arbitration leg
! islation in other states. it is expected,
also will be urged by the council.
While the council will discuss the
| entire labor situation. including the
marine strike. the printers strike.
clothing workers strike and the
| building trades walk-outs and lock-
outs, no action will be taken unless
the interested unions appeal for the
federation's support.
Besides a large amount of routine
matters and jurisdictional disputes.
! the council will also consider:
The unemployment problem.
Fight for Board Adjustments.
Questions pertaining to the set
tlement of the railroad situation, and
| the fight of the worker for national
| boards adjustment.
Retail prices and wage reductions
and the attitude of the Harding ad-
ministration toward same.
While meeting here the members
| of the executive council will address
| a number of labor mass meetings
| in southwestern Ohio towns, includ-
| ing Hamilton. Dayton and Middle
town. President Gompers will ad-
dress a mass meeting here Monday
| night. at which time he will reply