Arizona republican., 1921-05-13
LABOR TOF|GHT. BILL CREATING
 WELFARE DEPT
Measure Would Rob De partment of Labor of Its Functions, Com per s Says In Statement
tRepubIIcan A. p. Leased wirel

CINCINNATI, May 12-The exec utive council of the American Fedora ton of Labor today entered the fight to prevent the passage of the bill before congress to create a depart ment of public welfare
 President Samuel Gompers, in ac- cordance with instructions from the council, telegraphed Senator Kenyon, chairman of the senate committee on education. a protest against creation of the new department and asked that representatives of the federation be afforded an opportunity to appear before the committee.
 Hope to Retain Power
 We most solemnly protest" said the message, against the enactment Of any measure that would weaken or take from the department of la bor any functions given that depart ment or weaken the power of the de- 1 partment"
 Mir. Gompers, in a statement, said i that the council was protesting 1 against the ''parsiminous policy of congress toward the department of labor and it's attempt to starve that l department out of existence"
 We have been nearly thirty years | trying to establish this department he added, Tbut now certain interests l are attempting to weaken and de- \ stroy our cherished work. The ene- mics of organized labor would like to ruin the labor department by dis membering it under the guise of ere ating a department of welfare"
 The executive council today com pleted its legislative hearing anC made plans to oppose anti-labor leg ,..1o sr, 11A tor
 The high cost of living was alst discussed and the council recom- , mended that the system of basins wages on the cost of living be dis coura ged, as the workers are entitled to more than a wage that gives then a decent living.
 Condemns Soviet Regime
 A tentative declaration on the at titude of the federation toward tn soviet government of Russia was reao but action was delayed until tomor 1 row.
 The declaration condemns the sovi ct regime in Russia and contends tha
 the American trades union movemen : must not give aid or support to tn
 Bolsheviki
 The report asserted that the sovie : is not representative of the peopl of Russia but it Was the rule of minority by the aid of a military die tatorship. The Bolshevilli leaders. was charged, are attempting to de 9 stroy the organized labor movemen $ throughout the world and establis
 a form of communist organization. 2 The Socialist party IS censored TO l. its alleged tendency to support com munistic propaganda and agitation I r this country. Unless the party take e stand against communists and radi
 cal elements, it was stated the fed ! eration will be inclined to regard
 as an enemy of organized labor. Tn s Industrial Workers of the World al z condemned as one of the organiza
 tions which. with the communis
 party. are attempting 70 destroy ol
 ganized labor in America The In
 dustrial Workers of the World,
 was charged, is one of the instru II ments being employed in this cour " try by the soviet regime to destro . labor and overthrow the goVernmen
 Much of the data gathered by 1T
 vestigators and trade unionists l
 Russia. as well as official soviet doC
 uments, has been incorporated in u | rPDOI't