Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-18
.A.F.OF WILL
BACK PACKING
HOUSE WORKERS
IN WAGE FIGHT
Convention at Denver
Unanimously Pledges Its
Support to the Employees
: to Resist Pay Slash,
PACKERS CONDEMNED
FOR THEIR PROPOSAL
Are Attempting to Reduce
the Workmen and Their
Dependents TO a State OF
Poverty Is Claim,

Denver. colo, June 1.-THE
American Federation Of Labor in
convention today unanimously
pledged its support to the packing
house workers of the country IN
their fight against further wage re-
ductions.
The "big five" packers were
condemned for attempting to re-
duce almost a million workers ana
their dependents ito degrading
state of poverty with all its at
tending deprivations," and cause
an unfortunate condition that be-
cause Of its far-reaching results
will also impede the progress OF
the nation"
leave Nothing Undonc."
D The executive council was IN
structed to leave nothing undone
TO aid to the utmost the workers
in the packing industry" ,..
After declaring that the packers
were "again taking advantage Oh
present period of business uepres'
sion and unemployment to reduce
the wages of workers" the resolu'
tion said: l.,
"The workers in the packing IN
dustry are threatened with re-
currence of pre-war conditions ant
an effort is made to lure them IN
to Joining so-called company un'
ions, which in reality are for the
company only, established, man
aged and controlled by the packers
who hypocritically are proclaimlns
that they are bringing industria
democracy to the workers, dem
ocracy with a string tied to it."
Copies Of the resolution were or
dered submitted to President Hard
ing. Secretary of Labor Davis Sec
retary Of Commerce Hoover, Secre
tary of Agriculture Wallace, Sen
ator Kenyon and other Legislative
representatives interested In th'
hacking industry, and the packers
Mooney and Billings.
Tn making an appeal for organ
ized labor to keep up its fight Il
free Thomas Mooney and Warrel
X. Billings, convicted in connection
with the San Francisco prepared
ness day bomb plot, John Moone!
told the convention that these me'
were kept in prison by a "crlmina
conspiracy on the part of the stat
of California"
The speaker, who is a brother o
Thomas Mooney, said that tn
chamber of commerce of san Fran
cisco had engineered this con
spiracy." He also mentioned tive
United States senators as havin'
contributed "blood money" ant
who had aided in the frame up
that resulted in the defendants get
ting sentenced to life imprison
ment.
Mr.. Mooney said that when hi
brother comes out of jail, he will
again take his place in the rank
of organized labor, as he be
lieves in only one organized move
ment in the United States-that !;
the American Federation of Labor.
Billings Is Tortured.
He declared that Billings is "un
dergoing cruel and inhuman tor
ture" in Folsom prison in Cali
fornia is not allowed to see a visito
or friend"
"Tom wants the labor movemen
~ to carry on the agitation" said tn,
speaker in concluding his appeal
"and carry out his information s.
that he will eventually smoke ou
the crooked officials of California.
Interest in whether John Lewis
president OF the United Min
Workers. would oppose Presiden
Samuel Gompers for reelection
continued at high pitch today.
Lewis continued to maintain
silence, but 1t was learned that h
has established headquarters at
local hotel, where representative
Of the mine workers from all sec
tions of the country are gathering
Practically all the executive boar
members of the organization wer
reported to be in the city.
Lewis Boomers Busy.
Lewis boomers were activ
throughout the day canvassing tn
various delegations, but up to to
night. owing to the strict secrec
being maintained. it was impossibl
to get any accurate estimate as t
the probable voting strength tina
had been mustered by the min
workers forces.
That the mine workers delega
ton is split on the candidacy. o
Lewis was learned tonight whe
Frank Harrington, president OF tn
Illinois district of mine workers
announced that he would not sup
IA port the miners chief. He also de
clared that two other delegate
were against Lewis and would cas-