New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-22
Labor Demands
Congress Aid
Unemployed
A. F. L. Executive Council,
at Atlantic City, Plans to
Force Action by Govern
ment to Relieve Situation
Big Interests Are Assailed
Morrison Asserts Capital
Is Curtailing Working
Forces for Wage Cut
From a Special CORRESPONDENT


ATLANTIC CITY, Aug. 21.-Imme-
date action by Congress to relieve I'M
employment throughout the country
will be demanded by the executive
council OF the American Federation of
LABOR at special session to convene
here tomorrow to complete the work
of the Denver convention.
President Samuel Gompers, Score
tary Frank Morrison and eight of the
federation presidents arrived here
tonight. After preliminary confer
ence Mr.. Morrison announced that the
problem of unemployment will be the
chief question before the council. The
federation officials, including Mr.. Com
pers, agreed that if workers continue
to be thrown out of employment as at
present labor next winter will face q
condition more serious than at any
time since the war.
IF unemployment is not to increase
by leaps and bounds and if we are to
avoid having situation where there
are two men for every job, Congress
will have to do something immedi-
ately," said Morrison tonight.
Blames Congress for Delay
1--WE do not feel that Congress so
far has done its duty. 1t has a plan
before it known as the Federation's
reconstruction plan. This plan was de-
vlsed for the very purpose of pre-
venting period of idieness following
the close Of the war. What has be-
come of that plan? The answer il
that it has been buried in committed
somewhere, and any reference to it is
lost in the clamor for TAX reductions.
Wage earners are anxious to have
their taxes reduced, but they are more
anxious still 70 keep their jobs on a
scale of pay which enable them to
live like Americans
There is no doubt in the minds of
labor officials throughout the country,
and | think Mr. Gompers is heartily
in accord with me in this statement,
that something like a widespread con-
spiracy has been entered into by big
interests to cause general unemploy-
ment with a view of reducing wages
to pre- war level; We do not by any
means think that big interests entered
employment, but rather that their
agreement among themselves was a
tacit one and yet none the less effec-
tive. Not long ago the American Fed
Grafton of Labor reports showed the
unemployed to number 5O00,0 900. Since
then the Departm of Commerce and
Labors figures has increased the army
of unemployed to $500 The army
is gaining strength daily. 1t is the
kind of army which America does not
want.
Would Resume Federal Work
at would be futile for US to appeal
to Congress if we did not have a con.
crete plan. Our plan recognizes that
there is no possible justification for
general unemployment at time when
the world is crying for food, clothing
machinery, raw products and manufac-
tured supplies.
eve want all government work
stopped on account of the war to be
resumed at once Millions of dollars
worth of work of this kind could be
started before winter, not only to check
the present tendency to increased un-
employment but practically to absorb
all the workers now out Of jobs.
st would tend also to discourage
further wage reductions by those who
are taking advantage of the present I'M
employment. We intend to make our
voice heard in Washington in vay
that it will be listened to-"
The council will hold two sessions
daily throughout the week. They will
be presided over by Mr. Gompers.