The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-06-13
IELL0N Will OPPOSE SOLDIER BONUS
LABOR MUST BE
VlGlLANT, SAYS
ANNUAL REPORT
ExecufiUe Council As.
serts Employers Try
to Destroy Unions.

Oeuvcr, COlO., June 13.-Onem-
ployment, the open shop, wage re-
ductions, relations with Eur, jean
Tabor federation. disarmament, the
Irish q-estion and recognition of
the Russian soviet government, and
more than score of other major
issues were before the 41st annual
convention of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor, which opened for a
two weeks session here.
More than five hundred delegates
from all sections OF the United
States and Canada, headed by Pres
ident Samuel Gompers. and the ex-
ecutive council of the federation
marched to the municipal auditor
ium where the meeting opened with
addresses of welcome by Governor
Oliver Shoup of Colorado, Mayor
Dewey Bailey and other state and
municipal officials.
GOmpers Speaks.
The first order of business after
the seating of the delegates was an
address by Samuel Gompers, re-
viewing the accomplishments of
the federation during the past year
and urging a more active opposi-
ton on the part of organized labor
to its enemies.
Denver. June 13.-The trade
union movement in America has
successfully defended its position
against the organized effort OF
anti-union employers" the execu-
tive council OF the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor declares in its an.
nual report submitted today to the
federation convention here. II
adds that the outlook is for a con.
tinuance Of not only successful de.
tense, but steady and consistent
progress"
1T is true" says the report
that the orgarized employers art
still making strenuous efforts to de
stroy trade unionism and that il
many directions the campaign to re
duce wages continues. What i.
equally true is, that these move
ments continue with constantly de
creasing vigor and effect and tina
their momentum of three month,
ago has been dissipated.
There is need FOR the utmost Wig
ilal,ce and labor cannot relax in an,
single effort, but must, on the con
trary, continue its struggle with al
possible energy, intelligence ant
solidarity. 1t may, however, find
satisfaction and cause for congratn
lation in the fact that the employ
ers, united as never before, aggres
sive as never before and financed a,
never before, have failed SO signal.
and so completely in the purpos'
they sought to accomplish"
| Covers Wide Range.
i The councils report covers a wild,
range of subjects and include,
nearly score of specific recommen
dations. Among them are:
That the railroad situation be in
vestigated by national commits
sion, consisting Of seven represen
tatlves each of the public, the stock
holders and classified labor, with /;
view to recommending remedial leg
islation to congress.
That the executive council b.
authorized to conduct an investiga
ton with view to. recommendin,
at the next convention a policy a.
a basis for wage measurement a.
opposed to the present plan of fix
ing wages in relation to the cost O
living.
That the federation endorse
> joint resolution to be presented il
congress proposing an amendmen
to, the constitution under which al
measures finally enacted by con
gress would be valid under the con