The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1921-06-25

True to it's character of dyed-in-
the-wool conservative craft labor or
ganization, the A. F. Of L. at it's 41st
annual convention at Denver, Colo,
has appealed to the politicians of the
capitalist State for assistance in al
proposed war against reductions of
wages that are fast making inroads
upon the standard Of living of mil
lions of workers and members of or
ganized labor in this country.
After months of severe unemploy-
ment and widespread wage slashing
the convention took formal notice and
instructed the executive council of the
Federation late, last week to take
steps that no further reductions in
wage scales were made. It's first step
in this direction was an appeal to en-
list the support of President Hard
ing, secretaries of labor, commerce
and agriculture and members in con-
gress in support of this enterprise,
Dennis X. Lane presented the case
of the Chicago packing house work
ers as an example of the extent of
wage slashing that has taken place in
recent months. "They are now re-
ceiving wage which furnishes them
bare existence far below the cost
Of living" he said. The convention
has these matters under consideration
this week.
At The Crisis.
President Gompers, in his opening
statement to the convention, declared
that the great unsolved postwar labor
problems facing the convention con-
stituted a crisis which must be met
now. More than 500 delegates from
the U. s. and Canada attended the
opening sessions. ]. H. Thomas, Pres
ident Of the Railway Workers Union
Of England is present as a fraternal
delegate. Thomas is classed as trai-
tor in the ranks of labor by British
militants because of his opposition to
the Triple alliance upholding the
present British miners strike by a
! axqapathsties SEalk out dqhn Mooney.
brother Of Tom Mooney, now serving
d sentence at San Quentin for compli-
tity in the San Francisco prepared
ness parade bombing was present
and spoke in favor Of continuing the
agitation among labor unionists for
his release. Indications are that John
L. Lewis of the miners will oppose
: Gompers for election to the presiden-
Z cy. Claims are made that he has an
exceptionally strong backing in the
convention.
Gompers assailed the German work
ers for not taking action to stop the
war in the early stages of its develop
ment. "The failure of men to act at
a time of crisis is faithfulness to a
common cause" he stated. Gompers
has undoubtedly taken the method Of
the pot in calling the kettle black, to
set his own sins upon the shoulders
of the German workers.
Many Problems.
The convention has a grist of major
issues before it among which are the
following according to Gompers.
"The condition of unemployment, Of
which estimates run as high as g.
100000 workers.
"The un-American movement to
crush labor and blast its spirit through
what is called, with miserable dis
regard for the truth, the open shop
movement.
"The railroad problem, involving
the nations chief means Of transpor-
tation.
"The immigration problem, with its
vital bearing on American standards
Of living and of citizenship.
"The problem Of Russian affairs
the cancer that is eating at the vitals
of world civilization.
"The problem of how best to meet
conditions brought about by court de-
cisions, problem unhappily not de-
creasing in Importance apd for that
reason demanding more than usual
attention"
Without discussion, the convention
voted solidly in sustaining the actor
Of its Committee on Organization in
not concurring in resolution brough,
by w. Va. delegate, calling fol-
zone body of workers thru amalgama
tions, federations and protectiv,
agreements" and urging all nationa
and international unions to inser
clauses in their working agreement,
whereby they can "render sucl
assistance as is needed by any ant
all crafts when called upon to d.
So" It also declared for the setting
Of expirations Of union contracts witt
employers at one and the same time
Scant courtesy was shown the negr
delegation when resolution con
demning mob violence and the activ
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