The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-06-25
VETERAN EXPOSES PllN
/. TO DEM0RlLlzs LABOR

+. f.. 49,
Coxttn1ed from Page 1.
Of the United states, BY wipinT from
our statuts books every law that o.,
presses one for the benefit OF the,
other" **s| "a
Retain Labor Bureau
The convention adopted by unani.
nous vote a resolution to condemn
the proposed dissolution of the DEPART
1nent Of labor by the creation Of q new
department Of public welfare, or by
any other method.
The executive council was instructed
by the convention to continue USING,
every effort to maintain the dspart-
ment Of labor intact, The organic act
creating the department was read and
the work done by the department in
the service Of the working people vas
reviewed. International officers. were
asked to assist in the campaign to
prevent destruction Of the onS cabinet
office devoted to tho working people.
The convention endorsed the efforts
OF the executive council to develop
closer relations with organized farm.
ers and directed that the policy hith-
erto maintained in relation to that
question be continued.
In relation to tho uou-pArttsan 20.
litical campaign tho convention en-.
dorsed the report Of the executive
committee. which commended the ef-
forts OF the executive council in tho
campaign. There were no negative
votes.
Organize Campaigns.
The committee report further rec.
commended that steps be taken at cuco
to organize the on-partisan CAM
paiEn work on a permanent basis.
specifically declaring that there is \
need for regular dissemination OF in
formation relating to legislative events
IN Washington. This. as part Of tho
report, was approved.
PRESIDENT Gompers took tho: oppor-
tunity in this connection to say that
inasmuch az there had been criticism
Tor not presenting to the Democrats
convention a plank on government
ownership and democratic operation
OF railroads. he felt it necessary to
state why that course had been taken.
II was necessary, he said. to present
identical demands to both political
convontlons and when the Republican
convention was held the declaration
on railroads had not been adopted.
Therefore it was presented to neither
convention.
The Encyclopedia. history and ref
erence book was again approved and
its increased circulation urged. Presi-
dent Gompers announced 4 supple.
ment tor the near future.
Rail Ownership.
Reattlrmlng it's stand for govern-
mont ownership with democratic oper.
alton OF the railroads, the convention
OF the American Federation Of Labor
directed its executive council to draw
up proposed, legislation designed 10
give the workers through government
regulation equal rights and privileges
with capital in organised enterprises.
The convention sustained tho action
OF the resolutions committee in strik.
ing out OF the resolution a phrase tbot
would have put organized labor %
record az declaring for government
control and democratic operation Of
all industries organized under corpor-
ate grants and privileges
Majority Overthrown.
In authorizing the legislation pro-
gra mthe convention overthrow tho
majority report OF the resolutions
committee, which provided aid only
for the railroad unions in their fight
for government ownership of the rail-
roads.
The debate was long and stormy.
Opponents OF tho minority report de>
clared that its declarations were
'Socialistic and Red" and were de-
signed to extend government owner-,
ship to all basic; industries Of the
country, including the mines, textile.
iron and steel, newspaper and book
industries.
They were answered with the. argu-
ment that the declarations set forth
a "sane and constructive policy for or
ganized labor" and there was no Sos
cialism, Bolshevtsm. communism or
anarchy in it,