South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-25
CONVENTION TO
SELECT LABOR
LEADER TODAY
Compers and Lewis Equally
Confident of Election to
Head Federation.


Confined from Page Onc.)
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nounced Friday night by Frank Har-
rison. president Of the illinois dis
trict. that neither he. Alexander
Howat. Of the Kansas district, nor
Robert Harlan OF the Washington
district. would vote for Lewis.
The action OF the executive cOun-
ell in repudiating and severing rela-
tons with the international fedora
ton OF trades unions was sustained
Friday night by an overwhelming
vote and proposals made by the In
ternational Association Of Machinists
and the Firemen and oilers union
that the executive council and Pres't
GOmpers be Immediately instructed
20 reaffiliate the American labor
movement with the European organ
izaticns were almost unanimously
defeated.
stormy Session.
The question OF future relations
with the international Federation OF
Trades Unions precipltated one Of
the stormiest sessions Of the cOnven-
tee on international relations recon-
mended that the action Of Pres't
Gompers and the executive council
in withdrawing affiliaton from the
European organizations be approved.
I'VE find that the executives OF the
International Federation OF Trades
Unions" said the committees report.
have committed the International
Federation Of Trades Unions 20 prin-
ciples and policies which are accur-
ately described by our executive
council as revolutionary. contrary 10
the policies and the philosophy Of
our movement and in conflict with
the pronouncements Of the Montreal
convention OF the American Fedora
ton OF Labor"
The committee also condemned
the international federation for "ad-
dressing official communicative 10
organizations AFFILIATED with the
American Federation OF Labor 'in-
stead OF to executive officers OF the
federation"
In the debate. William Schoenberg
Of the machinists' delegation charg-
ed that In the executive councils re-
port on the subject only one side of
the controversy between the Ameri-
can Federation and the International
had been given 10 the public.
Criticize GOmpers.
He criticised Pres't Gompers as
having said that affiliation would
mean aid 10 Russia, while Russia is
not even a member OF the interna-
tional federation" The speaker de
clared the defects in the intersa-
tlonal organization should be rene
died from within by amliation with
Americans.
can we assume that all the rest
Of the world is wrong and that We
alone are right" he asked.
He inquired If there wasn't time
enough on numerous trips TO Europe
on the part Of the executive council
10 get in closer relations with Euro
pean labor and insisted that we
must have the Influence Of American
labor in Europe"
The convention also voted down
constitutional amendment designed
TO give women equal rights and
privileges of membership In the
union Of their trade or industry
All AFFILIATED unions, however,
were urged not to discriminate
against the woman wage Garner and
admit her TO membership.
Efforts TO wipe out the color line"
In organized labor also failed. The
convention took the stand that ma
tional and international unions could
not be compelled TO recognize negro
workers and that this was a matter
TO be adjusted by conferences be-
tween the negro wage Garner and the
various organizations.
Stormy Debates.
Both questions were the subjects
Of long and stormy debates in which
discrimination by certain unions
against the negro and woman wage
Garner was bitterly denounced.
The committees report rejecting
the constitutional amendment TO
give women Industrial equality" de-
Tended the federation's stand on wo-
men In industry and cited efforts TO
get better wages and working cCndi-
tions for them.
1t declared that only few unions
were discriminating against women
and for that reason disapproved the
amendment and urged that those
international and national organiza-
lions which do not admit women 10
membership give early consideration
for such admission"
Equal rights for women in indus
try was voiced by delegates from the
cigar makers and the laundry work
ers' unions, who declared III wo-
receive a mans pay"
1t also declared that organized la
Dor should protect the women wage
earners. d. W. Mahon, president OF
the AmalSamated Association OF
Street Railway Employees declared
that his organization would not al
low the federation 10 dictate 10 IL in
the matter Of women labor. He said
ne was in favor OF protection for wO-
men workers. but ne did not believe
the back platform OF a street car
was the place for a woman"
The defeated constitutional amend
ment would have provided for the is
suance OF a separate charter by the
federation TO a woman's local with
out the consent Of the union having
Jurisdiction over the particular trade.
TWO MEN KILLED.
DUBLIN. June 24.-Two unidenti-
fed men were shot dead Thursday