The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-23
Representatives 109 Trades in
Council at Washington.
Campaign Against Anti-LabOr
Propaganda Is Aim.
CONDITIONS BAD, SAY CHIEFS
First Drive To Be fOr1Federal
and State Aid Laws.
Publicity To Be Chief Ammuni-
tiOn of the Union Heads.

Washington. Feb. 23.-Representa-
tives of the 100 national and interna-
tional unions affiliated in the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor gathered
here today in an extraordinary con-
ference for the purpose of organizing
to meet attacks on the union labor
movement.
The conference called by President
Gompers is considered one of epochaI
importance and: is one of the few of
its kind ever held in the history of the
federation.
The first business was the presenta-
ton by the executive council of "bill
of rights and recommendation for la
report after being in continuous ses-
sion nearly all day yesterday.
To Fight "Open Shop"
While the councils program was
not made public, it was understood to
provide for a campaign by organized
labor to combat anti-union shops,
wage reductions, compulsory arbitra-
ton, labor injunctions and ''open
shop" propaganda. One of the pro-
posals before the conference, it was
said. calls for a publicity campaign
by the federation to offset the propa-
ganda of the enemies OF union labor.
Federal and state legislation to fur
ther the cause of organized labor also
is to be considered by the conference
question of the "open shop" versus
trade unionism. The conference, union
leaders said, is expected to determine
the attitude the federation shall take in
Its relation with the incoming Repub-
Ilican administration. Survey of indus
trial conditions thruout the country
was being taken by labor leaders here
for today's meeting and all agreed that
the present depression was the worst
the federation has faced in years.
Coal Mines Hard Hit.
1.-The coal mining industry has been
especially hard hit said John l..
Lewis, president of the U. M W. A.
Production is less than 60 per cent
of normal. We have 100000 men
who have not done any work since the
first of the year. The miners working
lare only getting from two to three days
la week"
Michael Tighe, president of the
IAmalgamated association of Iron, Steel
and Tin workers, said he had never
seen conditions SO bad, but added he
believed the worst soon will be over
as some of the mills already are start
ing up.
Conditions in the metal trades, were
described as bad by A. J. Berres, head
of the metal trades. department of the
federation. There is however, some
| improvement in the automobile indus
| try, he said. but he reported work in
| the shipbuilding industry as slow, with
| little improvement in sight.
Thousands Out of Work.
Thousands of men are out of
work." said William Johnston, presi-
| dent of the International Association
| of Machinists. THE railroads situa-
1 ton is especially bad, hundreds OF
workers being laid off Because of re-
duced working forces"
The present industrial depression
and widespread unemployment. lead
ers said, would not deter the fedora
| ton in its plan to combat attempts
to further reduce wages and inaugu-
rate the open shop.
President Gompers is presiding at
| the conference, the sessions of which
are being held in the federation head
quarters. There are more than zoo
| delegates present, the majority OF
them being executive officers of vari-
GUS unions.