The Topeka state journal., 1922-01-27
UNION LABOR
WINS VICTORY
AT CONFERENCE
Recommendation for AdamsOn
Law Repeal Defeated.
Union Chiefs Sarcastic Toward
the Farmer Delegates.
SAY YOU ARE GOOD BOY NOW
But Warns of Attacks by 'In-
terests' if Organized.
LansdOn of Kansas Farmers
Union Joined Union Men.
Union Chiefs Sarcastic Toward
the Farmer Delegates.
SAY YOU ARE GOOD BOY NOW
But Warns of Attacks by "In-
terests" if Organized.
LansdOn of Kansas Farmers
Union Joined Union Men.
fBy the Associated Press,1

Nby the Associated TreSSJ
Washington, Jan. 27.-Union labor
today won a victory in the national
agricultural conference today, when
that body by vote of SO to 64 struck
out of committee report a recon-
mendation for repeal of the Adamson
eight-hour law.
The conference also struck out of
the committee report recommendation
for repeal of the commonly termed
guaranty clause of the transportation
act which fixes 6 per cent as a proper
return for railroads.
Debate Was Bitter.
This action was taken after bitter
debate in which Samuel Gompers
president of the American Federation
of Labor, denounced a resolution in
troduced by W. II. Stackhouse. presi-
dent of the National Implement &
Vehicle association, calling for reduc-
ton of mine and railway union labor
wages and also the committee report
on repeal of the AdamsOn law
Mr.. Gompers warned the farmers
that after they had become thoroly
organized they might in the future
face a similar fight by interests which
he said now were making a drive on
union labor.
The sentiment of the conference
seemed to be that the whole matter
of transportation, including wages paid
to union labor had better be left to
congress. Several of the delegates
Joined with GOmpers in denOuncing
the proposals as an attempt to drive
a wedge between labor and the
farmers.
The railroad labor question, how
ever. is expected to come up again in
the report of the committee on trans
portation.
Mr. Gompers in vehement speech |
declared he had faced this same |
stereotyped antagonism" to labor in
the unemployment conference as
manifested itself in the attempt to put
the agricultural conference on record !
as favoring repeal of the Adamson |
law
You repeal the Adamson law and |
you will not take the eight-hour day !
away from the railroad men," he de-
clared.
Sarcastic Toward Farmers.
The labor leader asserted the farm
ers We're good boys now" and We're
allowing the bankers implement
manufacturers" and their like ITO
play monkey shines with you"
But go on and organize" he told
the farmers, land you will face the
criticism as labor has done. The in
terests Will drive you as they have
driven labor"
w. c. Lansdon of the Kansas farm
ers union, opposing the Stackhouse
resolution. said the farmers of his
state did not want to take advantage
of labor in readjusting matters.
Lets adjust the prices of farm
products upward" he said. "and not
throw anybody down Millions of
men are living in industrial slavery al
this country. instead of asking THAI
credits be readjusted to lift those peo-
pie, you are trying to pull down labor
to their condition"
Big Difference in Pay.
DR.. David Friday of Lansing, Mich.
said the average labor return to farm
ers was 5000 year and to railroad
labor $3.50 Il year.
A. c. Davis. secretary of the Farm
ers union, questioned the wisdom of
any such action as "dabbling in the
affairs of some one else"
Il do not think a group of farmers
should meet here to pull the railroad
chestnuts out of the fire" he added
Clifford Pinchot of PENNSYLVANIA
also opposed the conference going on
record on the transportation issue
Committee conclusions which would
have put the national agriculture
conference on record as endorsing the
Great Lakes-St. Lawrence waterway
project, were stricken out today when
. the committee report came up for dis
cussion.
Immediate stoppage of devastation
Of forest lands was recommended in
the report of the committee on perma-
nent forest policy ard adopted by the
conference. The report also recon-
mended effective methods of fire pre-
vention, forestry research and in
crease in the nations forest reserves.
Recommendation for the appoint
ment of a federal commission to form
ulate a national land policy including
all questions of reclamation and irriga-
ton were adopted today by the ma
tional agricultural conference The
conference also went on record as op
posed TO the opening of any more land
for farming purposes until normal
economic conditions are restored.
Consideration of six of the twelve
committee reports and address by Sec
retary of Agriculture Wallace remain
ed today as the program for the final
session of national agricultural con-
ference. The report on a national land
policy, was submitted last night, but
went over until today. The other com
mittee reports expected today were
those on agricultural credit and in
surance, transportation. costs. prices
and readjustments; coordination of
state and federal legislation and on
nation forest policy.