The labor world., 1922-03-04

80 conference AT COlCU$O.
While the officers Of the A. F. Of
$ L., were celebrating at Washington
another strong and influential group
Of union officials were in session Mt
Chicago endeavoring to bring about
an alliance of the workers and the
farmers for political purposes along
: nonpartisan lines. That conference
I was headed by William Johnston.
president Of the international asso-
j citation Of Machinists, who delivered
q strong address at its opening.
D. The delegates came from the 10
Z standard railroad labor organiza'
/: lions, state federations of labor, CEN
tral labor bodies and from farm or
in the middle and west
sefn states. There was wide and var
TED discussion. and while it was con-
-clded each state should decide for
4 .1t5elf as to the form of its political
Qgganization, it was the concensus
of opinion that the national organ
ixation should be along purely nom
partisan lines. It was practical en-
ytlorsement Of the political policy of
The A. F. of L.
Nonpartisan Policy.
4 y. The executive council Of the A. F.
Of L., reiterated it's 40-year old nom
partisan policy. 1t declared that one
Of its objectives in the coming polit-
= ical campaign would be the restora- :,
ton OF beer and light wines under
the constitution. In an announce
& made Sunday evening the executive
council declare:
I'VE urge that all citizens in every
= walk of life demand from their SEN
,ators and representatives in Wash
sington immediate relief from the un-
warranted restriction contained in
the Volstead act; and we likewise
z kuEgest to the citizenship Of our
country the wisdom and advisability
OF bearing in mind the attitude to-
Ward this issue Of officeholders and
nsp3rants to office in the coming
elections, in order that there may: be
restored to the people the lawful use
$3of wholesome beer and light wines,
which, under. the provisions Of the
eighteenth amendment, can and
q. should be rightfully declared as >non-
! Intoxicating beverages.
3>.. Want Judges Elected. >>
2. The INDUCTION as the thorn in Ia
boris side has been brought to the
front during the deliberations OF the
executive council of the federation,
particularly in consideration Of the
mine strike threat.
The implied remedy of this condi-
ton. Matthew Woll, vice president Of
the federation, said, is popular elec-
ton of supreme court justices.
1.-THE recent decisions Of the su-
'preme court. and particularly those
cases relating to labor matters where
THE court decided by a four-fifths
vote" Woll said. "emphasizes the
@sQrxent need Of requiring a unani-
NOUS decision in declaring laws un-
constitutional. -.
Since the supreme court has un-
dertaken to decide political issues
IN its verdicts, 1t should therefore be
subject to the political suffrage Of
the people"
H. Redress Held Denied.
1.-The A. T. Of L. sees in the recent
7 decisions of the supreme court the
tendency to deprive workers Of
specifically all avenues of redress
against these unwarranted injunc-
4 tions.
"The supreme court has held that
state legislators cannot enact remed-
ial labor and social laws without
Violating the equality section of the
United States constitution. BY this
decision, the workers are practically
compelled to rely upon their eco
4, ,5nomic power and the withholding of
1T to safeguard and to promote the
~ eral welfare, injunctions to the con-
strary Notwithstanding" :.
@-s$ Serious consideration both by the
Council and the A. r. of L. as a
whole Is being given to the subject
Z ofecredit unions. Under such finan-
.ti4l institutions, the workers say
ings could not be diverted to use in
defeating their aspirations.
Unemployment Unrclievcd.
&seUnemployment,.t y statisticans and
prognosticatiions Notwithstanding, is
not considered relieved, Woll said.
ITO the contrary" he added, 1--WE
feel that the sufferings entailed by
unemployment is greater today than
u it has been since the beginning OF
!, this depression. The exhaustion OF
workers savings, continued reduc-
i ton in wages and the lessening OF
the workers purchasing power will
continue for some time to come"
/ y ri foreign fields significant evil
dencs was thesbeer boycott proceed
i4igs proclaimed by the British dock
workers, the announcement Of the
+ butch labor mitister that unemploy.
n114nt pensions would continue
Through 1922 and the agreement OF
1.orelsn coal operators and miner.
.o a Immediate reduction Of wages
t8 meet competition: in England and
Germany. ss 4.
LESS COAL PRODUCTION.
The worlds production OF coal ir
y 1924 dropped 100000, 900 tons, a.
com p9red with the previous year
fspo4ts the United States Keologica
sSqrvely $,. - =
}$9s S,4aaF FsaEi b! .-t4 s-2t&iys. -..v