The Columbia evening Missourian., 1922-06-10
A. F. OF L. TO
MEET MONDAY
AT CINCINNATI
Plans VIII Be Made for the Ac-
lion of Union Men i'm Con-
gressional Cam
paigns.
FAVOR CHILD LABOR LAW
Samuel Compers Is Strongest
Candidate for President
Not Much Oppo-
sition.


CINcINSaTI. June l0.-The part uniol
labor will play in the congressional cam
paigns this fall will be one Of the mali
questions before the American Fedora
iion Of Labor. which opens its annua
convention here Monday.
Already hundreds Of delegates for th'
meeting are gathering from all part
Of the country.
Other major problems that will conn
before the conference. according TO Pres
ident Samuel Compers, are:
Means for completely eliminating chile
labor. because Of the Supreme Court de
cision that the tax on child labor pro
ducts is invalid.
News measures to combat the anti-un
ion activities of big employers.
Plans for continued campaign against
the use of court injunctions in labor
troubles.
Means of strengthening organized Ia
bor, admittedly weakened by the long
period cf industrial depression.
The annual election Of officers will be
held. This wear the veteran Samuel Com
pcrs. who has weathered many a stormy
convention only TO come out the victor
as president at every meet save one for
the last forty years, seems assured OF
reelection TO his foriy-iirst term. As yet
no candidate Of any real strength has
appeared.
Considerable attention will be given
the political situation. as laborleaders
consider the present Congress as 'un-
usually reactionary." Indications are
that the convention will instruct the del
cgaies in the interests Of those candidates
who are known TO be friendly toward
labor.
While federation officials contend that
the open shop" campaign has failed, and
in fact has really operated TO solidify
organized labor, nevertheless counter
measures will be evolved to prevent pos
sible breaches in the ranks Of unionism
Opposition has resulted in unifying
the forces Of the workers" Compers said
1T has created in them more militant
spirit and has given them 4 greater de-
termination.
Labor looks with great hope to the
forthcoming primary elections and TO the
general elections this fall,' Compers
said. AN unusually reactionary Con-
gress is now in session, but there are
excellent indications that the people
will at the first opportunity make
changes which will interfere seriously
with the program Of those who most
desire a reactionary legislative record
at the national capitol"
One OF the most important Of these
special committees was one appointed to
inquire into the question of wage fixing.
IN order that a permanent scientific
policy for wage determination might be
considered by the A. F. Of L. for use
in wage negotiations. This investigation
was prompted by the increasing use of
the cost of living argument, which the
American Federation Of Labor has con-
dcmned as unscienti6c and therefore oh.
jectionable.
President Samuel Gompers, in discus
sing the forthcoming convention, express
ed the view that the deliberations at
Cincinnati would be of a uniformly con-
structive character resulting in a
strengthening of the labor movement and
unihcation Of its forces.
Il am confident" said he, that the
Cincinnati convention will mark a dis.
tinct advance on the part of American
labor. while | have no means of know
ing what may come before the conven-
iion, except that which is contained in
the report of the executive council, |
am confident that the thought and ac-
tion Of our movement in convention will
be progressive and constructive.
We have gone through a year Of
great difficulty. There has been a severe
industrial depression which has had its
effect upon all Of our people but which
has particularly affected the working pco-
pie, because they are always first TO
feel any fuctuation in the course of our
industrial affairs.
1T has been reliably. and | may say
authoritatively. estimated that the number
of unemployed has been as high as five
million and this unemployment continued
over a period of months. Those who
may have expected, however. that this in.
dustrial depression, severe as il was.
would result in a weakening Of the or
ganized labor movement have miscalcuI-
sted. The report may show that there
has been a slight decrease in the total
membership, but this decrease is less
than might have been expected. in view
Of the terrific amount of unemployment,
when it was impossible for workers to
pay even the small sums which are nee.
cssary as union dues"