New-York tribune., 1922-06-13
Round Table Conferences
With Employers on Basis
of Equality Urged by La
Dor Chief at Convention
u. 5. Supreme Court
Called Prejudiced
FederatiOn's Executive
Council Assails High
Tribunal in Report
BY Gilman Parker

= lsNNNHNtH y T. HMlf VI khNAH'N
labor wants conferences with employ
crs around. .thc-table conferences ir
which the prcdominating consideration
will be "the human equation in indus
try" but these cannot be attained until
the power possessed By the two sides
is cqualized.
This was the keynote for the forty
second annual convention Of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor sounded at
the opening Of that gathering to-day
b. samuel Gompers, president OF tho
Federation.
"What all our labor organizations
ask Of employers he said, "is that
they sit with Us around the table, not
in any jug handled movement inaugu-
rated by themselves and in which they
dominate, but 20 meet in conference
with US, and there. they as employers
and we ns workers. 10 discuss and de-
tcrmine for at least some reasonable
period an agreement governing the
matters which nlfEL OOAU VI
industry. and not forgetting the rights
OF employers and Of business, but hav-
ing as the most essential consideration
the human equation in industry. We
want conferences.
Equal Footing First
There can be no genuine confer
cnce between employers and employees
unless they stand upon an equal footing
Of responsibility and power. fearless OF
unemployment or discharge because Of
their consistent attitude toward the
people they represent
Coneiliatory as this declaration
might seem, however, Mr.. Gompers
served notice that the organized work
ers Of the country do not regard the
labor movement as having been weak
ened by the concerted fight made
against IL by It's enemies and that the
mllitnncy in defending and advancing
what they believe 20 be their right
stands undiminished.
1--WE shall go onward and forward
he declared. more determined than
ever that there shall not be imposed
upon our brows the imprint OF The
man with the hoe This American labor
movement. organized rs IL IS, believes
in the great principles enuneiat "a IN
that sacred document. the Constitution
OF the United States. We are not In
mood TO have those rights and prin-
eiples guaranteed US taken from US by
anv subtle reasoning or assumption OF
mower. no rnntter whence y emanates.
Mr. Gompers's address was one OF
the two leading features Of the opening
Of the convention. The other was the
presentation OF the report OF the fed-
eration's executive council, outlining
the main subjects and issues whieh
are 10 come before the convention for
action.
Charges Courts Are Unfair
Among the most important features
Of tho report are the following:
Declarations that the United States
Supreme Court and many OF the other
judicial tribunals Of the country are
unfair and prejudiced in their decisions
affecting organized labor, and a warn
ING 10 the unions not TO take their
troubles 10 the courts, except as de-
PENDANTS. in industrial disputes.
Picturing Of the present Congress
and some Of the state legislatures as
reaetionary in the extreme and mimi
cal TO popular liberties Coupled with
this a call on the labor movement TO
exert its strongest efforts IN connection
with its Forthcoming nonpartisan poll
tical campaign.
Assailing Of President u riding Q
plan 10 regulate the unions as an at
tempt at Economic enslayement,' to-
gether with attacks on projects to
force union incorporation, establish in
dustrial courts and otherwise subject
the movement to legislative control
Assertion that the railroad workers
have the right to strike whenever
thew deem themselves justified IN so
doing" and a profering OF assistance
20 them.
An attack on tho open shop" move.
ment as aimed at the destruction OF
organized labor, with redoubled CT
forts for organization advised as the
hest remedy 10 counteract u.
Threat TO Boycott Banks
Threat to withdraw union funds and
/ "a induce union members 10 withdraH
their deposits from banks found TO be
! hostile 10 organized labor
Recommendation that the govern
mcnt expand It's employment service
and take other steps TO minimize un'
employment. a,,-
The definite statement that "one bis
pnionr and other radical elements
fces,ins,d - ssr fsu'l