The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-06-10
FEDERATION OF LABOR
MEETS AT CINCINNATI
lGontinued, From: Page ~ 81

and to the general elections this fall
"Gompers said. "An unusually re-
dictionary congress 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 reaction
airy legislative record at the national
capitol4" -: - 49,.
In, A. F. of L. conventions there
is no agenda as there is in European
gatherings and the convention shapes
its own destinies. The rules are at
all times under the control of; the
convention and may be altered or
suspended by vote.
The report of the executive Coun-
Gil to be laid before the convention
Monday will contain much material
of most import character dealing
with domestic, industrial and politi-
cal affairs and with international re-
lations. -
In the convention a year ago
a number Of special committees were
appointed for the purpose Of making
Investigations of an extensive char
acter. Reports on these questions
will be contained in the report Of the
Executive Council to the coming con-
vention.
Question of Wages
One Of the most important of these
special committees was appointed to
inquire into the question of wage
fixing, in order that a permanent
scientific policy for wage determina-
tion 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. condemned
as unscientific and therefore objec-
tionable.
President Samuel Gompers, in dis
cussing the forthcoming convention,
expressed the view that the deliber-
ations at Cincinnati would be of
a uniformly constructive character
resulting in a strengthening of the
labor movement and unification
Of its forces.
II am confident" said he, "that the
Cincinnati convention will mark a
distinct advance on the part of Amer
lea labor. While I have no means
of knowing what may come before
the convention, except that which is
contained in the report of the Ex-
ecutive Council, I am confident that
the thought and action Of our move
ment in convention will be progress
sive and constructive.
"We have gone through year
of great difficulty. There has been
severe industrial depression which
has had it's effect upon all of our
working people because they are al
ways first to feel any fluctuation in
the course of our industrial affairs.
Five Million Idle
"It has been reliably, and may
sau authoritively, estimated that the
.rumber" Of unemployed has been as
high as five million and this unen1-
ployment continued over period Of
months. Those who may have ex-
'pected, however, that this industrial
severe as it was, would
result in weakening of the organ
lied labor movement have miscalcu-
lated. The report may show that
there, has been slight decrease in
the. total membership, but this de-
crease is less chan might have been
expected, in view of terrific amount
of unemployment whenFEit was i'm
;possible for workers to pay even the
small sums which are necessary as
union dues. ION the contrary, our
movement has not only not been
weakened, but it is even stronger
today than ever. +
Opposition has resulted in unity
ing the forces Of the workers; it has
created in them more militant spir-
it and has given them a greater
determination. The movement for
the so-called, 'open-shop' in its var
ious: DISCUSSES, the propaganda for
that movement which has been VIC
ious and vigorous in the extreme,
has brought to all of the workers
a greater realization of the paramount
necessity for solidarity and unity of
thought and action"