Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-06-13
Record of Organized
LabOr's Efforts
During Past Year

~ AA Zig dSC L Cdl
Cincinnati, O., Iune 12.-The
record of organized labors accom-
| plshment in "a year of unusual
strlfe and unusual industrial deprrs-
/ sion was laid before the forty-scc-
ond annual convention of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor today in
! the report OF the Fcderation's a.
! ccutiNe council.
The report declared that Ameri-
can labor during the year not ONLY
suffered from the Widespread uncm-
ploNmcnt that existed but was be
set by opponents more active ana
! determined than ever"
4 In addition to structures on the
i conduct of employers in numerous
cases, the report added explicit and
pointed criticism of Congress- and of
some STATE legislative bodies, declar-
! ing such branches of the govern
mcnt to be "succumbing to a wave
of reaction" Fault was found with
| the action of some courts. including
the Supreme Court. and with what
was described IS President Harding s
proposal to regulate trade unions. :"
1T is with no little satisfaction
in lew of these circumstances. The
report on the other hand declared.
/ that we Gre able to lay before this
convention a report Of achievement.
Il report of solidarity. Il report oil
constructive planning, ANA report
that can only inadcquut"ly portray
the militant spirit with which our
movement has come through the
years. The audacity OF those who
/ have made it their business to at
tack in every possible manner the
voluntary organizations of the work
crs has had no parallel in our coun-
! try. What our movement has been
compelled to meet has been con-
dition in which the predatory pow
crs have sought to break down all
resistance in every quarter and to
enrich themselves at the expense OF
the whole people. No experience has
testified as eloquently TO the funda-
mental soundness of our organiza-
tions and to the manner in which
| they serve the workers. We shall
! fight with greater confidence be
cause of the record that has been
made"
The report declared that in the
direct Labor field workers in Il
EHinheY of industries have been
compelled to resort to cessation of
work. because "orSanizcd employ
ers' were unwilling to meet work
crs in conference for negotiation"
The most important instance of this
! policy was declared to be the cause
of the existing coal mine strike, al
+ though troubles in the tC%tile gar
ment, printing, granite, and packing
! house industries also were cited.
THE organized mine owners re-
( pudiatcd their agreement with the
nitcd Mine Workers OF America. .
the report said compelling the
mine workers to cease work. Pack
| ing house employers were likewise
/ guilty Of violation of agreements.
! The contest going on among en-
plOyerS and the printing trades
union involves Il contemptuous dis
regard and fragrant violation OF an
agreement By employers and their
/ associations.
I'VE have recorded only these Nic-
lations of agreement by employers
which are of national importance.
We know OF no similar period Of
! time in which there have been 50
many wanton Violations OF contract
on the part of great organizations
! of employers We submit that il IS
! IA n
turn of good faith in industry, re-
turn to standards OF morality when
will restore the pledges of men to
! their true and proper meaning. If
| it is Impossible to have faith IN
pledges given, then the entire IN
! dustrial structure will be under
mined"
! Turning next to courts the exec
utivc council protested most en-
phaticaIly against such unjust ana
/ inhumane decisions" as those OF the
! Suprcme Court Noiding the act IN
| tended to abolish child labor in the
/ United States. Congress by tins de-
! Cision. must keep its hands off when
/ the health and life and well being OF
the nations children are concerned,
the report asserted, adding that lue
"Supreme Court of today is far more
1ogalistic and less humane in its at
! titude and temperament than was
the Supreme Court of 19lS.
! "The wear is marked particularly
! with an increasing hostility OF me
judiciary toward the effort of wage
/ earners to prevent deterioration OF
! their standards of life and labor,
tine report continued. and we rec
! ommended that an appeal be MADE
! to that higher court of pubic jung
! most. and that the public conscience
be aroused to the great and grave
! menace which confronts the perpe-
! tuitv of the constitutional rights and
! liberties of--all our people and as
| originally conceived by the founders
Of our republic"
Instances of most fragrant abuses
of equity power" We're declared 10
he contained in Federal Judge An
derson's order at Indianapolis, en-
| ioining discontinuance of me
| CHECK off, system of collecting MN
ers' union dues. and in Federal Jucge
McClintic's decision in West VIZ
rinia against strikers of the same
union in that state. This latter &C.
cision the report characterized as
conclusive evidence that the in
junction as used is devoid of all
sense of fairness and decency and
that our courts of equity can be
,,,t1 ant .