New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-09-11
II ederatiOrl to
Act at Once ON
General Strike
Uncertainty i'm Industrial
Circles Caused by Agita-
ton Irnpels Leaders to
Veto Proposal Promptly
Miller Sharply Criticized
Governors Charge of Wall
Street Influence Evokes
Ridicule Of Union Chiefs
By Gilman Parker

ATLANTIC CITY, Sept. a0r- Consid-
Grafton of demands from central and
other organized labor bodies in yari-
GUS sections Of the. country that the
American Federation Of Labor recon
mend the calling of 8 general strike
to aid the striking railroad shopmen
will be taken up formally by the Fed
eration's executive council tomorrow
or Tuesday, it was announced here to-
day.
AS predicted in The Tribune, the
council unquestionably will decide
against the proposal, and, probably, IN
a declaration will issue assurances to
the public on the subject.
Early dealing with the general strike
threat was decided upon, 1t was learned,
because of the widespread anxiety it
has stirred. Both employers and work
ers in many industries have become
perturbed over their existing working
agreements and the threat to these
which a general strike would involve,
and it is realized by the Federation
heads that speedy reassurances are IN
order. The threat, the labor leaders
believe, has had bad effect through
out the country, and it was said tnat
efforts to Offset this will be made IN
the manifesto to be drawn up.
Miliers Charges Resented
Leaders of the Federation were
reused to a high pitch of indignation
to-day by the attack made on them
last night by Governor Nathan l.. Mil
Ter, of New York, in an address at
Johnstown, N. Y. Without exception
the executive council members voiced
the deepest resentment at Governor
Millers charge that Wall Street con-
trolls the country's union leaders and
through them the American labor
movement, and denounced his observa-
tions as wholly without foundation.
Samuel Gompers, president OF the
Federation, replied to Governor Miller
in the following language:
at was Bob Ingersoll who said to
argue or reply to a man VINO has hidden
goodby to his reason Is like giving
medicine to the dead. Whatever else
has been said about the men who are
regarded as labor leaders, and / am
one of them, it has been left to that
nlisft to charge rue with being paid
by Wall Street"
"Such charge" said Matthew Vol,
- La <
so bereft of even the slightest founda-
ton that it is wholly beyond the wor-
thiness of serious reply. Perhaps
the weather was hot in Johnstown last
night, or the atmospheric conditions
otherwise mentally depressing"
Childish Says Mahon
William D. Mahon. president of the
streetcar employees union, termed
Childish, ridiculous and absolutely un-
true"
absurd and not to be considered
seriously for a moment" was the com
ment of Jacob Fischer, head of the
BARRIERS, and Thomas Riekert, presi-
dent of the United Garment Workers
declared the charges to be "too silly
to be worthy of comment"
AS the executive council did not
hold meeting to-day no formal reply
to Governor Miller was made, but it
was indicated this will be a subject
for discussion in the councils delibera-
tions tomorrow. Despite the fact that
the Federation heads resorted only TO
the weapon of ridicule in their in
formal criticisms, it was apparent they
were deeply stirred by the Governors
allegations, and it is unlikely that
they will remain content to pass them
over merely by dealing in generalities
in their replies.
Outside Of the Governor Miller mat
ter, the most important organized
labor feature of the day here was an
nouncement by John MCFARLAND,
president of the International Typo
graphical Union, which is holding its
annual convention concurrently with
the executive cornell meetings, that
there will be no zone big union" of
the country's printing trades.
Blocked by Two Unions
This announcement is contained in
Mr.. McParland's annual report. which
will be submitted to the convention
tomorrow. The report denouncing the
zone big union" scheme as Thoroughly
impracticable and unsound" sets forth
that it has been blocked successfully
by refusal of two large organizations,
the International Printing Pressmen
and Assistants Union of North Amer
lea and the international Photo-engrav-
ers' Union, to enter into it. Only one
union, the International Brothe rhood
of Bookblnders, approved the proposal,
according to the report. The Interna-
tional Stereotypers and Electrotypers'
Union, however, favored a "closer CO.
operation" between the printing
unions.
The project was supported by the
Progressive group now in power in
the !. I. U. offices. While some fur
Their efforts on behalf of the scheme
undoubtedly will be made on the con-
vention floor, the conservatives are
confident these cannot be successful"
44-Hour Week Fight Won
Another feature Of EIr. McParland,s
report was declaration that the strike
for the forty-four-hou week. one of
the most costly in the history Of IN
dustriai disputes. had been won after
9. hight of more than thirteen months.
He asserted that b13 locals, having d
total membership of 1881, had gained
the shorter work week as a result of
the struggle.
The annual report of John W. Hays.
secretary-treasurer of the |. r. IL
showed the total membership AS sS 7Al
decrease of 5000 from 1921. hut i
was said the membership has reached
$4,000 since the report was Completed
kecelptS OF the union Pow 1000 ...as.