The Washington times., 1922-06-12
LABOR TO .
WAGEWAR
0NCAP|T(Q

Continued from First PageJ
q the labor movement may be
changed.
leadership Soiidly Supported.
It is for these very reasons, that.
despite approximately q 250,000 loss
In membership since the peak
reached during the war period, the
convention, in 30 Tar as factioral
fights are concerned, opens with the
rank and file almost solidly behind
the present leadership.
Despite the apparent rebuff that
Samuel Gompers received last Satur-
day at the hands Of the building
trades department Of the Federation
Of Labor, those who are familisr
with labor plans do not see any veil
Cd threat or hint OF dissat atisfaction a.
the leadership Of Mr.. Gompers.
Although not officially announced,
II is a known fact that the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, since last
years convention at Denver, has
been busy forming committees
throughout the United States for
tabulating the records OF all poll
teal officeholders. Undoubtedly
these records, which show who was
for labor and who was against. will
form the basis for the concerted
action the federation plans to take
In the political campaign this fall.
In fact, 1t 10 common knowledge
that plans are to be formulated at
the convention which may seriously
affect the political aspirations of
some Of the thirty-five United
States Senators and many Con-
Eressmen, in addition to local, State,
county and municipal officers.
Decisions Handed Down.
The political campaign against
legislation brought about by the
predatory interests" labor leaders
are frank to admit, will be mon
partisan in nature. Under no cir
eumstances, It was pointed out.
could an out-and-out labor party
be formed, because of its numerical
weakness. Labor political interest
would partake Of the nature Of
an educational campaign, showing
where each political candidate stood
and whether he kept his pre-elec-
ton promises or not.
During the past year nearly a
dozen decisions have been handed
down by the courts which In some
instances have nullified the work
of moro than forty years Of the
American Federation Of Labor to
obtain better living conditions by
legislation. These decisions include
that holding unconstitutional the
child labor law and the Coronado
case, holding union officers liable
for damages to property I'm strikes.
These decisions. together with the
effort to enact legislation detrimen.
tai to the best interests Of labor, has
made organized labor awake to the
seriousness Of the situation.
To Fight As Interests Do.
In the past. labor. as a rule, wa.
about five years behind capital in its
method Of doing business. Today.
labor 10 preparing to meet every
move made by corporation lawyers
with a defensive measure patterned
along the same lines.
Labor 10 formulating plans. some
ef which may be oonsummated at
this convention, that viii put the
uducS III SCt ld1h ACo III uiIhOol
- powerful a position as the big
corporations that oppose them. In
this connection, the proposed Ameri.
can construction council plans not
only to absorb the unions, but also
the land owners and those who invest
their money in building construction.
THE drift of the American trade
union" said one Of the most promi.
nent men in labor circles "is toward
organization by each industry, or
practically along the same lines as
the mergers made by huge corpora
tons. This must come II we are to
exist. And I don't mean the one big
union idea.
That Is ridiculous. The other
must come to avoid scores Of disas.
trous and, in most cases. unnecessary
strikes"
The Daily and Sunday Times Will