The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-06-12
LABOR Council
MAKES P||R|0TS
AGAINST COURTS
Annual Report Made TO Amer
lear Federation Of
Labor Today.

4 s : r. i u .
CINCINNATI, o., June L 2--TEo,
record of organized labor. accom-
plishmeut in "a year of unusual
strife and unusual Industrial de-
preston was laid before the
forty-second annual convention Of
the American Federation of Labor
today in the report of the fedora
tons executive council
The report declared that Ameri-.
can labor during the year not only
suffered from the widespread un-i
employment that existed but was
beset by opponents more acTtlye
and determined than ever
IN addition TO structures on the
conduct of employees in numerous
cases. the report added explicit.
and pointed criticism OF Congress
and of, some state legislature
bodies, declaring such branches of
the government to be .tsuccumb-
ing to a wave of reaction" Fault
was found with the action OF some
courts, including the Supreme
Court, and with what was des-
cribed as tPresid HardiS's pro
posal to regulate trade unions.
'It is with no little satisfaction
in view of these circumstances.
the report on the other hand de-
clared, .tthatwe are able to lay
before this convention report OF
achievement, a report OIL SONAR
ity, a report of constructive plan
ming, and report that can only
inadeQuately portray the militant
spirit with which our movement
has come through the years. The
audacity of those who have made
! h,Ici inc IN a
possible manner the voluntary or
carnations of the workers has had
no parallel in our country. What
our movement has been compelled
to meet has been condition in
which the predatory powers have
sought to break down all resls-
tanceEin every quarter and to en-
rich themselves at the expense of
the whole people. No experience
has testified as eloquently to the
fundamental soundness of our or
sanizations and to the manner IN
which they serve the workers.
We shall fight with greater con
fdence because of the record that
has been made
The report declared that in the
direct labor field workers in a
number of industries have been
compelled to resort to cessation OF
work. because "organized em-
ployers" were unwilling to meet
workers in conference for negot1a-
ton, The most important in
stance of this policy was declared
to be the cause of the existing coal
mine strike although troubles in
the textile, garment, printing,
granite, and packing house INDUS
tries also were cited.
"The organized mine owners re-.
pudiated their agreement with the
United Mine Workers of America,
the report said, compelling the
mine workers to cease work
Packing house employers were
likewise guilty of violation of
agreements. The contest going on
among employers and the printing
trades union involves a contemp-s
tuous disregard and fragrant VIOLA
ton of an agreement by employers
and their associates.
Eve have recorded only these.
violations of agreement by employ
ers which are of national 1mpor-
lance. We know of no similar
period of time in which there have
been so many wanton violations OF
contract on the part of great or
CARNATIONS of employers. We sub
nit that it is a vital essential that.
there be return of good faith in
! industry, a return to standards OF
morality which will restore the
pledges of men to their true and
proper meaning. If it is impos-
sible to have faith in pledges
given, then the entire industrial
structure will be undermined:
Decisions Claimed Unjust
Turning next to courts, the exc
cutive council protested most en-
phatically against such unjust and
inhumane decisions" as that of the
Supreme Court voiding the act
intended to abolish child labor in
the United States. Congress by
this decision, must keep its hands
off when the health and life and
well being of the nations children