The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-21
U. $. OPERATION OF ROADS NOT AKIN ID STRIKE, IS DECIDED
Movement Afoot to Run John L. Lewis for President, 0p- posing Samuel Gompers.
 KIan Opposed
By Associated Press

Cincinnati. Juno 2o-Government ownership and operation of the rail- roads will not be an issue in the threatened strike of 1,000,000 shop workers and others, spokesmen for the rail unions today told the Amer ican Federation of Labor convention which responded to their request by withholding a reaffirmation of tho federation's stand In favor of the adoption of such policy.
 "The rail unions have not aban- doned the program of public own ership, or grown lukewarm or i'm different" declared William H. Johnston, president of the machin- ists' union. in explaining the request We ask no declaration, however. because we have a most unfriendly and unsympathetio administration at this time. Our enemies would say If the strike occurs in tho very near future that the fight was for gov ernment ownership. I believe the strike Is inevitable for there is no other way out, and we want thc is- sue clear cut. The issue is the ameli- oration of the wrongs committed by the railroad labor board"
 The question again was injected into the convention when it went on record as favoring repeal of the transportation act, in which connec- fion 1t denounced the railroad labor board for It's orders, especially those reducing wages and changing work ing conditions
 Lewis For TraMidenx
 Tn addition to its big program of work, the convention was marked by beginning of movement to run John |. Lewis. president United Mine Workers, as a candidate for president of the federation in oppo- sitjon to the recollection of Samuel Gompera Although MT. Lewis de- ciared he was Tin no sense" . can didate. efforts were pushed in his behalf. :. 1, During the day and tonight . sec- ond meeting of officers of the rail unions was hold to consider what progress had been made by them. Some of the leaders in the building and printing trades participated in i tonight's meeting.
 During the discussion of repeal of the transportation aot, Joseph A Franklin, president of the black smiths union, described the railroad workers as the "only labor group that Is tied to its job" He declared that President Harding had told B. M. Jewell, president of the railway employees department of the federal tton, that national agreements had to go" and he reviewed various de- cisions of the labor board, which he said annuiled these agreements between workers and the railroads.
 MT. Franklin declared that Presi- dent Harding evidently did not know what were the provisions of the agreements, but he asserted that the statement to Mir. Jewell was made without qualification. Working rules of 25 years standing in the rail industry, he added, were annuiled by the board as well as tearing down the national agreements.
 Concluding. Franklin said the unions had given the transportation act flair trial" and that with new wage reductions to become effective July 1, 'the men arc going to say for once that we arc not going to accept the board decision"
 Approve Lincoln Birthday
 Observance of Lincoin's birthday as a holiday throughout the world was favored by the convention. which also voted It's approval of the gov ernment's acceptance of Henry Ford.s offer to lease tho Muscle Shoals water power project and de- ciared in Favor of q Saturday half holiday for all government workers.
 Resolution aimed at tho Ku Klux Kian, the state militia and constabu-