South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-13
UNIONISM
FACES STRUGGLE,
LEADERS ASSERT
Pres't Samuel Gompers Pre-
SCENTS Issues to American
Federation of Labor.
ATTACKS "OPEN SHOP"
Executive Council Denounces
Congress and Recommends
Aggressive Policy.

ClNClNATI1, o, June lZ.-NBN
A. Pacing a fight that leaders
OF organized labor regard as one for
= the existence OF unions the Ameri-
/ can Federation Of Labor here today
opened IT'S 42nd annual convention,
which was marked by the presenta-
/ ton of many issues that are TO be
! considered during the next two
weeks and a speech by Pres. Samuel
Gompers, declaring I'VE do not fool
ourselves into any fancied security
The issues were brought before the
delegates Dy the report OF the fed
( eratioins' executive council
I'VE are not in a mood, said
I Mr.. Gompers, Ito have those rights
and privileges guaranteed TO Us by
our constitution taken from Us by
any subtle reasoning or assumption
Of power no matter whence 1t eman-
ates."
This declaration of the veteran
labor leader was greeted with
applause as was also his settlement
1 that organized labor would go on
ward and forward more determined
than ever that there shall not be
/ imposed upon our brow or upon our
/ backs. the type Of the man with the
! hoe"
Favors Conferences.
The speech by Mr.. Gompers came
after a program. of welcoming adj
/ dresses BY Mayor George Z. Carroll,
/ Sec. T. J. Donne!ly of the Ohio Fed
GRAFTON Of Labor, and others The
/ big armory of the Ohio national
guard was filled by delegates and
spectators while above their heads
were hung a thousand American
! flags forming the hall decorations
In his brief speech Mr.. Gompers
declared that organized labor only
asks employers to meet with the
union leaders in conference for the
settlements of disputes" The open
shop" be added, is not the result OF
conference Mr.. Gompers concluded
with a reference to the armament
I conference asserting it made a be-
ginning toward abolishing war and
that labor throughout the world
made the greatest contribution to-
ward that purpose"
The convention also was marked
by presentation OF a report by San
tiago Igiesiae, president of the Free
Federation of Workers Of Porto Rico
indorsing the administration Of +
Mont Reilly, as governor of Porto
Rice.
Membership 1885, $50.
-n
port conferred around many ues-
lions that Will come before the con-
vention, it>also showed that the total
fmeAebership of the federation is
3.1S5.635 Although this is a loss Of
710.S93 in the last year. members of
the committee pointed out that it
was a gain of more than 100000
over 1915. which year was followed
by big gains during the war.
Bitter attacks on the present
congress and the forces hostile TO
union labor were outstanding in the
report o. the executive council.
The council. declaring that the
federation during the last year had
+ successfully withstood many attacks
against union labor. recommended a
most aggressive policy for the fu-
ture
: other main recommendations pur-
porting 20 reflect the views Of the
organized workers OF the country
were:
Strong opposition to the sales tax.
the ship subsidy. ant-strike laws. all
forms Of political censorship Of NOV
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