The New York herald., 1922-01-28
FLOUT GOMPERs PLEA
Only Three Votes Are Cast
Against Resolution Con-
demning Workers.
EIGHT HOUR DAY UPHELD
Adamson Law Is Approved by
Big Vote, After a Long
Debate.

Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c.. Jan. ~. 4.
Union labor experienced striking
victory and then, within few hours, a
singing defeat in the closing sessions
to-day of the national agricultural
conference. Labor, with capital. was
condemned as one Of the factors re-
sponsible for the continued high
freight rates. which the farmers
blamed for their present state OF
financial collapse.
Members Of the agricultural bloc in
Congress, anxious to respond to the
farmers demands in every way, sat
in the audience while the delegates
wrestled with every problem imagin-
able. The most bitter of all the
struggles was that in which Samuel
Gompers, president Of the American
Federation of Labor, championed the
cause of the. railroad workers and
fought a resolution which called on
the Government to reduce their wages.
The other outstanding development
was the adoption of a resolution calling
upon the Administration and Congress
to accept the offer of Henry Ford to
take over Muscle Shoals for the manu-
| facture Of nitrate.
Favor Waterway Project.
The conference also adopted reso-
luton in favor of the Great I.akes-St.
Lawrence waterway project. This was
contained in the transportation report
which also precipitated the fight over
the question of wages for railroad work.
ers.
w. II. Stackhouse, president of the
National Implement and Vehicle Asso-
citation. introduced the transportation
report, which contained provision call
ing on the railroad workers and coal
miners to take reductions in wages
so freight rates might be brought to
a normal basis. He also asked that the
conference go on record as favoring the
repeal OF the Adamson law, which was
passed in 1916. providing eight hours
as the basic day for the computation
of wages for railroad workers.
The fight started Immediately. led by
Mr.. Gompers, who made An attack on
Mr.. Stackhouse. branding his proposal
as that Of the special interests. He
urged the farmers to organize. as union
labor has done, SO that as a unit they
would ho better able to withstand the
"sterco. sped antagonisms'' of capital.
'1f the Adamsn law is repealed" Mr..
Gompers said. "the eight hour day is
taken away from the railroad man.
"Go and organize. You will, of course,
face the same criticism that labor has
faced.
adopt Mr.. Stackhouse's resolution
and you will ally yourselves with the
greatest exploiters of the time. Labor
is ready and wants to help the farmers.
but adopt either tho Stackhouse rcsolu-
tion or the committee report and we
can't help but feel that you are allying
yourself with our enemies"
Debate continued throughout the
morning, but the Stackhouse resolutions
were Overwhelmingly defeated. The
question came up again at the after
noon session. however. but a solution
was found In linking the railroad cor
porations with the railroad workers.
Link Roads and Men.
I'VE insist that the railroad corpora
ti)ns and railroad labor should share
in the jehation in the charges now af-
fccting all industries" the resolution
read. This Is essential TO the restora-
ton of normal conditions in agricul-
ture and IL Is essential TO the walfare
Of the entire community. We earnestly
appeal to those I'm authority to take
such action as may be necessary in
order TO accomplish that result
AS soon as this was introduced Mr..
Gomrers made a motion that this para
graph of the resolution. which con-
fDi Inn At L. I'll
out. Then followed another prolonged
debate.
The discussion brought forth derun-
ciation of railroad labor and its fire.
quent demands for increased pay. Farm
wages were compared with those of
railroad employees. The difference was
stated varlously, the average farm
worker. II was said, getting around $3.50
n year: while the railroad laborer got
as an average much morc--from 1900
| to $1,000.
When it came to vote Mr.. Gompers
and two others voted for the striking
out of the paragraph. whilo tho rest
OF the conference voted for its retention
Demand Banking Reform.
At the final session of the conference
tonight the report of the finance COM
/ mittee was adopted. II declared the
permanent banking machinery Of the
United States to be inadequate to meet
the needs OF farmers and growers or
livestock and that the War Finance
Corporation and the Farm Loan system
| had failed.
The conference asked Congress 10 re-
licve this situation. specifically recon-
mending that short term loans 10 run
six months TO three years be provided
for farmers. Authority was asked for
Federal Reserve banks 70 buy CONNER
cial paper. properly secured, originating
from farm products.
Full authority was asked for the
Farm Land Bank system to make it
possible for farmers TO obtain loans OF
$4,000 for each individual instead OF
| $4,000. the present limit It Is recon-
ncnded also that warehouse certificates
for farm products be made the basis
OF loans in addition TO the land, as
now
The committee recommendations ex-
pressed the view that "we trust Il will
not be inconsistent at the proper time"
for the United States 20 engage In the
economic conference in Europe.
Secretary Wallace closed the confer
cnce with a speech in which he COM
mended the delegates for working out SO
| comprehensive and so constructive a.
program. He promised the recommen-
dations would be submitted TO Congress