The Washington times., 1924-11-20
M|NERSDENAND.
GENSURE Of
STONE
Efforts Made to Head off
Public Fight on Floor Of
A. F. Of |. Convention
By KENNETH CLARK,
international News Service.

Ell PASO, Tex, Nov. 2O.-Stren-
nous efforts were launched today
to head off a public fight on the
floor of the American Federation of
Labor convention, in session here,
over the row stirred UP by the
United Mine Workers in asking that
Warren s. Stone, president of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive En-.
gineers. be- censored for employing
Hofl-union miners on his organiza-
tons coal properties in Kentucky
and West Virginia.
officials of the so-called twelve
standard railroad unions affiliated
with the federation held confer
ences that lasted until the early
hours. today trying to devise some
means to prevent action on the
miners resolution condemning
stone or to soften it language.
Mine union leaders were asked, It
was learned, to withdraw the reso-
luton on promises that efforts
would be made to get Stone to sign
q union wage agreement. This, the
miners refused point blank, an,
nOuncing that they were deter.
mined for a finish fight on the
floor.
Nasty Fight Looms.
Federation officials admitted that
should the resolution come to the
convention, nasty fight was
certain. This they hope in some
way to avoid in order that harmony
might be maintained and to avoid
the possibilities Of a split between
HhA Iaof1
workers freely predicted today that
they had mustered sufficient votes
to pass the resolution.
The resolution has placed the
delegates in an extremely embaras.
sing position and one that carries
the real danger Of break between
the railroad workers and the Fed.
GRAFTON.
OF the sixteen standard rail
unions, twelve are affiliated with
the federation, four, the Engineers,
Conductors, Firemen and Trainmen
maintained separate organizations.
All, however, have worked closely
together, especially in advocating
rail legislation.
To vote for the miners resolution,
the affiliated rail unionists would
be taking a direct slap at one of
the most powerful of their own
crafts. To vote against the propo-
sal, they would be opposing what
Is one OF the chief and fundamental
aims of the federation unionizing
the workers OF all industry.
Whichever way they go, affiliated
rail bodies are certain to be subject
to severe attack, either from the
engineers or from members OF the
federation.
Would Delay Action.
II the miners resolution cannot
he stifled, rail workers would like
to see action on 1t postponed until
the closing hours Of the convention
when opportunity of public debate
would be limited. But in this they
are faced with the fact that Frank
w. Harrington, Of the Illinois
miners, is chairman of the com.
mittee on boycotts to which the
resolution was referred, and II Is.
known that Harrington is anxious
for early consideration.
Among the bitter enemies of Stone
there was talk today Of making
the resolution more severe by pro
viding that the locomotive en-
glneers should be boycotted Nv all
other unionists. Besides the coal
mines, the engineers have banks
and investment companies In which
trade unions are heavy investors.
For the fourth consecutive time,
the convention session was cut
short today. At noon the dele.
Gates went to Juarez to attend q
barbecue given in their honor by
the Mexican Federation OF Labor.