Evening star., 1924-04-21
LABOR FIGHTS DAWES
AS G. O. P. CHAIRMAN
Federation Voices Strong Protest
Against Suggestion of
Temporary Appointment.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Organized labor is up in arms over
the suggestion that Charles g. Dawes
be made temporary chairman of the
Republican national convention or
possibly the vice presidential nomi-
nee with President Coolidge.
Labors fight against Gen. Dawes
dates from his notable visit Of year
ago to the late President Harding in
Florida when he disclosed to the lat
ter his convictions on the need for
the open shop" in America Mr..
Harding subsequently issued to the
press 4 denial that he had indorsed
any program of that kind. On the
return of Mr. Dawes to Chicago an
organization known as The Minute
Men of the Constitution" was launch
ed with circulars supporting the in
junction obtained by Attorney Cen
eral Daugherty in the shopmen s
strike. The fight has continued ever
since and cropped ont recently in the
primary campaign in Illinois, when
Joseph A. Wise. candidate for dele
gate at large TO the Republican ma
tional convention. wrote "A letter in
dorsed by the Illinois State Fedora
tion of Labor.
The communication was sent to the
secretary Of the Minute Mems or
ganization and said, in part:
Candidate Discredits Dawes.
'If elected delegate / will not
accept the personal views or plat
form Of Mr.. Charles q. Dawes, chair
man Of the board of the banking
corporation known as the Central
Trust Company, as substitute for
the basic law of the land, even
though Mr.. Dawes insists that in or
ganizing the So-caiIed Minute Men
of the Constitution his former title
of general in the quartermaSter s
department OF the Army should be
used and that no reference be made
to his well known financial and po-
litical affiliations"
His o-called platform. I repeat,
was made public following his so
journ with Attorney General Daug-
| herty in Florida and the words in
dorsing the announced position of the
government with reference TO the
quit relate to the official position of
the present government or admins
tration in regard to labor as officially V
announced by Attorney General
Daugherty in his statement before
Judge Wilkerson, in the federal court
in this district where he procured
the arbitrary injunction against the
railroad workers then on strike. .
Later Mr.. Dawes amended the cir
culars through which he had been
broadcasting his platform by insert
ing statement that he really was
not promoting an 'open-shop scheme
1t seems to me significant that you
omit his statement on this point whe n
you present his platform or priya e
constitution to me for Endorsement.
when he offered his explanatory
| statement, however, Mr.. Dawes took
occasion to attack in an unscrurl Gus
manner several trade union officia Is
| known for their service and loyalty
to the nation and he did this at a
time when these same officials were
| under attack from some of the most
notorious communists in the United
! States
Excerpts Reflect Views.
The foregoing excerpts reflect the
views of the American Federation of
Labor. which has been bruadcasting
in the last few weeks copies of the
some, with the heading, illinois
Labor Joits Scheme Of Dawes for
nti-Union Plank in Party Plat
forms"
Inquiry at the White House today
revealed the fact that no decision had
been made by President Coolidge will
maIrship of the Republican national
| convention. Many names are under
consideration No comment was made
on the suggestion that Gen. Dawes be
chosen. 1t seems unlikely, however
| that the Coolidge ahminist ration
would care TO become entaIgied in
| the "ope shop" controversy on the
eve of a presidential campaign. as 1t
| is usually considered better st strategy
| to avoid unnecessary autaroniSms
election year
Copyright 1874