The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-08-05
MASSACHUSETTS
LABOR REFUSES
TO GUST CONROY
Declares for Right Of
Political Opinion
{ Special To The DAILY woRKER)

{ Special To The DAILY WORKER)
FALL RIVER, Mass, August L.
The right of an official Of the Massa-
chusetts Federation of Labor, row in
session here, to advocate independent
political action for labor was estab-
lished here when Conroy Of the ma
chinists' union Of Worcester was nom
mated for vice-president of the fed
Grafton at the convention now in
session.
The delegates rallied to his support
when a vitrolic attack was loosed on
him by reactionaries in the conven-
ton, who claimed he was not a good
member Of the American Federation
of Labor because he did not follow the
hopeless policy Of the president and
executive board of the A. F. of L. and
"reward friends and punish enemies"
For Labor Party.
Conroy was active for a labor party
in 1924. and succeeded in preventing
endorsement by the Worcester unions
Of Walsh, the representative of the
Boston and Albany railroad. =
Conroy's defense at the convention
was handled by special delegate of
the Worcester Central Labor Union.
The convention decided that no man
should be victimized for his political
opinions, and defeated a resolution
that required endorsement by the Ex-'
ecutive Council before any member
could run for political office.
The convention also declared by
large majorities for endorsement of
the unemployment bill, and for pub
lie inquiry into the state labor COM
mission. which has, disgraced itself
lately by it's unusual unfairness to-
wards organized labor.
Thayer Example.
The Sacco-Vanzetti case has not
come up yet, but the delegates in vot-
ing to endorse introduction of bill
in the next legislature to require the
election instead of the nomination of
judges, cited Judge Thayer, trial judge
in the Sacco-Vanzetti case, as an ex-
ample of the injustice possible thru
the system of appointed judges.
The convention also wants a bill
introduced limiting the injunction
powers of judges.
Had To Break In.
At yesterdays morning session the
entire business was taken up with the
report of the committee on resolu-
tons. Much time was taken up with
the various resolutions dealing with
the use of the union label as means
Of organizing the unorganized and
maintaining union conditions
Mary Thompson of the Women's
Trade Union League spoke on the
manner in which union conditions had
been established in the neckwear shops
of Boston pointed out that the neck
wear workers had secured recognition
of the union only after short but
very active strike, and only after the
workers had forced the employers to
sign an agreement with the union were
they able to secure the use of the
union label in their shops.
Public Ownership.
The Convention went on record as
favorlng a bill to be introduced IN the
next assembly calling for the public
ownership of natural resources for the
supply of electrical power in this state
and nationally.
Federation of Churches. -
1t was pointed out that the Church
es Federation had been markedly par
tial in it's ALLEGATION of speakers in.the
various churches to the Chambers Of
Commerce and the Employers Organi-
ations generally. A resolution was
passedcalling upon the Federation to
make a clearcut statement on its pol
icy to labor before the State Fedora
lion could resume relations with the
body.