Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-07
LABOR FEDERATION
IN BRIEF SESSION
Business Program Deferred
to Enable Members to
Witness Legion Parade.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BOSTON, October IA brief ses-
sion for the disposal of routine af-
fairs was the extent of the activities
today of thc American Federation Of
Labor convention. Other business was
deferred until tomorrow to give the 400
delegates an opportunity to witness the
parade of the American Legion, which
is also holding its convention here.
Resolutions contributed by delegates
were compiled and made ready for fll-
ture action of the convention at large
With the time for filing resolutions ex-
piring tonight, it was expected that &C.
ton on those submitted could be start
ed tomorrow.
consideration the appeal of President
William Green for immediate inaugu-
ration of the five-day work week in in
dustry with the exception of the serv-
/ ice groups. Although some branches
of organized labor are now working a
five-day week, the appeal of President
| Green in his opening address to the
convention yesterday paved the way for
the effort to make such program uni
versal.
: Railroad Is Scored.
Among the resolutions placed before
the convention was one asking the fed
| Grafton to place the Union Pacific
! Railroad on the 1--WE don't patroniZe
! list" 1t was offered by Harry j. Gill
! of the Nebraska Federation. The Union
Pacific operates on an open shop
basis
Archie M. Lawrence of st. Louis in
| troduced a measure which would give
| the federation auXiliaries representa-
| ton at conventions.
A protest against a luggage factory
in the Missouri State Penitentiary was
the subject of a resolution offered by
w. E. Bryan of the United Leather
Workers International Union.
Representatives of organized labor
were told by President Hoover yester-
day that cooperation, team-play and
the absence of conflict during the bust
| ness depression had added strength to
| the Nations industrial structure.
From President Green of the fedora
ton they heard plea for united sup
port in efforts to inaugurate imme-
diately the f1ve-day work week in in
dustry. The federation president paid
| tribute to the pioneers in the labor
movement in this country, whose prob
lens in years past, he said, were no
less serious than those confronting labor
today.
President Hoover spoke before more
than 1900 delegates and guests. He
was accorded a tremendous ovation, as
was Mrs. Hoover, who was presented to
the assembly.
Note of Optimism.
| Sounding a note of optimism in the
| face of the industrial depression, Presi-
dent Hoover said, mo one would invite
either war or business depression, but
| from them may come some new inspira-
tons. We find in these times courage
and sympathy generous helpfulness
from our work people to those unfortu-
mates suffering not alone from the pres
ent, but from fear for the future. We
! find inspiration in the courage of our
employers, the resolution of the Nation
that we shall build steadily to prevent
and mitigate the destructiveness of these
| great business storms"
President Hoover's stand against the
| reduction of wages as solution OF the
unemployment problem was lauded by
President Green, who said, in present.
| ing him to the convention:
This occasion presents a most ap-
propriate opportunity to refer to the
! economic philosophy which President
| Hoover has repeatedly expounded.
| refer to the matter of wages. He has
steadfastly maintained that the pros
| perity of our country depended very
| largely upon the development of the
consuming power of the masses of the
] people to maximum capacity through
the payment Of the highest wages
| possible.
"I have always interpreted his
| statement in favor of the payment of
high wages as an Endorsement of the
wage philosophy announced by the
Atlantic City Convention Of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor.
| THE President demonstrated his
J faith and confidence in the principle
| of high wages when he called a con-
ference Of representatives of labor and
industry at the White House last No
vember. At that conference he suggested
that peace be preserved in industry
and that wages be maintained during
the period Of unemployment through
which we were passing. The great in
huence which he exercised on that oc-
casion served to maintain wage stand
ards and TO prevent general reduc-
ton in wages
las we emerge from this distressing
period Of unemployment we are per-
mitted to understand and appreciate
the value Of the service which the
President rendered the wage earners of
the country and industry when he con-
vened the White House Conference to
which have just referred"
The aggreSSivenesS of President
! Green's appeal for the f1ve-day work
week was indicated by his statement:
! Il wish that beginning now it might
be the purpose of the officers of the
federation TO press upon industry our
incorporating demand that the Ave
day work week be Immediately estab-
liShed." The workers of today can
produce, he said, in the shorter work
day and the shorter work week, the
commodities needed by the world.
The delegates were welcomed to Bos-
ton and Massachusetts by Mayor James
M Curley and Frank G. Allen, the in
vocation was delivered by Cardinal
O'Connell, Archbishop of Boston.
Mayor Curley praised the humani-
tartan achievements of the organization.
Gov. Allen declared he had no quar-
rel" with President Green on his de-
mand for the five-day week, providing
! IL was adooted throtiohout tJoe NafIov