Evening star., 1932-12-01
A. F. OF |. ASSA|LS
POLICY AT NORTON
Skilled Labor at Maryland
Prison Is Protested by
Clyde M. Mills.
BY the Associated Press.

CINCINNATI, Ohio, December l.
Opposition to prison labor in every
State" was expressed in a resolution
adopted unanimously by the American
Federation Of Labor Convention today.
The resolution protested particularly
against ''the policy of the Norton, Va,
Reformatory employing prisoners on
skilled labor"
Clyde M. Mills of Washington, repre-
senting the Typographical Union, said:
II want the vote on this resolution to
be an expression Of opposition to prison
labor in every State" He said the
Maryland prison, in Baltimore, is more
a manufacturing plant than a prison"
Asking "the moral and financial sup
port" Of the Federation, James D.
Graham of Montana, said "a fight
against lower wages has been started in
Butte, Mont, representing organized
labor's first stand for a showdown"
Graham was cheered as he said
stores had been closed within the last
two days at Butte and that a general
strike, led by clerks opposing 20 per
cent wage cut, was on.
Radio Advertising Hit.
Radio advertising was hit in reso-
luton referred to the executive council.
Introduced by Paul Scharenberg Of the
California State Federation of Labor,
the resolution urged that the council,
If feasible and practical, attempt to Sc
cure national legislation that will have
for its purpose the prohibition Of long
advertising lectures and speeches over
the radios of the country, limiting ad-
vertising by radio to an announcement
of the name OF the sponsor Of the pro-
gram and the produce or merchandise
such sponsor may be selling"
The federation, too, went on record
for legislation to protect" the petro-
leum industry.
In resolutions presented by Grafton
j. Fox of the Tulsa Central Labor
Union, and adopted unanimously, the
convention declared:
In the interest Of hundreds of thou
sands of laborers in the United States
dependent directly or indirectly upon
the petroleum industry, we favor legis-
lation having for its purpose the pro-
lection Of the petroleum industry Of the
United States against the flood OF
cheaply produced foreign oil coming
into our markets"
The delegates still have to choose a
convention city for next year and elect
officers. Invitations have been received
from Washington, ST. Louis. Savannah
and Chattanooga but sentiment ap-
peared to favor Washington because of
plans to unveil a memorial there to
Samuel Gompers.
Convention officials said there was a
possibility of adjournment tonight.
Strikes will be only "a last resort" in
efforts to establish unemployment in
surance and the 30-hour week for the
American working man, leaders Of the
Federation said.
The insurance plan, which would be
paid for by employers and administered
by the States, was adopted almost
unanimously yesterday. The six-hour
day and five-day week was ratified
Tuesday under similar circumstances.
Green Threatens Force"
President William Green and numer-
Gus other Federation leaders were
among those who advocated peaceful
attempts to gain the objectives, but
Green himself said, I'VE will use force,
if necessary, to obtain our demands" for
the shorter work week.
BY force" Green explained he meant
strikes, boycotts and picketing."
w. j. McDonough. delegate of the
Building Trades Union, said this or
ganization, like other unions, is opposed
to striking except as last resort, "but
we are willing to strike for unemploy-
ment insurance, shorter hours or any,
thing else that will better the workers
lot"
The Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Stable
men and Helpers Union, its president,
Daniel j. Tobin, said. also "does not
believe In strikes" However, he add
ed, unless the employers meet the
employees at least half way, they will
drive us back to strikes again"
G. M. Paulson, delegate Of the In
ternational Brotherhood Of Electrical
Workers of America, expressed disap-
proval Of strikes, but said: II am afraid
strikes will be necessary to bring some
employers around on unemployment in
surance and other similar matters for
the bettering of working conditions"