Evening star., 1936-11-29

OCtUCCU hutCCos
committee. Zaritsky then made a
long distance telephone call. Neither
would discuss the conference.
The council devoted most Of It's
meeting to consideration OF charter
applications from the cealners and
Divers and agricultural workers. No
decision was reached.
Green sent Gov. Sholtz Of Florida
a telegram asking for an investiga-
ton of reported peonage in Florida
turpentine camps. The telegram said:
1T was reported to me that state
of peonage exists among Negro work
ers employed in a section of the tur-
pentine producing industry at Mac
Clenny, Fla. officially protest
against such a policy of exploitation
and oppression. Will you please in
vestigate the situation and if the facts
developed show peonage and exploit
tation take such action as may be
necessary to stop it Immediately"
Will Confer on Dispute.
The United Leather Workers and
the Ladies' Pocketbook Workers,
subsidiary, announced temporary set
tlement of a dispute over the status
of the pocketbook workers. Instead
of withdrawing from the leather work
ers immediately, the pocketbook work
ers are to hold conference with the
leather workers over issues involved.
The promise of a labor fight for
drastic revisions in the social security
program appeared last night to have
been the A. F.. of L. conventions out
standing positive action.
More money for more workers was
the keynote of social security amend
ments the convention decided to send
to Congress this Winter.
The first would give farm hands and
employees of small stores and factories
insurance against both unemployment
and a needy old age. The present act
leaves out both.
The second amendment would in
crease from SIS to $25 the amount
the Federal Government would pay to
the States for each old-age pension
thus increasing pensions from $50 to
$50 month. The present act provides
the Federal Government will pay up
to SIS for each pension. with the
State to match the Federal contribu-
ton.
The third would have the Federal
Government share the cost of old-age
insurance. This cost, under the act
as 1t stands. is shared by employers
and employees alone.
Would Earmark Reserve Fund.
The fourth amendment would ear
mark the huge old-age insurance re-
serve fund for insurance payments
alone. Under the present act the
premium" collections 60 into the
Treasury's general fund
In both political and economic fields
the convention indorsed the stands
federation leaders have taken In the
last year.
At every convention for many years
New York clothing workers have led
a fight for establishment of an inde-
pendent labor party under the fedora
ton guidance. Their proposal this
year was shouted down.
Some observers sought to link this
action with the Lewis revolt.
Lewis and his United Mine Workers,
Sidney Hillman's Amalgamated Cloth
ing Workers and David Dubinsky's
Ladies' Garment Workers-the three
leading rebel unions-were leaders in
organization Of labor's Non-partisan
League in the last campaign.
This league had as its announced
purpose the rallying of labor-Re-
publican, Democratic and Socialist
to President Roosevelt's support.
Would Be Held Together.
George L. Berry, the leagues chair
man, repeatedly said, however, that
the league would be held together for
use in any political realignment that
might come in the next four years.
Although Berry is not one of the
rebels, he joins Lewis, Hillman and
Dubinsky in the belief that labor's
advance depends largely upon Govern
ment aid.
The craft unionists, as a group, on
the other hand, fear Government
intervention in certain battles which
they say must be won by labor un-
aided.
For instance, they oppose any legis-
lation that would allow the Govern
ment to fix minimum wages. Power to
fix minimums gives power to tx
maximums, they said.
This opposition was indicated by
the conventions pigeon-holing Of q
resolution calling for constitutional
amendment that would allow enact
ment of social justice" legislation
such as the N. r. A. and the Guffey
coal control act.
O'Mah0ney Bill Endorsed.
On the other hand. the conven-
ton voted to indorse the O'Mahoney
Industrial licensing bill and amend
ments to liberalize the Walsh-H -Healy
Government contract act-two N. r..
A. constitutes. The Black -Connery
30-hour-week bill also was Endorsed.
Traditional labor causes were treat
ed in the traditional way. The con-
vention voted to free Tom Mooney.
It refused to ''pre-judge" the Scotia