Evening star., 1941-12-02
Central Labor Union
Urges Conference
To Defend A. F. |.
DC. Unit Seeks Protection
Against Vicious Bills
And Propaganda

Members OF tne Executive COunCll
of the American Federation of Labor
were urged last night by officers of
local unions to call special confer
ence in Washington Of presidents
and Executive Board members OF
national organizations affiliated with
the A. F.. L. to work out a practical
plan of defense against the vicious
legislation" and the vicious 'propa-
ganda' of press and radio against
the A. F. L.
At a special meeting called to
consider pending anti-strike legiSla-
ton in Congress, the Central Labor
Union unanimously approved a reso-
luton requesting the Council to call
the conference.
John Locher. president of the Cen
trail Labor UGion. presided at last
nights meeting. which was held at
Laborers' Hall. 525 New jersey ave-
nue. NV. The meeting was attended
by more than 100 delegates repre-
senting local A. F. L. unions in
the District and nearby areas.
The resolution. proposed by the
Executive Committee and presented
formally tv Ernest Fontana, chair
man of tie PesolutionS Committee,
provided that the request for the
conference be sent by telegram to
council mrlberS
See obstruction of A. F. L.
The resolution pointed out that
pending legirlatiOn. if enacted,
will destroy the American Fed
Grafton of Labor and its afili-
ated organizations" In addition to
devising 2 practical plan of defend
inc the A. F. L. against anti-labor
leoiela tiCn and hostile propaganda
by the press and the radio. the con-
ference. Urder the resolution, would
work out program of cooperation
with the President of the United
States on national defense" The
President would be invited to address
the proposed conference
The meeting approved another
resolution also presented by Mr.
Fontana in behalf of the EXecu-
tive Committee. directing President
LOcher to appoint special commit
tee to study all editorials in Wash
ingtOn newspapers that attack the
American Federation of Labor or
which advocate the enactment of
legislation by the Congress of the
United States that has for its pur-
pose the Curtailment of the laws
that have been enacted beneficial
to the working classes of the
country"
Under the resolution this commit
tee was directed to submit to the
next meeting Of the Central Labor
Union "a practical plan TO counter
act these attacks on organized labor
by the daily papers of Washington"
Names Committee.
MI. LoCher appointed the follow
ing committee to examine editorials
in Washington newspapers: Frank
J. Coleman, Miss Selma Borchardt.
J. G. BigeloW. Ernest B. Spangler
and James Holden. MI Coleman,
who is secretary of the Central Labor
Union, said he planned to hold the
first meeting of this committee with
in a day or SO.
The meeting approved a resolu-
ton. presented by Ricardo Diz,
Local 63, Firemen and Boilers
Union, providing for the appoint
ment of special publicity COM
mitteo for the purpose of reaching
and creating among the general
public a sympathetic and friendly
understanding Of A. F. L. policies"
At the opening of the meeting
Mr.. Locher, who represented the
union at the A F. l.. Convention
in Seattle. submitted a report on
the proceedings of that convention
Secretary Coleman discussed anti
strike and other labor legislation
now pending in Congress. 1t is
vitally important, he said, that
members of the A. F. L. take
steps to protect their equity in the
American labor movement"
Preceding the approval of the
resolutions there was a general dis
cussion from the floor on the present
labor situation and the treatment
of labor questions by the press and
radio.