The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-10-23
Central Bodies Directed To
Refuse Seats To All
Wrongdoers
PROMPT ACTION
Federation Promises Aid To
Its Affiliated Or
carnations

By President James VI. Duffy, Second
Vice President Frank Hull, Eighth
Vice President Joshua Chadwick
and Ray Dickey, \. b. of o. p. Dele
gates to the A. F. of l.. Convention.
Seattle, Wash. i In resolution
adopted unanimously and without de-
bate, the American Federation Of
Labor Wednesday, October Is, took
positive steps to oust racketeers. The
resolution condemned violators of the
law and directed international unions
to take immediate action against
criminals and dishonest persons in
the labor movement.
To further the program of wiping
out racketeering and crime wherever
it may exist" the A. F. of l.. will di-
rect all central bodies to refuse the
seating of any union delegate who
has been convicted Of serious wrong
doing and who reflects dishonor Oh
the trade union movement.
Such delegate should be ousted if
the offense occurred after he took OF
fce, the resolution added:
The resolution also directed all ma
tional and international unions to re-
examine their constitutions, laws and
rules at the earliest opportunity to
make necessary amendments $50 that
prompt and diligent action" may be
taken against locals, officers and
members who are guilty of offenses
against public laws and the laws Of
the national or international unions.
.="The A. F. of l.. calls upon its af-
filiates to take prompt action when-
ever racketeeriag, wrongdoing or
other crime is engaged in by any of
its officers, or members, which tends
to bring dishonor on the trade union
movement" the resolution stated.
"To that end the A. F. of l.. will
give every aid and support to its af-
filiated organizations"
No Unions Specified
The resolution did not mention any
specific unions or individuals, but the
convention, in the annual election Of
officers. dropped George L. Browne,
on trial in New York on charges Of
extortion, as a vice president Of the
A. F. Of L.
The resolution cited that labor
unions Of the A. F. of L. are sovereign
autonomous organizations, holding the
power and authority of discipline.
1t stated the Executive Council and
the A. F. of L. itself had no power to
exercise discipline for "any offense."
The A. F. of L. was described as an
organization of "clean and honorable
labor groups, but it was conceded that
it had "a few dishonest individuals"
Courts of law were criticized as not
being cooperative, in all instances,
with trade unions which have sought
| to punish union officials and members
who have violated union laws.
at has proved discouraging to or
ganizations which have tried to disci-
pline an officer, or member, for vlo-
lation Of union laws, to find that the
court has reversed the action Of the
union and reinstated the offender
the resolution stated.
Trial Power Conferred
The resolution said several inter-
national unions, which in the past
year have held conventions, have re-
vised and amended their constitutions
to vest specific power In the general
officers and boards to prefer charges
involving racketeering.
Such officers now have the power
to conduct trials, to take over local
unions and appoint receivers for them
and to require local unions to expel
any officer or member convicted of
crime or serious wrongdolng.
at is gratifying to the A. F. of l..
to observe this ready response on the
part of these internationals," the reso-
luton said.
The delegates were told that the
A. F. of L. was not alone in having
"a few dishonest individuals"
"Wrongdoers and violators Of the
law have been found among presi-
dents of bar associations, Of medical
societies, of stock exchanges and even
cabinet members" the resolution said.
Labor has always sought to main
tain clean house. With the surge
and influx of new members since the
end of the depression, the problem of
preventing the entrance and activi-
ties of the racketeer and the GRIM
inal has become of utmost import
ance.
millions of men and women who
belong to trade unions will not toler-
ate the racketeer, the gangster and
the criminal in their midst. They will
eliminate him.
"In so far as public prosecutions
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