Evening star., 1942-05-19
|Anti-Strike Bill
Stand Weighed
Par|ey
District, Maryland
Federation Urged
To Mediate Rows
By ALTON L. BLAKESLEE,
Associated Press ata6 Writer.

AbbOCl8toQ Fr06S 6t4u Wr1ter.
HAGERSTOWN, Nd, May 1s.-
Some 80 resolutions, ranging from
criticism Of pending anti-strike leg
islation In Congress to local ques-
tions, were presented today to
delegates at the 37th annual con-
vention Of the Maryland and District
Of Columbia Federation of Labor.
One resolution up for consideration
calls for defeat of the vinson bill
which, the motion declared, would
make 1t a crime for workmen to
strike for any reason" and SIS an
attempt by anti-trades unionists to
exercise unwarranted control over
activities of organized labor"
Other resolutions support the
American Federation of Labor's
pledge not to strike. to employ gov
ernmental mediation agencies in
any dispute that might arise and
urge the A. F. LIS executive council
to use its authority to end juris-
dictional disputes within the labor
movement.
Others oppose any "relaxa ton Of
Federal or State laws which protect
working men or women" and urge
support in congressional elections
this fall only of candidates whose
labor record fully sustains suca CO.
operation"
Anti-Labor Papers Condemned.
Hostile daily newspapers, maga-
zines and periodicals who are
attacking President Roosevelt and
labor" are condemned in another
motion.
One resolution called for removal
from office Of Washington suburban
sanitary commissioners, who were
said to have dismissed 20 members of
an A. r. L. union formed by COM
mission employees at Hyattsville. It
contended the commission organized
. company union for the purpose
OF stopping its employees from join
ing bona f1de trade union"
q. Darby Bowman. secretary to
the commission. said today the
independent union of construc-
ton department employees was
not organized or sponsored by
the commission It was organ
lied last fall, he said, and sub
sequently gained a closed-shop
agreement with the commission,
In which all employees of the
construction division were given
90 days to join or quit their Jobs.
There have been a few who quit
after refusing to join the inde-
pendent group, Mr.. Bowman de-
] clared.)
Other resolutions urged:
An end to use Of convict labor
70 construct the new armory at
the University Of Maryland at Col
lege Park" Only free labor. 'the
resolution said, should be used in
construction work paid for by tax
money.
Granting to District residents the
same degree of suffrage and self
government enjoyed by other Amer
lean citizens.
Officers NcAcinations Due TODAY.
Nominations will be made later
To-Day for president, six vice presi-
dents. secretary. treasurer and fed.
Grafton organizer, with elections to-
morrow.
Early reports indicated a wide
open race for president to succeed
Joseph P. McCurdy of Baltimore, re-
tiring after years at the head of the
federation. Leaders, however, said
the race might be narrowed to two
or three candidates by the time
nominations are made.
Delegates yesterday heard Gov.
O'Conor report that mo time,
thanks to you, is being lost" in Mary.
land war industries.
I'VE must not lose sight of the
gains labor has made" Gov. O'Con-
or said, "and If any concessions are
necessary for the successful prose-
cution of the war, those concessions
must be only temporary"
I. N. Ornburn, secretary-treasurer
of the A. F. LIS labor trades depart
ment, said labor should be repre-
sented on State and local rationing
and price control boards.
I'VE don't say that we want rep
resentation only for the A. F. L.,
but for all forces of labor in our
land. For the duration of the war
all forces of labor will unite for the
success Of the war effort" he said.