6&J'-
VOL. XXII. No. 9
Convention Ilall, Cincinnati, Ohio,
June 16—With flags flying, martial
music in the air and solidarity and
unity in the ranks, the American
Federation of Labor, Monday, opened
its forty-second annual convention.
No convention has ever presented
a finer front to the world. No con
vention has ever gone into session in
higher spirit or with greater determi
nation.
President (Junipers, replying tu the
addresses of welcome, struck a high,
strong keynote, the essence of which
was, "We are in no mood to give up
liberties, no matter what power may
seek to steal them, or what subtlety
may be employed."
In Cincinnati's big, cool armory,
more than a half thousand men and
women came to order as the gavel
fell. There were flowers on the plat
form. Executive council members
Hanked the president on either side.
Down below the platform and just in
front, sat the largest newspaper rep
resentation that ever attended an
American Federation of Labor con
vention. Special wires ran from this
table to the four corners of the world.
At long tables delegates sat, cheer
ing now and again, all preliminary to
two weeks of hard work ahead.
For a minute everyone stood. It
was the Star Spangled Banner. For
another minute everyone stood. It
was a tribute to the veteran leader
and president. Then Mr. Gompers be
gan his short opening address in
which he said in part:
"In a day like this it
toilers
LABOR'S BIG GATHERING
FORTY-SECOND ANNUAL CONVENTION OF AMER
ICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR OPENED
IN CINCINNATI, MONDAY, FOR
TWO WEEKS' SESSION
"We Are in No Mood to Give Up Liberties No Matter
What Power May Seek to Steal Them," Keynote
of Gompers' Address
is most
en
couraging to have come from your
hearts and minds the expression of
hope and the offer of service. The
toiling masses of America have few
traditions
of the old,
as
of
have the
older countries and older
civilizations but in our own America
we have emerged from a condition of
servitude to understanding by the
great mass of the toilers of America
of
the sovereignty of the citizenship,
of the equality of opportunity which
must come to the great toiling masses
of America.
We do not
becloud our
minds,
High Heels
noi
do we fool ourselves into any fancied
security as to the obstacles which
have been and are being thrown
across our pathway of progress. On
the contrary, the designers and those
who carry the designs into effect to
weaken the spirit or to crush the
hopes of American labor for abso
lute freedom—we understand them
and their purpose just as keenly as
they do, and we are just as ready,
and perhaps much more so, than are
the antagonists of the rightful course
and cause of the American labor
movement. We shall go onward and
forward more determined than ever
that there shall not be imposed upon
our brow, upon our backs the type
of The Man With the Hoe, but that
as freemen, ordained by God and by
nature, declared in that sacred docu
ment, the Declaration of Independence
rooted in the constitution of the
United States, we are men and women
with .-f-rl-rsT- n- --v
Medium Heels
Low Heels
the right of life and liberty and the
pursuit of happiness.
And this American labor movement,
organized as it is, believes in these
great principles enunciated in that
world-famed, historic and sacred
document and we are not in a mood
to have those rights and those prin
ciples guaranteed to us by our con
stitution taken from us by any sub
tle reasoning or assumption of power,
no matter whence it emanates.
I shall not attempt to anticipate
the legislation, the proceedings of
this convention. I may be permitted
to say that these will be told in the
report of the executive council, which
will be submitted to this convention,
and by the resolutions introduced or
adopted by the convention. But I
may take cognizance of just one re
mark made by his honor, the mayor,
which, in my judgment—and I think
you will agree with me—is the judg
ment of all, is the keynote of that
which we have to do today.
The mayor referred to this gather
ing as a conference, and, if my mem
ory serves me well, he added that
conferences are the gi'eat distinctive
advance which has been made by the
human family as against th? exer
cise of force to compel obedience to
the will of one. Amen to that and
to that declaration. This is a con
ference or a congress of the chosen
representatives of the rank and file
of the men and women of toil who are
working today in all fields of human
industrial activity, and they come
here with a mandate and credentials
of their constituents to express the
views and principles in which they
so heartily believe, and the aspirations
which they so devoutedly aim should
be accomplished.
We meet here in annual convention
for the purpose of arriving at results
which shall represent th^ composits,
average view of the toiling masses
of America. In our trade unions, in
our other labor organizations, in our
city central bodies, our state federa
tions, our national and inter-national
trade unions, what we ask of employ
ers is that they sit with us around
the table—not in any jug handle
movement inaugurated by themselves
in which they dominate in face and in
spirit but to meet in conference with
us and there around the table, they
as employers and we as workers, the
chosen representatives of the work
ers, to discuss, to ascertain and de
termine, for some reasonable period at
least, an agreement governing the
matters which affect both factors of
industry, and not forgetting the
rights of employers and of business,
but having as the most essential con
sideration the human equation in in
dustry. We want conferences."
I! KICK MAKERS WIN
Newark, N.
Special Sale
0 1
Ladies' White Footwear
$
J.—Brickmakers
ii
em
ployed at Sayreville, near here, have
raised wages 10 per cent after a short
strike.
Several
hundred workers
All Sizes 2»/, to 8
Y O U O I E
Lace Oxfords and Strap Pumps
Made of easy cleaning white cloth with flex
ible leather soles. Broken lota,
former values to $4...
FIT-RITE SHOE STORE
218 S. THIK1) STREET
'tdsticks
$1.95
jfcr
1 he supreme court of the United
States has ruled that unincorporated
trade unions can be sued.
The decision means that big busi
ness has won its objective in its long
ampaign for trade union incorpora
tion.
The court made this decision in the
case of Coronado Coal Company ver
sus the United Mine Workers.
In 1914 the company, and others,
began operation under anti-union con
ditions. Disorder and bitterness were
associated with the strike and the in
ternational union of mine workers
was sued for damages. A verdict of
$200,000 was rendered in the Arkansas
federal court, which was trebled under
the Sherman anti-trust law. This, to
gether with court costs and attorney's
fees totaled over $1,000,000, which the
United Mine Workers guaranteed by
liberty bonds deposited with the court.
In its decision the court, with ex
pressions of regret, orders these
funds returned to the United Mine
Workers, and holds that the Arkansas
miners, (District No. 21), must be
sued, as the strike was a local one
and the United Mine Workers, as an
international union, was not connect
ed with it. The case is remanded
MOLDING PUBLIC
OPINION
"Me Too" Editors Behind
Movement For Reac
tion's Benefit
Washington.—Eight-hour "feelers'
lire thrown out from the national cap
ital to ascertain if reaction can install
the eight-hour day for government
employes in place of the shorter work
lay that has prevailed for years.
One kite flyer announces in the local
press that "it has been pointed out
by the department heads and commit
tee members that one of the obstacles
to greater efficiency has been the pro
tection given clreks by the civil ser
vice law." This statement is in line
ith the recent assault on the civil
service law when 27 officials of the
bureau of engraving and printing
were removed without complying with
law governing these cases.
The kite flyers announce that the
cabinet "is studying the eight-hour
day." Many officials, it is stated,
have concluded that eight hours is
necessary for greater efficiency and
economy.
These are the "high signs" for
every other kite flyer and "me too
ditor to get behind the move and
create a public opinion that can be
capitalized for eight hours at the op
portune moment.
GETTINGINEASY
Workers' Solidarity Worries
Lawmaker
Washington.—The increasing soli
darity of labor is worrying Senator
Snioot, who is confused, however, when
he refers to international meetings
of labor as "wage gatherings."
In indicating his worry, the senator
said:
"In Canada we know that the labor
N THE BUTLER COUNTY PRESS.
A. Radio Fan, Esq.
WHOOPFE/J
J+10 Oh
1
LABOR'S SHACKLES TIGHTENED
SUPREME COURT'S DECISION IN CORONADO COAL CASE PLAC
ING LABOR ORGANIZATIONS IN SAME CATEGORY AS
TRUST CORPORATIONS IS BIG VICTORY FOR "BIG BIZ"
Ruling Of Nation's Highest Court Means When Union Orders Strike
Its Strike Funds Can Be Tied Up And Levied Against For Damages.
back for trial under these instructions.
Anti-union coal owenrs must start
their fight all over again, and if they
win against the Arkansas miners
they will find a depleted treasury.
Big business, however, has won a tre
mendous victory and has been repaid
with interest for its
support
of the
miners' opponents.
Summed up, the court ruies that, in
this case the international union of
miners cannot be sued or held liable
for the Arkansas strike, which is a
local affair. But the court for the
first time in American history lays
down the broad principle that a trade
union on strike can be sued and its
strike funds seized for damages.
In defending this new position Chief
Justice Taft cites Section 7 of the
anti-trust act, which declares that the
persons who may be sued under the
act include "corporations and associa
tions existing under or authorized by
the law of either the United States
or the laws of any foreign country."
"The language," said the chief jus
tice, "is very broad, and the words,
given their natural significance, cer
tainly include labor unions like these,"
The chief justice takes this position
unions are in constant communication
with labor unions here. They have
international meetings in Ottawa one
year and possibly the next year in
some city in the United States.
"We have international wage meet
ings in the City of Mexico and repre
sentatives go there from the United
States. International wage gather
ings are held in European nations to
which representatives of the civilized
nations go."
SUSPICIOUS
La Follette Says Steel Trust
Doesn't Oppose New
Merger
Washington.—The steel trust does
not oppose the proposed formation of
a second trust by several independ
ent steel corporations, said Mr. La
Follette, on the floor of the senate.
"Why should it?" asked the law
maker. "As a matter of fact, there
are strong indications in what is al
ready known about this proposed mer
ger that the same financial forces
which formed and now control the
United States steel corporation are
also interested in this new merger.
"I call your attention to the fact
that the financing of this new steel
trust is in the hands of Kuhn, Loeb
& Co. The congressional committee
on the concentration of control of
money and credit, generally known as
the Pujo committee, reported in 1913
that the most active agents in for
warding and bringing about the con
centration of control of money, credit
and industry are J. P. Morgan & Co.
First national bank of New York, Na
tional city bank of New York Lee
Higginson & Co., of Boston and New
York Kidder, Peabody Co., of Boston
and New York, and Kuhn, Loeb & Co.
"The report showed that these great
financial groups never acted alone on
any large transaction but invariably
acted in combination and shared the
spoils.
"There is evety reason to believe
tied
HAMILTON, OHIO, FRIDAY, JUNE 16,1922 ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR
=UI
•egardless of the historic fact that
the authors of the anti-trust law never
ntended to include trade unions in its
siope and did not deem it essential
comply with labor's plea that the
ict
be amended to this effect.
The court justifies its new
who
up
were
monopolizing commodities
The decision means that when a
union orders a strike itc strike funds
can be
and levied on by dam
age suits
It is almost safe to predict that the
decision marks the end of "can't
strike" agitation, and that big busi
ness will no longer finance or even bt
interested in surface-thinking editors,
political mountebanks and economic
ghost dancers who urge handcuff laws
These laws are no longer necessary
The supreme court of the United
States has arranged matters to suit
the convenience of big business, which
an
hereafter turn
its strikebreaking
over to the judiciary.
that while Kuhn, Loeb & Co. is tin
nominal financial agent in the crea
tion of this consolidation, they are act
ing in concert with the financial in
terests which control the United
States steel corporation.
"Reports in the financial journal
demonstrate that the merger has al
ready proceeded far enough to result
in the elimination of competition and
the fixing of prices upon a monopoly
basis."
"SAVIORS"
Of Workers Proves Puzzle
to Labor Editor
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.—Edi
tor Roper, of the Alberta Labor News
has been trying to figure out the pol
icy of "saviors" of the workers in
this section for the past several years
The "saviors" are at sixes and sev
ens between themselves. A short time
ago, when the one big union was form
ed in Calgary, workers were urged to
break away from trade unions be
cause they are "reactionary and impo
tent to protect the workers from th
greed of capitalism."
Now the workers' party of Canada
(camouflage for communists' party)
at its Toronto convention declare that
secession and duallism must end and
that all hands must hustle back under
the folds of the American Federation
of Labor. This, it was declared, is in
line with the policy of the Moscow
red international, in order that a "bor
ing from within" policy may be ap
plied in the A. F. of L.
Some ot the one big unionites don'
like the order, and the favorite cry
"pie card artist" is bandied betweei
the "saviors."
STOVE MOUNTERS WIN
Oakland, Cal.—After a 10-weeks
strike stove mounters employed at th
Hammer-Bray Company's shop huv
won their contention for former rates
Washington.—"Over-valuation and
writing up of appreciated values"
mounting to $155,000,000 in an alleg
total investment of $675,000,0000
s a device to conceal their actual
:ite of profit is charged against 1126
ituminous coal mine companies in a
port on investment and profits of
oal owners for the past six years,
ibmitted to congress by the federal
ude commission.
ed
The report declares tht many
ompanies also reduce their appai-ent
ates of return "through inclusion in
their investment of vast tonnages of
al deposits far beyond what is ne
essary for use during the life of their
present mines and mining equipment."
Seven large companies investigated
have enough unmined coal to keep
hem operating for 108 years at their
maximum rate of production in 1918.
he companies, it seems, regard in
vest on their investment for this
ntire period as a legitimate charge
to be reflected in the price of coal,
'he commission, however, considers
oal deposits above the average re
uirements for 30 years,
on the $22,000,000 which
position
because "of the growth and necessi
ties of the great labor organizations,"
and reads into the anti-trust law a
meaning that was never intended by
lawmakers, who were striving to break
up combinations of men
the tuberculosa death
maintained, that disease may become
rare one or two generations hence,
said Dr. Mathia- Nimoli, deputy healtl
commissioner,
in a
GOUGING THE PUBLIC
HOW THE COAL OWNERS DO THIS IS SHOWN IN
THE FIGURES SUBMITTED BY FEDERAL
TRADE COMMISSION
Methods of Profiteering Barons is Roundly Condemned
By Board in Report to Congress
as
"excess
eserves," and declares that the prac
tice of the companies is an indefen
ible element in raising prices. "The
nclusion of investment in excess coal
iiids makes the rate of return, and
therefore the price of coal, appear
more reasonable than it otherwise
could. For each ton of coal bought
by the consumer over 20 cents a ton
.ould be required if they are
to
in annual return of only 6
pay
per
cent
they have
invested in excess reserves."
CONSUMPTION
Will
Become Rarer, Says
Medieal Expert
New York.-
I'harne.
:»5.1
important
Care of
speech in this city
'Deaths from tubeiculosis fell in
the cities, in the last five years," he
said, "from 115 in 100,000 population
in 1917 to 63.6 in 1921,
and
rural districts from 108
in the
4 in
1917 to
ror I he
i
Si
The commission estimates that if
taken out of the 1126 companies it
would reduce their investment from
$:».12 to $2.80 per ton or less."
One large company in the balance
sheet submitted included so much
overvaluation and depreciation that
the commission revised it downward
"over 54 per cent."
This "overvaluation and writing up
of appreciated values" and the "inclu
sion of investment in excess coal
lands," roundly condemned by the
commission's report, are understood
to figure in the "nonprofiteering"
price submitted by the operators to
the secretary of commerce and pro
mulgated by him as "fair."
As to profits of the coal owners,
the commission declares that for the
six years 1916-1921 the return on in
vestment averages 15 per cent, run
ning as high as 29 per cent in 1917.
The figures for the first three years
were collected by the commission for
the last three they were supplied by
the national coal association. The
commission says that it "does not
vouch
for"
the coal association's fig
ures, which may be interpreted as
pnee* which the operators
in 1921.
"I think we may justly claim that
one ,,f the jnos.t important factors in
thi i eduction has been public educa
i o n Next i n
i!vi"ii
:e.
If
preser
importance l.ave
f..r :ii.-
|H| jf
June ride
cHjr"
ti
-A
•SSI
an
indirect way of saying that the asso
ciation's returns
are padded to con
ceal profits.
In 1920 the coal owners secured an
injunction restraining the commission
from requiring the coal companies to
make business reports to the commis
sion. Since then the national coal
association is the only source of in
formation: concerning the reasonable
ness
oi
been
care
uf
advanced
caso. the protection of the healthy
from
infection, and—perhaps
most
of :11 -the discovery and
incipient cave.-.
"Incipient cases are reported
twice
afrequently in the cities as in the
rural districts. The apparent larger
city decrease n comparative reports
is due to deaths in country hospitals
of cases coming from the cities and
should be allocated back to the cities."
•. •, -Till II
sri&FL
The Bed room
Beautifu1
Creating a Bedroom Beautiful is nowadays a
simple and delightful task. The bride who plans
a bedroom today has her choice of all the beau
tiful styles the past has to offer, coupled with
conveniences such as our grandmothers never
dreamed of.
Our line of furniture contains such a wealth
of material that it is extremely easy to find the
one style or period which you wish to adopt for
your very own.
I/DCO.C
i\ n o
TURNS HOUSES INTO HOMES