"Be It Resolved"

The American Federation of Labor, holding its annual convention at Portland, Ore. (TIME, Oct. 8) proceeded to the business of grinding out resolutions. This is the main function of the convention. Literally scores of resolutions were proposed and referred to committees--95 in the first five days alone. Some of the more important resolutions proposed:

P: For a Constitutional Amendment prohibiting child labor.

P: For removal of all restrictions now preventing disabled war veterans from becoming apprentices in organized trades.

P: For investigation of the American Bell Telephone Co. by the Federal Trade Commission, as a monopoly, taking monopoly profits.

P: For election of Federal judges by the people for terms of four years.

P: For the establishment of a National Labor College.

P: For giving Porto Rico the status of a state.

P: For radio broadcasting stations operated by trade unions in their own interest.

P: For the abolition of motion picture censorship as a danger to free speech.

P: For the prohibition of useful labor at penal institutions.

P: For condemnation of Fascisti organizations (presented by the Cigarmakers' International Union, of which Samuel Gompers is a delegate).

P: For aid by the Federation in organizing steel workers, textile operatives in the South, teachers, packing house employees, bank clerks, and female office workers of New York City. (This resolution was among the first reported out of committee, with a favorable recommendation, and was passed.)

A group of resolutions was also offered by the radicals, which have small chance of being successful. Some of them immediately fared ill in committee. They included resolutions:

P: For recognition of Soviet Russia.

P: For one big union of all trades.

P: For celebration of Labor Day not in September, but on May 1, as is done by the Communists abroad.

P: For a separate political party for labor.

P: For pardon of Thomas J. Mooney and W. K. Billings, imprisoned in California, convicted of bombing.

Delegate William F. Dunne, blue-shirted Communist leader from the Silver Bow Labor Council of Butte, Mont., indicted associate of W. Z. Foster, was expelled from the Convention, without any Gomperian steamrolling, 27,838 votes to 130. Dunne was charged with destructive designs upon trade unionism, on the strength of a speech he made in Portland ridiculing the Convention and its leaders.

Boston and El Paso both issued invitations for the next Convention of the Federation.