World War I - Committee on Labor, 1916-1919

Letter from Secretary of War, informing AFL President Gompers of his appointment as member of Advisory Commission to Council of National Defense, October 30, 1916 and reply from Gompers, accepting, October 31, 1916; "Advisory Commission, Council of National Defense. The Labor Committee. Plan of Administration," detailing Gompers' powers as Chairman, procedures in his absence, 9 pages, n.d.; one page statement of purpose of Labor Committee, n.d.; "Invitation for Membership on Committee on Labor," 8 page list of union officials, with 2 form letters by Gompers, inviting membership, March 22, 1917; list of Labor Committee Executive Committee members; form letter from Gompers to AFL union officials re labor conference, importance of maintaining labor's voice in national emergency measures, March 2, 1917, 4 pages; minutes of the Committee on Labor re groups represented on the Committee, April 2, 1917, 3 pages; annual report of Labor Committee re visiting labor delegation from England, policy that wages and working conditions should not be lowered during the war, with detailed committee recommendations re sanitation, housing, etc., policy re women in industry, industrial training, military dependents, 1917, 52 pages; "Resolution Adopted at Meeting of Executive Committee, Labor Committee - Conservation of Health and Welfare of Workers," April 5, 1917, "Amplification" of above to correct public misinterpretation, April 16, 1917; letter from Gompers to Teamsters President Daniel Tobin, clarifying position re striking, April 17, 1917; letter from Gompers to Chairman, Council of National Defense, re attempts to lower standards of working conditions, April 26, 1917; letter from Gompers to members of Labor Committee, asking them to come to a meeting with British delegates, May 9, 1917; Gompers' remarks at the meeting of the Labor Committee, May 15, 1917, 17 pages; statement of United Mine Workers, unsigned, protesting policy of Committee on Coal Production and lack of mine worker representation on the committee, May 21, 1917, 4 pages; letter to Gompers from the Metal Polishers, Platers, Brass and Silver Workers Union, asking for investigation of increase in hours, without compensation, at Remington gun plant, May 24, 1917; letter from Gompers to Advisory Commission, Council of National Defense re resolution by Executive Committee, Committee on Labor, urging government adoption of safety standards for government suppliers during the war, June 8, 1917; letter from Gompers to Bernard Baruch, Advisory Commission of Council of National Defense, nominating various union officials for Council committees, June 16, 1917; letter, unsigned, probably from Gompers, from Labor Committee to Chairman, Advisory Committee re resolution for establishment of War Labor Board, August 27, 1917; letter to Gompers from Director, Council of National Defense, excerpting minutes of meeting between Council and Advisory Commission re conditions and procedures for suspension of labor laws in individual factories due to declared "war emergency", December 4, 1917; material re attempt to exempt farmers from draft, noting opposition by Labor Committee, October 1917; remarks of Gompers at Joint Meeting of the Council of National Defense and the Advisory Committee re slowness in implementing recommendations on housing and wages, and re allegations that Labor is unpatriotic, February 7, 1918, 7 pages; letter from Gompers to President Woodrow Wilson, urging that the Council of National Defense be continued after the war to assist in National readjustment and beyond, November 27, 1918, and reply from Wilson, in general agreement, November 27, 1918; letter from Gompers to AFL Executive Council re representation at the Presidential Industrial Conference, September 26, 1919, 3 pages; notes.