The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-06-20
Gompers Pleads for United Eff
forts on the Part Of q
j. Organized Labor. 81
LABOR IS DENIED
RIGHT TO ORGANIZE
Criticised the Daily Papers for
Not Giving Deserved Sup &
port to Colorado Miners. =

New York city urged his listeners to
unite in their efforts to secure its
passage. He seemed confident that
concerted action of the workers Of
this country. will have q tremendous
influence upon the senators and will
aid its passage, =: = p r ~ 4
1T is not an antitrust -aw," he;
said Of the Sherman act, but an
ant1-association law. The only way
the workers can utilize the rights ac-
corded to them by the Constitution IS
to organize in their efforts for the
pursuit of happiness. And such or
ganization is deemed an unlawful
combination, a conspiracy. =.
Denied Right to Organize j.
II do not wish to portray to you
the narrowing details of the Colorado
disaster, but if the workers of those
mines attempt to organize themsel-
YES to better their conditions, their
acts are deemed unlawful. It is in
such instances as these that the la
borers suffer more than can be told"
During his talk he severely criti-
cized the press, claiming that it has
not lent the deserved support. He
insisted that under the conception
Sherman act the whole body of labor
is in danger.
Speaking Of the prosecutions and
persecution of the Allied printing
trades, under whose auspices the
meeting had been called, he said that
he was glad that a fight is being
made upon them. He thought, he
said, that would bring them closer to-
gether, and it would cause: them to
realize their needs and their condi-
lions.
Resolutions Adopted.
Whereas the continued advance
ment and welfare of the workers of
America depend upon the maintence
of those Fundamental principles which
insure freedom of action to protect
their own rights, interests and even
their lives; and 49,. IS - -. 50:
Whereas this freedom for activity
necessary to carry out these purposes
has been endangered and limited un-
der the perverted Interpretations un-
| der which the Judiciary has applied
the Sherman Antitrust law to organi-
cations of workers and their normal
activities; and 49,: :--
=, Whereas this law was enacted to
regulate trusts and monopolies which
have for their purpose such control
over the products Of labor as will
enable them to- control prices and to
increase their control over those
| whom they employ; and -
Whereas organizations Of workers
| are different in purpose and in ma
| ture from the trusts and monopolies
| which the Sherman Antitrust law
| was intended to regulate, in that
| those organizations control only the
! power to labor, the power inseparable
from the personality and the body Of
| the individual worker. himself, and
monopolies and trusts control the con-
crete things which are the products
| of that labor; and -
| Whereas free workman must have
the right and the opportunity to con-
troll labor power, to sell or to with
hold that labor power in order to Sc
cure to workers most advantageous
results and they must have the fur
ther legal and actual right to bestow
their patronage upon the dealers who
agree to conditions and terms which
promote the best. interests Of the
workers; and ..--s ...,..E O.
| Whereas the right to control labor
| power and patronage can be effec-
lively established, only through col
lective action in organizations o1
! workers not only have the right to
these necessary activities individually
but collectively; and +, .f$t.
4 Whereas Doubleday. Page & Co..
and the Gill Engraving company have
recently instituted legal proceedings
/ against the Allied Printing Trades
council of New York city for the pur.
4 pose Of depriving them Of the right
to control their labor power, their pa.
tronage and threatening even the ex.
istence Of their organizations; and
4 s Whereas justice demands that the
/: law shall recognize the difference be-
{ tween human beings and the products
Of their labor by removing organiza.
i tions Of workers from provisions in.
4 tended to apply to the products Of
I their toll; therefore, be it
! Received, That this mass meeting
Of working people and other citizens
Of New York and New Jersey, Al
81 Cooper union assembled, indorse The
labor sections Of the trust BILL III. r
n 1867, passed by the House Of Repre-
Il sentativeb on June s, which will Sc
cure to organized labor its just de.
mands and rights, and we insist it.
immediate passage BY the Senate Is
the United States, In order to guaran
| tee to the workers OF this country
freedom and the recognized lega
right to activities that give freedom
reality and effectiveness; and be i
furth. 4 s 55 .Ii Il. a s a VI
Resolved, That copies Of the pre-,
mblea and resolutions be sent to thu
\ President and the Vice President s.
the United States and to the United
\ States Senators from New York ant
/ New Jersey. f5@ f3TS
I MACHINIsTS LOCAL III 5s.
TO SEND DELEGATE
Otto i. 1crick former president o