The Washington times., 1915-05-17
Strike-Breakers Are Necessary
When Police Will Not Act,
Declares Walter Drew.
LABOR BUREAU IS ACCUSED
Attorney Charges Office Of Me.
diation Forces Workers.
Demands on Employers.

Charges that the machinery Of the
Government has been used by the De-
partment Of Labor. through It's Bureau
OF Mediation and Cancellation, in fore
Ing the demands Of organized labor on
employers. were made by Walter Drew.
Of New York. general counsel for tho
National Erectors' Association. In testi-
mony before the Commission on In
dustrial Relations today. Drew asked
that the Commission make an investi-
cation Of the charges.
Attorney Drew, who led the legal
fight against the Structural Iron Woek-
ers In the dynamiting cases which re-
suited in the conviction Of the two
MoNamaras and of thirty-three men,
bers Of that union. justified the use by
employers of gunmen as strike
breakers, declaring that their use was
compelled by refusal Of police to do
their duty.
He charged that an illegal combina-
ton Of building contractors and unions
through which the public was swindled.
Referring to the use Of gunmen In
strikes, Drew said:
Duty of Employer.
when the employer In time OF labor
trouble is unable to secure adequate
protection from the regular authorities.
II becomes not only a necessity. but a
duty. for him to take such measures
as may be at hand for such protection.
Such a necessary course is to be deeply
regretted. but the responsibility for it
rests solely upon those who fail in their
duty as officers. The employers in such
cases must rely upon such hired mer-
cenaries as he can find in the market
for such men,"
Employers In time Of labor trouble
are handicapped, Drew said. because
the labor union. being an unincorpora-
ted body. is not upon a proper basis
Of legal responsibility" Drew insisted
they should either be made to incorpo:.
permitting actions for. damages at law
against them. He added:
THE first great legal fact In connec-
tion with the trade union. because Of
ISOLATION. Is that It Is not legally re-
sponsible in a suit at law for injuries It
may unlawfully inflict upon others As
an example the contractors and owners
dred or more dynamite explosions.
caused by the Structural Iron Workers
Union. cannot recover a dollar in dam
ages from that union.
'"The evidence Is clear that these ex-
plosions were planned by the executive
officers Of the union. that the moneys
to carry them on were voted by the
executive board and drawn from the
ury cannot be reached by any known
action at law to recover damages.
'Where labor organization may
develop an immense power for inflicting
inaIurY a, and ruin upon others" Prev ,
Of absoiute legal immunity for the in
fury thus inflicted"
May Be Held Liable.
Warning to Washington striking
brewery workers that they may be
held individually liable as tho mem
bsrs Of tho hatters' union were held
in the Danbury Hatters' case was
given by Attorney Drew.
II, as alleged the business Of the
brewers has been damaged by bull
letins sent to other cities attacking
may have legal redress against the
strikers as individuals. Drew declared J.
IN concluding his testimony Drew
charged that the power of the un-
Ions Is not being exercised to aid
"why should the unions fight to get
80 cents an hour for the bricklayer
who Is already getting rs cents" he
said, 'instead of working to get a
higher wage for the common laborsr
working for a dollar a day. or at least
aiding him to get a JobH 1t is the
unorganized mass that needs help.
and yet organized labor. which could
help these people, treats them as
Anemies"