The Topeka state journal., 1916-11-18
LABOR OPPOSES
ANY C0MPULS sorry
ARBITRATION LAW
Warning, Presidents Proposal
Unpopular With Unions.
Term Measure Disguise for In
voluntary Servitude.
WIN 1885 STRIKES IN YEAR
These Have Cost Federation
Total Sum OF S2,7Os,7ss.
Unions Have Gained 21s,OOO
Members During Year.
WIN 1885 STRIKES IN YEAR
These Have Cost Federation
Total Sum of S2,7Os,7s9.


,,.,r,ora Nd. Nov. 1S.-WarninS
that union labor will oppose win eIl
,+s ro,ver anv- attempt to put thru
congress compulsory arbltratloh ~
a Drouosed by President Wilson, was
given out today when the -4e-Ir,9,r1 e4e-o-.,
Committee of the American eoerat ~
~ Labor. at the federation thHty
sixth annual convention, read It's re-
port - +ba r-nited
States said the report, Will OPPo
any proposition to impose upon -
coTnUtllsory institutions whlcn dlsS use
invoiuntarv servitude- They hold tnaI
the principle involved in voluntary IN
stfr1frfons is the key to personal anu
fnd,rstriaI freedom and that this prln-
ciple is Of more Importance 10 theHl
than auv other consideration
s.,r1,a ir1u1ediate problem involved Is
a class problem but the principle IN
voIved in compulsory institutions: even
for a class in our republic lS OF con-
cern to the whole republic for We
know that the republic can not o7
maintained part free and part slaEe'
Would Tend to Revolution
Involuntary and compulsory iaoor
once enforced. even for single hour'
Ill not haIr at its temporary enforce
rnent- but VIII 20 on and become per-
manent-
In human institutions when a
wrongful course has been pursued 1t
inevitably is held or driven on 10 us
logical conclusion of error Inen
there is no retrieving except by a con-
vulsion brought about by a revolu-
ton
The human labor power which this
law compels Wage-earnerS to give 10
employers against their Will Is m
separable from the body and the per
sonaIity of the wage-earuers. 1t Is
part of the men and women them
selves They can not be forced to Work
for an employer against their wills
without reducing them to the legal
condition of slaves and Transforming
their minds and spirits into those OF
slaves No more dangerous proposi-
tion has ever been proposed than tnls
compulsory investigation measure
In conslusiou the committee recon-
mended that the convention take
strong stand against il and in favor
Of the maintenance of institutions and
opportunities for freedom
Would Make Strike Crime.
Discussing the arbitration principle
the committee viewed il as second iE
importance on the general admins
tration program to the eight-hOur day
principle
This effort to again subject wage
earuers to involuntary servitude has
aroused the determined resistance of
ge earuers generally" it continued
ITO their declarations against fnvOI-
untary servitude the proponents of the
legislation have replied that altho a
strike would be made Illegal under the
proposed law and strikers criminals.
Vet Individual workers were not de-
prived Of the right to quit work"
The committee. taking up politics.
urged womans suffrage, Porto Rican
independence, government ownership
-
tonal child labor law. a minimum
wage law for the government. extern
sion of the eight-hour law To all gov
ernments. exclusion from interstate
commerce convict labor products. pre-
paredness- vocational training as a
means to preparedness and a host Of
other planks designed 10 help the
cause of labor.
t,f35 Strikes Won During Year.
During the year. the report stated
strikes cost the federation s27OS.zS9
Two hundred and sixty thousand peO-
pie were involved in them One thou
sand one hundred and thirty-five
strikes were won, 133 were compro-
missed. 3O5 are pending and 49 were
lost The federation gained nearly
2IS.00O members. and issued 2.700
charters to organizations joining it.
Death benefits paid totaled s2.26431O.
Sick benefits totaIed s1,OS9.609-
Failure because of the war to ar
range an international meeting of Ia
bCr organizations was announced with
regret by the committee. Both Ger
man and British leaders. it was stated.
frowned on the suggestion.
The committee commented on the
transferring from federal to state
courts" injunction proceedings against
labor organizations. This was held
due to amendments to antitrust act
which declare labor not a commodity.
A decision of the Massa achusetts
court declaring unconstitutional a law
designed to prevent the issuance of in
functions against labor organizations