The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-11-25
Labor Ready For Fight
Accepts Challenge, Defes "Money Power" Gompers Says
Adopts Militant Program. - Federation Joins With
Trainmen In Opposing Compulsory Arbitration. j
To Employ Staff of Lawyers

Baltimore. Nov. 22.-Preparation for
the most stubborn industrial warfare in
the history OF the nation was the bus
mess OF the American Federation Of
Labor at Yesterdays session of its con-
yention. President Gompers laid the
foundation for what happened later in
the day when in his response to the
leaders OF the four railway brotherhoods
III the morning, he said, in part:
They (meaning what he had called
the money power Of the United StatesD
have given to the public the declaration
that they are going TO antagonize every
effort put forth by organized labor; that
they would fight us industrially and leg
islatvely-l need not say that ludicially
they already have us that they repre-
sent eight billions Of dollars that they
were $1,000 employers; that they en-
ployed seven million working people,
and that they were going to use every
instrumentality within their power to
undo the work OF the American labor
movement.
Il say to you that it is their lawful
right to make the fight against us. and
all that ], as man, can say in answer
is: You men OF wealth, beware how
far you go, for there is limit to hu-
man endurance. You throw down the
gauntlet, and we will accept the clIal-
lenge. And when it comes we will
quote with all the power we have, Lay
ON, MacDuff, and damned be he who
first cries Hold, enough"
Adopts Preparedness Measures.
The uproar that followed showed the
conventions approval Of Gompers' de- |
hance OF capital, and the whole days
program showed in more practical way
just how organized labor proposes to
make his defiance good Here rs what
the convention did
First, the leaders OF the railway
brotherhoods of the Federation were
preparing last night to naugurate
JOINT fight for better working conditions
and against compulsory arbitration
measures, just as though an official affl-
lation had been perfected President
Wharton, of the Railways Department
OF the Federation, said a conference is |
planned for next week between the two !
bodies.
Second, a resolution to establish
legal department for the whole Fedora
ton to fight with the highest legal talent
suits in which organized labor has an
interest was referred to the committee
on laws to perfect plan for raising the
funds necessary to support ii. 1t was
proposed to raise the per capita tax of
the two million members to one cent per
month making fund Of over $4,000
monthly.
In the discussion Of this proposition
there were frequent reitcrations OF the |
open defiance of the courts uttered in |
yesterdays adopted resolution that said
courts must be disobeyed" where they
perverted the uses Of the injunction.
Andrew Furuseth. who drew the Sea
mans act, and high in the councils Of
the Federation declared from the plat
form that the delegates should abandon
any idea that that resolution did not
mean what it said I'VE want the Su-
prcme Court OF the United States to
pass upon these injunction matters" he
said, 'and the only way TO have that
done is to violate the njuuctons so
broadly that we will be arrested for CON
tempt and be heard ON writs OF habeas
corpus
Oppose Compulsory Service.
Third. the Federation declared against
private insurance companies, resolving