The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-09-16
GREAT POWER Of
ORGANIZED LABOR
Position of American Federation
Endorsed by Congress, Says
Morrison.
WORKERS CANNOT BE
DENIED THEIR DUE:
solidity of Unions Shown to
Great Advantage In Rail-
way Crisis.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14.-The en-.
actment by congress of the law pro.
vlding that eight hours shall be a
days work for the 100000 workers in
the four railway brotherhoods demon.
strates the tremendous power of or.
ganized labor, declared Frank Morri.
son, secretary of the American FEEDER.
alton of Labor, in a statement.
"The passage Of the eight-hour rail.
road law by congress- said Morrison
gives emphatic endorsement to the
position maintained by the American
Federation Of Labor that, united ir
trade unions, workers can not be de.
MED justice, and that through Their
economic power this justice is newt.
able"
Secretary Morrison made light OF
the charge made by the railroad cap.
italists that the railroad brotherhoods
intimidated congress md secured the
passage Of the eight-hour bill under
legislative duress and the threat of q
general railroad strike.
The statement of Secretary Morri.
son is as follows:
Can Not Deny Justice.
The passage, of an eight-hOur rail.
road law by congress gives emphatic
endorsement of the position main.
tanned by the American Federation Of
Labor-that united in trade unions
workers can not be denied justice, and
that through their economic. power
this justice is isineviitt1albble:--
While our opponents charge the
railroad brotherhoods with attempt
ing to "intimidate'' congress because
that body hastily passed an eight-houl
law under suspension of rules, the
people of this country will not sustain
this charge. Neither will the men,
bers of congress, in my opinion, be.
lieve it.
Rather should the railroad man.
ayers congratulate themselves thai
congress was in session, for the ma
tional law makers made it possible fol
the managers to "save their faces by
making mandatory the identical pro-
posals of President Wilson that the
managers had formerly rejected.
Fail to Interpret Spirit.
It was another case of employers
failing correctly to interpret the spirit
of their employees, the determination
of these workers to secure normal
workday. President Wilson was alert
to this spirit and to the fact that the
time for discussing the eight-hour day
is passed, when he said:
1T has been adjudged by the
thought and experience of recent
years a thing upon which society Is
justified in insisting"
But the railroad managers, main
tanning the same attitude they have
assumed when laws intended to pro-
tect life and limb are favored, agair
showed their blindness, and stood or
the edge of a. precipice until congress
hastily devised methods to save them
from themselves by writing into the
statutes the proposal of President
Wilson.
Thrilling Situations.
During the short time the campaign
was directed from this city it wa'
filled with thrilling situations. Among
them was the strategy of the foul
brotherhood chiefs, their adaman1
stand against any postponement. their
refusal to disobey the mandate Of
their membership, and the unity OF
these brotherhoods and the officials
of the American Federation of Labo.,
Labor's solidarity was never shown
to greater advantage than when the