The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-03-31
LABOR OPPOSES
WILSON'S PLAN
Unanimous Against Proposal
For Law to Prevent Strikes.
eoMPERs TO LEAD FIGHT

Head Of a. r. of l.. Declares Enact
ment Of Measure Would Cause inter-
necine Strife-other Trade Union
Leaders Condemn Attempt to Impose
Compulsory Arbitration.
Labor leaders who contributed to
the election of President Wilson be-
cause of his aid in forcing congress to
pass the Adamson eight hour bill are
now almost unanimously against his
proposal for law which will prevent
strike or lockout until full public
investigation has been made Of the
merits Of the dispute.
Samuel Gompers, president Of the
American Federation of Labor, and
other leaders declare that the forces
Of labor in America would combine to
fight against the presidents plan even
more desperately than they did in fore
ing congress to enact the Adamson
bill.
In recent statement Mr. Gompers
said: If the fight is to be made to
take from the men, women and chill
dren Of our time the advantages which
we have secured, then these employers
and corporations had better look out.
We are not going to be forced back.
The men and women Of labor will re-
sist to the utmost"
purpose to prevent another civil war
like that of 1861.
1T took four years Of sanguinary
war, costing hundreds of thousands of
lives and untold treasure, to reverse
the decision In the bred Scott case"
he said. 1T is my purpose to prevent
another such revolution. 1t is my pur-
pose to prevent any such legislation
and possible decision Of the court,
| II understand the intent of the sug-
gestion. 1t is to stay the men from
acting In concert until commission
has made its investigation. In the
! meantime concerted quitting Of work
would be unlawful and punishable. In
voluntary service cannot be enforced
under the constitution of the United
States"
Mr.. Gompers then declared that even
with the law on the statute books the
government would be powerless to
A9aEt istEikes.
You may make strikes Illegal and
may make them criminal" he contin-
ued, "but you are not going to avert
strikes when strikes are necessary In
order to express the needs of Amert-
cas- workers for higher and better
consideration of their rights. The ex-
perience of countries that have tried
compulsory arbitration and the en-
forcement Of a compulsory award and
the experience Of countries in which
compulsory investigation and a stay
of the workers from quitting their en-
ployment have been all to the detri-
ment Of the principle"
Other labor leaders were in hearty
accord with the sentiments of Mr.. Com
pers. Roswell D. Tompkins, secretary
of the united board of business agents
of the building trades, said:
eve will stand by the railroad men
In their fight against compulsory serv-
ice and in their fight to retain the pro-
visions of the eight hour law. The
building trades have always opposed
any legislation tending to introduce
compulsory service or having as its
purpose compulsory arbitration"
Mr.. Tompkins held that the railroads
have nothing to lose by the operation
Of the eight hour day, but conceded
that they "may have to pay several
millions more in wages"
"But," he added, "the men will be
better men and they will do better and
Il more work" He characterized the in
junction proceedings instituted by the
railroads as Outrageous.
| e. J. Deering, business agent of Dis,
trict No. 10 of the international AS.
sociation Of Machinists, declared his
union would oppose any compulsory
arbitration plans or any legislation de
signed to enforce service by employees
| Max Pine, secretary of the United
Hebrew Trades, said: "The people will
mot accept the recommendation OF
President Wilson. If the principle OF
compulsory arbitration is introduced in
America the same thing will happen
that happened in Australia, In Aus
tralia they had strike in the shoe
factories The employers and employ
ees were compelled to allow the arbi'
traitors to proceed. But the result was
that the men refused to make the
shoes, and the employers were com
PEELED to send outside the country for
shoes"
Samuel Liebowitz, business agent OF
the Poultry Workers union, described
President Wilson's proposal as unfair
Nobody he said, ''has the right to
enact a law compelling men to work
when they have agreed upon a strike"
Trainroen Win Victory,