The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-03-03
A RIGHT not To
] Be SURRENDERED
Workers Must Be Allowed to
Quit as an Organized Body.
YOKE WILL NOT Be WORN
Deep Significance In the Effort to Deny
Toilers Associated In Groups the
Right to Act In Concert--Principle
of the Clayton Law Must Remain In
violate and Unchanged.


of the Clayton Law Must Remain In
violate and Unchanged.
BY SAMUEL GoMPERS.
A matter of fundamental interest
to the whole nation is legislation sug-
gested because Of possible railroad
strike. Political agencies have created
lively doubt as to whether the Adam
son law can accomplish its intended
purpose. Additional legislation is now
urged. ct is opportune here to note
that when the legislative method is in
voked the cure for the failure of law
Is always more drastic law
Now that it may be necessary for
railroad men to use their economic
power to establish the eight hour work
day, congress is considering legislation
to make strikes unlawful. The senate
committee on interstate commerce has
been holding further hearings upon
measures before it. One Of these meas
ures would make strikes illegal pend
ing an investigation by government
committee.
The basic principle Of this proposal is
disclosed in the provision which gives
to individual workers the right to stop
work, but denies to them the right to
agree with fellow workers to stop work
together. This principle would deny
to voluntarily associated groups right
Of action permitted individuals. The
purpose Is to evade the thirteenth
amendment which provides that invol-
untary servitude shall not exist in this
country except as punishment for
crime.
No one would dare to advocate a
measure which would deny individuals
the right to quit work at will By dis
eliminating against concerted action
by wage earners railroad employers ex-
pect to make strikes illegal, at least for
a limited period Of time. Once the
principle is established it will be easier
to broaden it to include other classes
| of workers and to extend the period Of
time indefinitely.
There is a deep significance In this
effort to deny to workers associated %
groups previously organized in unions
or not the right to act in concert, to
do things freely permitted individuals
1t is based upon fundamental indus
trial fact. In factories, mines, trans
portation service, the individual worker
has lost his identity. He has become a
| mere cog in the machinery. He is such
a small part Of the whole process of
production that his economic power Is
negligible.
A silk weaver may quit work without
creating ripple in the factory. If he
doesn't think he is treated justly he is
.'free" to quit Would his quitting con-
tribute In any degree toward righting
the injustice that caused his action?
But If all the silk weavers quit work
in a strike for justice the employer
cannot avoid considering the matter.
individuals by concerted action achieve
economic power. Individual rights are
lost in the big scale of industrial organ
| ization, but are found again for each
individual through the associated effort
| of fellow workers.
| The principles evolved out of indus
trial experiences have wider, deeper
significance than legalistic concepts.
! They pulsate with life, passion. strug-
gle and purpose. They are on level
with human needs.
Human freedom does not exist where
| there Is no industrial freedom. Indus
| trial freedom Is possible only when the
workers have the recognizable right to
] concerted action by voluntarily asso-
ciated groups.
Individual rights and freedom, though
guaranteed by constitutional and statu-
| tory laws are but open forms and le-
galistic mockery unless individuals are
freely guaranteed the right to action
necessary to enjoy their rights and
freedom as individuals. Individual
rights and freedom alone do not go far
enough. They must be supplemented
by the right to voluntary association
for concerted action in furthering hu-
man welfare.
The principle legalizing concerted ac-
ton has already been embodied in fed
eral law in the labor sections of the
Clayton antitrust act. The effect Of
the proposed railroad legislation would
(, be to nullify the provisions of the Clay
ton act, the fundamental guarantees Of
the constitution and the whole spirit
and genius of our republic.
The labor provisions of the Clayton
, act were the victory secured after
more than score of years of struggle
and sacrifice. They will not be sur
rendered without a struggle.
AS the rights and freedom of individ-
uals were won by persistent effort and
even revolution, so will the wage earn
ers remain steadfast in their determi-
nation to establish the right to con-
[ certed action, come what may. With
out the right to associated effort for
mutual protection and betterment indi-
vidual rights and freedom are unavail-
ing.
The next step in human progress
must be the maintenance of this neces-
sary right.
The yoke of unfreedom-of slavery