The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-25
union OFFICIALS
INTERVIEW WILSON
Continued from Page -

now in England. to attend the inter-
allied labor conference, was the first
to point out that the wholesale kid
mapping of workers and of strike SYM
pathizers at Bisbee, followed by the
kidnapping at Gallup. was aimed at the
miners belonging to his organization
quite as much as at the "Wabblies."
Samuel Gompers and Frank Morrison
came out with strong statements, de-
nouncing these lawless acts Of the Of
ficers of the Phelps-Dodge and other
mining corporations. The Loyalty
League, organized first at Bisbee and
then at Phoenix, and whose spokes-
man in congress is now Senator ASH
urst, formerly q pro-labor man, has
shown it's hand by urging that an Gin
dustrial draft" be enacted by con-
gress so that miners throughout Ari-
IONA and the west will be forced to
labor or be subject to punishment as
criminals.
President Wilson has been reported,
at intervals, to be much disturbed by
this development of a general anti
labor war by the copper magnates,
who have the support Of the coal and
silver and gold mine owners in their
territory. He is getting reports from
Justice Harry Covington of the dis
trict supreme court, now touring the
copper regions, as to the relation Of
the regular unions to the existing
strikes. John Walker, who is ma
tional figure in the United Mine Work.
ers, is closely in touch with the prog
ress of this struggle, in which the
government may at any moment be
brought to intervene. That he should
discuss It with the president would be
only natural.
Drastic Bill.
Senator King of Utah, a corporation
lawyer who has succeeded former Sem
ator Sutherland. one Of the promoters
of the Seamen's Act, has introduced q
bill proposing to make it illegal to
"advise, counsel, persuade, or incite,
or utter words or statements which
shall tend to persuade or incite any
person to break any contracts with the
government Of the United States, or to
break any contract which has to do
with the production, fabrication, man.
ufacture, or transportation Of any ar
ticle, commodity, or thing for the use
Of or intended for the use of the
United States"
That language seems to forbid every
kind OF strike, or preparation for
strike, in the war industries. King
claims that it will affect only the In
dustrial Workers of the World.
Senator Myers Of Montana has in
troduced a bill almost as badly anti
labor in character, and Senator Walsh
of the same state is also trying to draft
a bill which will STAMP out the I. w.
w." Labor officials insist that no
legislation be passed which will in
fringe the right to strike and to agi-
tate for better conditions in industry.
Senator Hollis, who will run for re-
election in New Hampshire next year
as a pro-labor democrat, has joined in
the war on the I. w. w. by promis-
Ing to draft a bill which shall make
their activities impossible. At the same
time he gives his pledge that he will
Introduce no measure on this sub
ject with which the regular trade
union men are not in harmony" With
that end in view he is to consult with
Mr.. Gompers. Probably the latter will
tell him, as he has told President Will
son. that the way to stamp out the I.
w. w. is to raise the standards of
labor in the war Industries. If war
contracts were given only to firms pay
ing a living wage and holding to the
eight-hour day. there would be no l.
w. w. panic. si. s#. sfl,; .j5s. a. ill.,. =h: ii