The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-01-27
FREEDOM MUST NOT
BE SURRENDERED

(By President Gompers, in American
Federationist).
It is proposed that congress enact
"a law to prevent wageearners from
agreeing to quit work collectively. In
other words, legislation is proposed
to limit or deny the right of con-
certed action to inaugurate a strike.
However, everyone knows that the
effect Of the proposed legislation
would be to deny individuals the
right to stop working at will, or
stated conversely, the law would
compel workers to remain at work
under conditions against which they
protest. condition which is in no
way different from slavery.
The only way to make the protest
of workers effective is concerted &C.
ton. For one or two railroad men
to leave their positions because they
could not secure the eight-hour work.
day would accomplish but little in
inducing the railroad corporations 70
agree to shorten hours of work. The
only thing that can make the railroad
companies see the reasonableness CT
the eight-hour workday is to make
them appreciate the economic power
of their employees.
The plain purpose of the legislation
Is to make, strikes illegal. This is
completely at variance with the whole
trend of industrial development and
recent legislation enacted by con-
gress. Practically all Of the people
Of our country have now grasped
the fact that a strike is not a crime.
There must be a complete revulsion
Of feeling if they indorse the proposal
in congress which will make strikes
crimes. If strikes are declared
crimes, 1t will be necessary to i'm
pose severe penalties in order to en-
/ force the purpose of the law. The
purpose and method of the legislation
are reactionary. TO make strikes il
legal means to hold a prison before
| the eyes Of the workers and to force
them to work at the command of EN-.
| ployers.
/ country are fully aroused to the, dan
| gers, contained in this proposed "com-
pulsory investigation plan. These
! dangers have awakened them TO full
| appreciation of fundamental prin.
ciple. Workers cannot delegate to
outside authority, even though that
! authority be the government, the
| right to regulate industrial relations
| without creating an opportunity fol-
"a continuous infringement upon
their rights and freedom. The rail.
road brotherhoods, like all organiza.
| tons affiliated to the American labor
! movement, have opposed the legisla.
tive method as the way to secure q
shorter workday and higher wages
but the situation was such that. the
railroad brotherhoods yielded to the
policy of the government and &C.
cepted the Adamson law But just as
! soon as the government acquired the
right to regulate the hours Of work
for railroad employees, it at once be.
gan to augment it's powers. to pro.
vide regulations for other relations
and to limit the right to quit work
The experience illustrates the dan.
! ger to which the American Fedora.
ton Of Labor has repeatedly called
attention.
The industrial freedom Of wage.
earners depends upon their keeping
/ control over industrial relations with
in their own hands. Once delegate
even a. particle of that authority ia
the government and they limit their
freedom and forge q chain, that re-
tards normal free action in all lines
The tendency Of government Is al