Evening star., 1918-08-20
Secretary Morrison Opposes
Senator Thomas Amend
ment to Man-PoWer Bill.
SUGGESTS THAT SPECIAL
INTERESTS ARE BEHIND 1T
It Attacks Loyalty Of Workers and
Would Draw Countrywide
Resentment, He Says.

Organized labor's emphatic opposi-
tion to the work-or-fight amendment
to the new man-power bill extending
the draft ages was presented to the
House military committee today by
Frank Morrison. secretary Of the
American Federation of Labor.
Supporting the recent protest of
Samuel Gompers. Mr.. Morrison de-
clared that the provision inserted by
the Senate committee authorizing
withdrawal of deferred classification
from men absent from work without
cause was an attack upon the loyalty
of American workmen and con
scription of labor in a covert way
which would be resented in every
corner of the country. He suggested
that special interestswe secretly
pressing anti-labor legislation.
After discussing, problems Of edu-
eating drafted youths with DR.. c. r.
Mann of the War Departments COM
mittee on education, the committee
closed it's hearings and began work
on the bill. 1t probably will be re-
ported in few days for immediate
consideration in the House. The Sem
ate will take up the measure Thurs
day.
Method Of CONSUMPTION.
Declaring the "work-or-ight"
amendment was ga deceptive method
of labor conscription. Mr.. Morrison
said:
'Its author, Senator Thomas. admits
it is aimed at strikes. Conscription of
-
sented in every corner of the country.
TT is an attack on the loyalty OF
workingmen of the United States and
will be bitterly resented IL enacted.
. 1t would make the world and our al
lies believe our men are slackers. II
is not exercised over the industrial
conscription. Some one Is hidden in the
dark.
'sWho is asking for this legislation?
Is it the Colorado Fuel Company or
the great steel trust?" 4-s-s Il.
Praising the loyalty of labor dur
ing the war, Secretary Morrison SID
the legislation is proposed to cast
odium on workingmen kept in indus
try who desire to be at the front.
He asked if. in case the amendment
is adopted, soldiers of democracy
ing the pledge of organised labor
made at the beginning Of the war,
Mr.. Morrison declared:
Says Labor Is Faithful.
Labor has kept faith. Labor con-
scription is not asked by the govern
ment and is not necessary. This is
the United States, not Germany"
That labor is asking special priv
who urged defeat OF any bill that
"covertly" proposed labor conscrip-
To sustain contentious of labor
loyalty, Secretary Morrison said coal
production has been increased with
IF enacted, the amendment would
be used by every unfair profiteering
employer" said Mr.. Morrison. TT is
being used today by the Bethlehem
clear that we do not protest against
the men going back to fight, but
against placing an employer in a posi-
tion to brand his employees as slack
ers."
Labor disputes are being adjusted
with government representatives. Sec
retary Morrison continued.
In case of strikes Secretary Morrison
said very few cases would occur
where the men would refuse to work
| Board. If the men should refuse to
work, he said. the existing draft regu-
| lations could be invoked and that
further legislation is unnecessary.
Baker Holds Different View.
Representative Harrison of Virginia
called attention to Secretary Bakers
amendment is a labor conscriptior
plan, but Mr.. Morrison insisted thai
it is labor conscription. and will be
used as such by unfair employers
Representative Harrison declared thai
workmen are given the privilege
of working instead of being sent te
| the firing line, but Secretary Morri.
son denied it was a privilege, ane
that workmen are exempted to worl
| for the government anu often at en-
ployers' requests
| If reasons for exemption of workmer
cease to exist, Representative Harri.
son declared they should return te
their original draft status. wher
under existing draft regulations ani
that work or fight" legislation is un.
necessary, Representative Harrison
declared Congress might well formally
1 approve the executive regulations. 81
many members Joined in the argu.
ment that Chairman Dent urged then
to permit Mr.. Harrison to conclude
| and postpone their arguments unit
the committee meets in executive ses
sion.
Law Directed at slackers.
I'VE passed the original conscriptiol
law so there would be no stacking a
all" Representative Greene of Yer
mont interjected.
"Organized labor has kept faith will
the pledge it made before the wa,
began" Mr.. Morrison replied, land w,
protest against legislation that will
kgive an employer an opportunity {,
make a Stacker Of man when tryinf
to get a living wage. It's . reflection
Ion all labor"
'Tt.s conscription poorly camoufiag
led" Representative Lunn Of New Yorl
hinterjected. while in lively exchang
between other members and Mr.. Nor
| rison. Representative Nichols o
South Carolina declared that mos
men are drafted to fight and that tn
workmen who are exempted for labo
would be forced to fight only becaus
they would not work.
| No Stacking, Says Morrison.
Y Secretary Morrison reiterated tina
there Is no Stacking" and said De
partment of Labor reports show pro
duction Is being speeded up at man.
/ plants with fewer men.
Representative Greene observed tha
men drafted to tight cannot strike
while workmen exempted propose Il
reserve the right to strike for highs
CONTINUED on Thirteenth Pagal