The Washington herald., 1918-04-11
SENATE ARGUES
LABOR'SSTAND
IN WAR WORK
Right to Strike Becomes
Direct Issue in
Debate.

The right Of labor to strike was
brought up as a direct issue in the
Senate yesterday afternoon. Sternest
opposition came from many senators
to the following clause in a con-
ference report.
Nothing herein shall be construed
as making it unlawful for employees
to agree together to stop work or not
to enter thereon with the sole and
bona hde purpose OF securing better
wages or conditions Of employment"
The conference report was upon a
Dill to prevent interference with war
production by sabotage. Senators i'm
mediately held up the adoption of the
report when they saw the clause
quoted.
Thomas, OF Colorado, Gallinger, of
New Hampshire, Underwood, of Ala
bama, Jones, Of Washington, Calder,
of New York, Sterling. of South Da-
kota, Williams. of Mississippi, Nc
Cumber, of North Dakota and Reed,
Of Missouri, presented an unbroken
and unfiinchlng front to the clause.
Overman. OF North Carolina, Hollis,
of New Hampshire, and Pittman, of
Nevada. spoke for the adoption.
IF We have fallen down anywhere
in this war. it. is in the ability to
transport troops" declared Under
wood. "A billion was appropriated
year ago. and we should now have
vastly more ships. II seems to me
our failure is more due to the failure
OF labor to respond than to any other
cause. 1 do not charge organized
labor, but certain organizations.
Labor in shipyards has not re-
sponded patriotically to the country's
call, I favor telling those who wont
work for the country that they must
fight for the country"
No Use for NonunIoD Men.
A sensation was created when
Sterling read a letter from a con-
stituent saying it was no use for
nOnuniOn men to apply for work
in Pugest Sound shipyards. Ster-
ling quoted a government curcular.
WadSwOrth of New York at once
asked its origin. Sterling said it
was sent out by the United States
Public Service Reserve
The men who sent 1t out should
be removed from Office" commented
King of Utah.
Contracts have been cancelled
in West Coast Shipyard because
only nOnuniOn labor was employ
ed, put In McCumber.
Overman said that it Is mot wise
to have a fight with labor" at this
time, to allow the clause to remain
as inserted by the conferences. But
John Sharp Williams suggested:
1T amounts to inviting men to
strike"
Has it come to this that in order
to prevent conflict with labor we
must insert such a clause?" asked
Sterling.
Not All HamstringerS Germans.
Not all the men who are ham
stringinG the government are Ger
mans" suggested Nelson, of Mime
sofa Some of them belong to the
e I. W. W"
Late in the afternoon. Hollis spoke
saying:
Don't talk about conscripting labor.
It's one thing to ask a man to serve
a flag under an officers orders, and
another to send him to work at Hog
Island under brutal overseers for gain
Of private owners and at fixed wages"
No man has to work in this coun-
try unless he wants to-" answered
Reed. The question is not that 1t
IS whether men working on war sup
plies can COnspire to stop progress by
taking advantage Of the. government
and not only to stop but to prevent
other men taking their places.
Every blow struck now in arrest
ing war work is the same as a blow
struck direct from Germany. If union
labor is not loyal then God help the
Republic"
Discussion will be continued today
The bW which was passed ny both
houses a year ago, before going to
conference. imposes a fine of $4,000
or thirty years in Jail for sabotage
TO war work.