The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-20
ORGANIZED LABOR is /
VIOLENTLY OPPOSED
TO "WORK OR FIGHT"
Morrison Declares 1t an Insult
to Laboring Glasses.
Says the Measure Is Entirely
Unnecessary.
"IT is MOVE OF TRUSTS"
Declares Secretary of American
Federation of Labor.
Fears Law Would Be Used To
Prevent Strikes.
1T is MOVE OF TRUSTS"

Washington. Aug. 2o.-The Thon-
as work or fight amendment to the
man power bill is an insult to labor.
Frank Morrison, secretary of the
American Federation of Labor.
charged before the house military af-
fairs committee today.
1--WE do not protest against men go-
ing into the army to fight, but we do
protest against putting this weapon
in the hands of unfair employers to
brand the workers as slackers," Nor
rison said.
Morrison declared the amendment
was nothing less than labor conscrip-
ton and that it would be mandatory
on the president to enforce it to pre-
vent strikes, citing the opinion of sew
eral attorneys who differed with Sec
retary of War Baker on this score.
Senator Thomas. the author of this
amendment, admits it is aimed at
strikers" Morrison said. The gov
ernment is not exercised over the in
dustrial situation but some one is and
he is hidden in the dark" Morrison
continued.
Charges Trusts Back 1t.
'Is the Colorado Fuel company and
the steel trust behind this legisla-
ton?
The men who urge this amend
ment, urge it as punishment, but the
the trenches than they are, overwork-
ed and underpaid in steel mill.
Organized labor has kept faith and
does not want the odium of slackerism
cast upon 1t. Drag out the influences
behind labor conscription and you'll
find the most prolific profiteers in
the nation
Morrison denied Senator Thomas
charge that war work had been held
up by strikes and the statement that
miners were laying off two and three
| days a week, introducing statements
from the fuel administration showing
that fewer miners had produced more
coal this year than last.
"a Move by Employers"
| Morrison emphasized thruout his
statement the charge that employers
| had asked deferred classification for
employees and were now trying to hold
military service over them to prevent
agitation for better wages.
DR.. c. R. Mann. chairman of the
educational advisory board of the war
department, told the committee that
drafting men below 81, would not wipe
out education in the country, because
it is planned to put these young men
thru an intensive course of instruction
before and after they are in the army.
Several members of the committee
pointed out that since boys OF Is
would be the last to be drafted. that
Lhey WOulQ- III Ill pTODaDlHly 1ndko
up the eighteen divisions which are
to be in this country on June 80 next
iyear.
Labor Organizations Protest
Protests against the work or fight
amendment to the new man power
bill adopted by the senate military
committee, have reached Senator
Cham berlain from labor organizations
in many sections of the country. One
of the letters is from the United Mine
Workers of American signed by Frank
J. Hayes, president.
| Washington. Aug. 2o.-The man
power bill making the draft ages 1s
to As will be reported to the house
late today or tomorrow. House lead
ers hope to get the measure thru by
the end of the week.
Members of the house military af-
| fairs committee today declared Secre-
tary of War Bakers statement that
men of Is would be taken into the
army only when necessary and after
! older men have been drafted, swept
| away the last vestige of opposition to
the war departments plan.
| Chief of Staff March's statement
that 80 divisions put into France by
June 80. can end the war in 1919 will
| COnrinnDr ar ,'aRe TWo.I