Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1918-04-26
UNION STRIKERS
ARE NOT D|sLOYAl

The bill intended to protect war
material and war transportation IA
cilities, just passed by congress-. does
not class strikes to improve working
conditions as a conspiracy against
the government.
This legislation is known as the
sabotage" act. Its authors intended
to reach enemy agents and others
who would destroy property or who
would attempt to hamper the prose-
cution of the war by interfering with
production.
The bill passed the senate several
months ago. When it was being con-
sidered by the house, Congressman
Joe Cannon secured the adoption OF
so-called anti-conspiracy amendment.
Congressman Lunn moved an amend
ment that this should not apply to
workingmen who agreed to stop work
'for the bona-fide purpose of securing
better wages or conditions of employ
ment" .t
The senate refused to accept the
Lunn amendment, but did accept the
Cannon amendment.
The bill was referred to conferees,
who agreed to eliminate both the
Cannon and Lunn amendments. This
has been accepted by the house and
senate.
AS matters now stand. the bill Is
in the shape 1t was originally intend
ed-to punish those who conspire to
destroy or injure any material neces-
sary for the prosecution of the war.
Although CONSUMPTION legislation
is defeated at this time, it must not
be understood that the CONSUMPTION
lists have abandoned thcir position.
They will renew the fight at the first
opportunity, while hoping to create
such a public opinion against trade
unions that some court will construe
the clearly-defined conspiracy laws as
intended to include workers. on
trike.
In answer to the claim that there
is no need now to strike because of
the governments mediation and ar
bitration machinery, Senator Pitt
man said:
"How long would the employer be
anxious for mediation If these men
could not quit? Why is it that the
employers today are wiling to meet
the laborers before mediation
board? 1t is because the men can
quit. Take away from the employe
the power to quit and you will find
every employer in this country re-
fusing to arbitrate the question Of
conditions or of wages. That must
be apparent to everyone. We have
provisions for mediation, but it Is
not compulsory.
Take away from labor the right
to quit and what protection have they
against starvation wages and intoler-
able conditions? What control do
you provide over the employer? Is
there any punishment for the imposi-
ton of starvation wages and death
dealing conditions?"
While the bill was being consid-
cred President Gompers wrote to
Senator Overman:
1.-THE elimination of section
dunn amendment) and the retention
of the Cannon amendment, would be
a direct challenge to labor. Such
policy would be unjustifiable and
discriminatory against human beings
and the granting of power and spe-
cial privileges to private employers
over their employees, and would be so
interpreted by the great mass Of the
workers Of our country.
mo one disputes the fact that the
workers generally of our country and
the American Federation of Labor
have given indispensable service. and
the failure of congress to retain the
amendment above quoted would
bring about reaction among the
wage workers of our country and
would nullify all the efforts made by
the organized labor movement. A