The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-08-20
COMPLETE BILL
BY MERIT WEEK
fCouttnued from page l.

To come ont fatty for the amend
ment- committee men believe the
man power bill will go through tne
house faster if the amendment 1s Ieft
out, because It will not have TO en-
counter the opposition or members
who have branded the Thomas plan
as labor conscrtptton-
Opponents of the amendment today
claimed they could easily defeat any
attempt to put 1t in while the bill Is
being debated In the house
with an agreement reached to re-
convene the senate Thursday to con-
slider the man power bill, many sena-
tors today believed the measure
could be disposed OF by Saturday
night.
Even If no vote is obtained by that
time, the bill In all probability VIII
have the right of way the following
Monday.
prohibition senators are unlikely to
insist the bone dry" measure DO
considered first. although that IS the
unfinished business by agreement
One Of the most prominent OF the
~dry" leaders today said he would be
willing to set aside the amendment
temporarily to insure the quick pass
age Of the manpower bill.
His views are believed to repre-
sent those of the majority Of the pro-
hibidon1sts.
Called Insult to Labor.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 20.-The
Thomas work or fight amendment to
the man power bill is an Insult TO Ia
Dor, Frank Morrison, secretary OF the
American Federation OF Labor charged
before the house military affairs COM
mfttes today. I'VE do not protest
against men going into the army TO
tight but we do protest against put
ting this weapon il the hands OF IN
fair employers to brand the workers
as slackers,' Morrison said.
Morrison declared the amendment
was nothing less than labor conscrtp-
ton and that it would be mandatory
on the president to enforce to pre-
vent strikes, citing the opinion OF sew
eral attorneys who differed with Secre-
tary Of War Baker on this score.
Senator Thomas, the author OF
this amendment, admits It is aimed
at strikers" Morrison said. 1.-THE gov
eminent is not exercised over the In
dustrial situation but some one Is and
he Is hidden in the dark" Morrison
continued.
Us the Colorado Fuel Co. and the
steel trust behind this legislation?
1.-THE men who urge this amendment
urge 1t as g. punishment, but the men
know they would be better off In the
trenches than II they are oyerworked
and underpaid in steel mill.
Organized labor has kept faith and
does not want the odium Of slackerism
cast upon it Drag out the influences
behind labor consumption and you'll
find the most prolific profteers in the
nation"
Morrison denied Senator Thomas
charge that war work had been held
I'D by strikes and the statement that
miners were laying of two and three
days a week, introducing statements
from the fuel administration showing
that fewer miners had produ eed more
coal this year than last
Morrison emphasized throughout 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 edu-
cational advisory board of the war de-
partment told the committee that
drafting men below 81 would not wipe
out education in the country because
it IS planned to put the young men
through an intensive course of instruc-
ton beofre and after they are in the
army
Several members Of the committee
pointed out that since boys Of Is would
be the last 10 be drafted that they
would in all probability make zap the
eighteen divisions which are to be in
this country on June 30. next year.
GATE pnSTS NF