The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-04-11
STRIKE CLAUSE MADE
ISSUE IN LABOR BILL
senators Object TO Provision Which
Allows Men 10 Band Together
For Benefits.
WILLIAMS SCORES POINT.
SNe~ NO Tyranny in Forcing Men tn
work While Forcing Others 10
right lie SAYS Discussing Trouble
in Shipyarris.

Washington, April 1o-The right
of labor to strike was brought un as
direct issue IN the senate this after
noon. sternest opposition came from
many senator's ~ a clause In con.
ference report, The clause reading.
Nothing herein shall be construed
as making i unlawful for employees
20 agree together to stop work or
not 10 enter thereon with the sole
and honafide purpose Of securing bet
TER wages or conditions OF EMPLOY
ment."
The conference report was upon a
h'II To prevent Interference with war
production by SABOTAGE Senators i'm
mediately held up the adoption or the
quoted
Thomas, If Colorado: Gallinrer Of
New Hampshire; Underwood. of Ala
hama Jones, Of Washington Calder
/ or New York Sterling. Of South pa-
! kota, Williams, Of Mississippi. Nc
: Gum her, IF North rakota and Reed
OF Missouri. presented an unhroken
and unfiinching front to the clause.
tVerman. Of North Carolina. HoI-
us Of New Hampshire, and Prtman,
Z 49, .''hNA'i' Nt'Fkf lilf me adoption.
IF We have fallen down anvwhere
in this war. il is in the ability to
transport troops. declared Under.
wood A billion was appropriated
year ago and We should nov 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. ! do not charge organized
labor. hut certain organizations.
Labor Holds Back.
i Labor IN ship yards has not re-
sponded patriotica nv IN the country's
call favor telling those who won't
work for the country that they must
tight for the country"
A sensation was created when Ster-
ling read a letter from q constituent
saving il was of no use for non union
! men to apply for work in Puget sound
ship yards.
Sterling quoted a government circu-
| lar. 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 II out should
ne removed from Office commented
King, of Utah.
West coast ship ward because only
F"'' o'''NA 'hbct was VIZ FtpNtttt fuL
in McCumher.
Late in the afternoon Hollis spoke.
; saying:
Don't talk about conscriptinE
labor It's one thing to ask man
10 serve flag under an officers or
ders and another to ser d 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 It
I is whether men working on war sup
plies can conspire to stop progress by
! taking advantage of the government.
other men taking their places.
Question OF Loyalty.
Every blow struck now in arrest
ing war work is the same as a blow
struck direct from Germany. II union
labor is not loyal. then God help this
republic"
/ Williams said: Il can see no tyranny
or pathos in forcing a man to work
while we are forcing others to fight.
We take from the worker only his
time. We take from the soldier per-
| ps his health, perhaps his life.
! But that's not the issue. The SEN
ator from New Hampshire has said
the workmen have agreed not to
on including provision allowing
them the express right to strike
Discussion will be continued tomor-
row The bill. which was passed by
both houses q year ago before going
| 10 conference. imposes a fine of s10,-
900 or thirty years In Jail for sabotage
| to war woriS-