The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-05
ARBITRATION BY
FORCE WILL NOT
SUIT WORKERS
Head of A. f. of L. Says Men
Wouldn't Obey U. s. Su-
preme Court Mandate.
HE'D LET THEM STRIKE
Gompers Asserts Appeal Would
Be Made to Country Against
Drastic Laws.
HE'D LET THEM STRIKE
special pespateA TO rn. Sun.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4.--Labor would
not submit to compulsory arbitration
and laws declaring strikes illegal
would not be obeyed by the workers
even though held constitutional by
the Supreme Court. President Comp
ers of the American Federation of
Labor declared before the House
Interstate Commerce Committee to-
DAY.
Mr.. Gompers and William N. Doak.
yice-president Of the Brotherhood of
Railway Trainmen, appeared before
the committee to protest against in
sertion in the bill returning the roads
10 their owners a. provision for COM
pulsory arbitration of disputes be-
tween railroad owners and employees
and a section declaring strikes on rail-
roads illegal.
The hearing revealed also that Mr..
Gompers is not ready to indorse the
Plumb plan for railroad operation, which
its advocates assert he has approved.
The labor president asked that he be
excused from answering questions on the
railroad plans submitted. Mr.. Doak in
dicated also lukewarm enthusiasm for
the plan by declaring that labor would
not insist on it's adoption. strongly deny
ing that strike to force the bill through
Congress was being considered.
Gompers Evades Questions.
Mr.. Gompers's assertion that labor
would not obey anti-strike laws against
railroad employees or any other workers
came after a long series of questions by
Representative Webster (Wash.), who
said he desired to obtain the position OF
the labor chief on constitutional law.
For more than twenty minutes Mr.. Com
pers evaded answering directly the ques-
ton OF Mr.. Webster as to what he would
advise labor to do in case an anti-strike
law was passed and held constitutional
by the Supreme Court. Finally Mr..
Gompers said
II think / should obey such law,
but l am sure the workers would not,
and you would have thousands OF law
breakers throughout the country"
But would you. as head OF great
such a law?" Mr.. Webster asked.
mo, sir" replied Mr.. Gompers. II
would remain silent, counselling neither
obedience nor disobedience. but would
advise the American Federation Of La
Dor to appeal to the country"
Asked what he meant by appealing
to the country the labor president said
eecting a Congress that would repea
the law. The questioning of Mr.. Com
htr AIr cd N
times, the former calling one question
'unintelligible," and another 'specula'
tive and hypothetical" stating that HI
refused to consider the possibility Of al
anti-strike law.
No Light From Gompers.
After Mr.. Gompers had answered sew
tral questions in his own way Mr.. Web
ster said he was ''still in the dark"
Would you advise, encourage oi
counsel men who look to you as thei
leader, to do an act in violation Of th'
declared constitutional statute?" Mr.
Webster asked.
81 have said and 90 now repeat, tina
1t is impossible to prevent men from
quitting their employment" was Mr.
Gompers's answer this time, mo matte
what law makes them law breakers.
cannot conceive that the courts woul'
declare a law constitutional that woul,
make for involuntary servitude."
Mr., Webster explained that his ques
tons were to determine the labor chief
attitude toward constitutional law, an,
Mr.. Gompers shot back that his worl
ana his service were the answer.
Preceding the colloquy Mr.. Gomper
reiterated the statements of labor lead
ers that anti-strike and compulsory arbi
tration legislation bred radicalism 4
labor circles
Arbitration must be voluntary" h
said and labor must always reserve II
right to strike. You are breeding Bol
shevism. They are giving the Industris
workers of the World the means t
undermine the conservative element 0
The American Federation of Labor. Al
ready the radicals are referring to thi
legislation and saying to the workers
that is what you get in return for you
loyalty and patriotism. The Legislation
is Involuntary servitude and would b
reyersion to the days before the civ
WaF
Puts "Handcuns on Labor"
TT is legislation intended to put tn
handouts on labor and tie them to thei
tsshs by all the power of the FEEDERS
Government There must be voluntar
arbitration or there shall be no arbitrs
ton al all"
Mr. Doak urged. that the position Q
labor as regards disputes with the raj
road owners be left as before the perio
ol Federal control, which is vastly dii
ierent from the provisions OF the Plum
plan on the same subject.
get together conference" betwee
railroad operators and employees is poi
sbe after the roads are returned
their owners, 80 why start anything
Mr. Doak answered. His statements II