New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-09-14
Strike Prohibition Clause
in Cummins' Measure
Said to s'Speu Birth of
Revolution'' in America
Right to Walk Out
Held TOBe Inherent
Proposed Law Is Said to
Aim to Reduce Workers
to State of Servitude
NeW York Tribune
Washington Bureau

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13.--The Cum
minis railroad bill, depriving labor of
the right to strike and making strikes
illegal, If passed by Congress, will
spell the birth Of revolution" a
statement issued by the Plumb plan
league and signed by the heads of
fourteen railroad employees organiza-
tons, declared day.
1.-The right to strike is ingrained in
the nature of the American working
man." the statement said. eff he
failed to cherish his economic free
dom, he would no longer be true
American To attempt to put such
prohibitive law into operation, would
be madness. No leadership in the
world could restrain the rank and file
of American labor under such an i'm
position; the human factors called
forth would be beyond CONTROL
Employees Issue Statement
The statement issued by the railroad
employees said, in part:
"This provision not only would
make 1t illegal to strike with intent
to hinder interstate commerce., but
also would make it illegal to enter
into my combination or agreement
which does hinder interstate COM
merce. Intent would not have to be
proved in the courts Thus the pro-
vision IS iron-clad; for any strike on
the railroads, Of however small pro-
portions, would unQuestionably hinder
interstate commerce. The provision
is carefully written to remove from
railway labor the right to strike
under any possible circumstances.
IF this provision were enacted into
law it would impose upon railway la
Dor two lnsuppOrtable conditions,
namely, compulsory arbitration and
economic servitude. Such serious
and fundamental proposal opens up
the whole question of the relations of
labor to the state and to the employer.
and precipitates every issue in the
industrial situation. To advance it in
Congress at this time, in the face of
an economic crisis, and when Congress
IS refusing the legitimate requests of
railway labor for full consideration
OF It's own proposals, is a step calcu-
lated only further to increase the Diff
1lcultIes that confront the nation.
Right to Strike Defended
THE right to strike as the last re-
sort is ingrained in the nature of the
American workingman; he has inner
lted 1T from the declaration of indie
Pendence, from the constitution of the
united States, from every tradition of
TINS free people, from every achieve
ment IN the history Of our great ma
ton. If he failed to cherish his eco
nomlc freedom, he would no longer
be a true American. To attempt to
put such prohibitive law into opera
tlon' therefore, would be Madness No
leadership In the world could restrain
the rank and file of American labor
under such an imposition; the human
factors called forth would be beyond
control. N''>
Menace to Labor Charged
x law such as this would sne,l tbo
end of labor organizations in America
IL would spell the birth OF revolution
lhe American workngman il an
independent citizen of free re-
public He believes in the Con-
stltutlon of the United States. and in
our present representative form If
government. He believes that this
government is the servant of the neo.
pie. He knows that it will not pro
duce justice automatically, but only
through the eternal vigilence of its
citizenry. He believes in the consent
Of the governed in industry as we'll as
in politics.
over two million men of this stamp
have advanced in congress a plan for
the solution of the railroad problem
Their plan is comprehensive and con-
structive. They have engaged able
counsel to represent them. They have
resolved to avail them selves of every
possible channel of the government
to further their plan and to win q
hearing for it before the bar of public
opinion. They have proposed no ex-
Unconstitutional methods. They want
tho people to know the facts, and to
vote upon the issue. They believe
nicnt ,.lers every necessary means to
that our present institution Of govern
this end"
Men Who Signed Protest
The fourteen signers we're:
Warren S. Stone, grand chief,
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers;
w. G. Lee, president, Brotherhood of
Railway Trainmen; L. E. Sheppard,
president, Order of Railway Conduct
ors; Timothy Shea, actin chief,
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Firemen