The Washington times., 1919-09-01


Organised labor celebrates today its progress the last
It has many victories 1t has lost few fights
Hanging in the balance number Of issues one OF
nch viii be fought out here in Washington. The battle
the PoliCemens Union and the Commissioners Of
. District Of Columbia may mark new epoch in the
story Of labor
Tests of labor and strength and development through
kes and lOckOut fade into nsgnihcance compared with
ze issue at stake here
These guardians of law and ORDER form body to
Jain by collective bargaining higher pay and improved
orng conditions They affiliate with the American Fed
alton Of Labor the greatest organization Of wOrkngmen
Lat existed.
In broad terms, the agency through which laws are
forced and property is protected decides to cast its lot
Ith the laboring class.
The Commissioners Of the District have ordered the
oce to their connections with the federation They
-sclaTe that the police must remain neutral
The federation is expected to put up bitter fight
anst the action Of the Commissioners They declare that
con prohibiting such sfliation is in violation Of law.
The Commissioners, supported by the President are
ssieved to have had his approval Of their action.
This is what is likely to happen:
The union win refuse to withdraw from the federation
The Commissioners win order dismissal Of those police
Tho refuse to comply with their demands The police will
empt to obtain an injunction against such dismissal
Thus the entire matter viii reach the courts, and
ay be fought out in the Supreme Court Of the United
..tases
In the dark ages, men who were defeated at war,
= "the aboTing class This class was the product Of
med force which definitely aligned with the employ
lg class
Later, when employers found it to be to their advan
ge they changed this system and slaves became ssrs
he military still remained in control Of the landed pro-
rietOs.
stn later with the invention of gunpowder and the
rnng press the laborer became too powerful and too
Use to remain seTf His employer made him free But
goOdy number Of this class hired by the employ
rs to act as guardians of the lawhat Is to protect
iae employer and his property.
Today the worker is free man. BE has a vote the
tight Of free speech except during war; and work
rsfuse to work for certain wage.
he has organized for the battle with capital for a
reasonable share in the profits produced by his labor
few laws made for the protection of the working
nan from the nonworng class. Many laws made for
he protection Of the employer and his property The police
and military hired to enforce these law-amed force
stin largely on the side Of the employer
Now the Washington policemen denote their sympathy
Tor the cause Of the working class.
They join with organized labor it must be admitted
probably not much for the sake of the aborng classes
for the sake of themselves But with such afIation
they would be supermen to be neutral
If the police win this fight it will mark new era in
industrial history. Labor will for the first time have force
in brotherly sympathy with its aims.
This question, with lot of minor complications will be
fought here in the Nations Capital with the National
Government executive legislative and judicial as well as
local and national labor organizations participants
The American Federation of Labor has nearly half a
hundred pohcemens unions already in its ranks These
scattered throughout the country making this issue one
Of nationwide interest The Washington fight will un-
dOubtedly be test case for all these unions
Students Of economics advised focus their aten
ton Washington when this issue is met It will be verv
interesting.