The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1919-11-29

A Charge That Kicks Hard at the
BrceCh

The following very remarkab bly
editorial Is taken from the Dallas
News 1t IL distinctly a careful read
ing:
Mr.. Gompcrs. In addressing the
Central Labor Council at Washing
ton the other night, declared that
the action OF the government In
getting an injunction "ordering the
/ tnited Mine Workers Union off
cials to cancel the coal strike was a
/ direct violation OF the pledge given to
labor " high government officials at
the time OF the passage OF the Lever
food control act" TIE promise given
was, Mr.. Gompers says. that tho act
would not be applied-to workers in
the case OF strikes or walkouts"
This is not the first time Mr. Com
perS has made this assertion. he
made II when Judge Anderson Issued
his temporary restraining order.
Most people were probably disln-
clined To accept II al its face value
when IL was first made Now tina, Il
mas gone unContUdiCicd two weeks,
and been repeated, ones reluctance
To believe II must be overcome We
say reluctance. because no one can.
without suffering an attending sense
OF regret believe that any officer
or the government under an oath to
support the constitution and laws OF
he country gave a private pledge
that he would consent TO fhc viola
tion OF statute by particular
class of the people.
II Mr.. Gompers recItcs the matter
quite accurately II was not pre-
tended by the high government Of
fcials" whom he interviewed that /
the inhibitions Of the Lever act we're F.
not applicable TO men who struck .
and thereby inicrforri with the pro I
duction ~ food and fuel ON the .
contrary apparently its appllca-
hility to them was admitted. else
there would have hocn no occasion
20 exact or to give the prom ise that .
Il would not be applied IN workers
In the case OF strikes or wHlkOuts"
That Is a promise which no official
n the government. however. high. Is
10 give such promise
very officer ~ me government is
'orbidden 10 give. it is a promise he
.aunot give without being reCreant
o his oath
MANY irregularities were counte-
nanCel tur to sake of serving our
needs during the war We are not
iurc that this one can be Justified on
hat ground II the promise To eI-
'mpt laburvrs from the inhIhi'i0us Of
he Lever act WAS given before its
ma CtU"nt. ihl' plea could be made.
,ut only hv implying that either
'bor or congress or both. h1i 20 ne
rppiiiated 10 make the passage OF
n" measure possible Congress can
.ut Justly he susppc'ed OF having
NaCtet that the consent Of labor
0nders he obtained for tho 10 ossage
{ "a measure designed 10 aid ln ne
,r. scru'ion ~ the war The reldI-
ess with which ~ dld everything
skcd ot % by those who were re
rnreIh'r Tor The prosecution of ne
var pr-CMdes that sJppUsi ion.
i,ruo the promise NOT t0 apply the
ever act 'n labor I'm She case ot |
.-iEts ur NV'iOr.s to license IL 20
n what 10 fNNhid~ every other class l
{ citizens tr du must have been
made after l'S enactment Nhy7
'Hs strike threatened 20 eNrort
lo prom s. II not 'he giving W Il
ms in"NrushIl, n sn then the
.' COMES within 'h, rnnHp~u.lo Of
plea which has WOW Hn excuse FOR
'trE irregularities BI. n labor
'rr1.rnfI a strike unless licensed 20
.n'1to 'NH l"N"~ az. wha0fs 20 be
fought OF lts boasts Of loya.tys Mr..