The labor standard., 1919-10-01
C(JMMINS MEASURE SPELLS DEATH TO
 TRADES UNIONISM
Would Deprive Railroad Elm ployes of Right to Strike Representatives of Over D. OOO,OOO Workers Oppose Bill
WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON - PrOnOunceu ana vigorous opposition has developed against Senator Cu1nmins bill which contains a provision that would de- priye railroad employees of the right to strike. This provision of the bill has been given close and intensive study by the various railroad unions officials who would be directly affected. As re- suit these officials who represent over Z, 100000 railroad workers, have is- sued a statement vigorously and mer- cilessly attacking this provision of the measure and have determined on an intensive campaign to secure it's de- feat. The statement is signed by IA off, cials and includes the presidents of the four railroad brotherhoods, the acting president of the railway em- ployes' department of the American Federation of Labor and nine presi- dents of unions whose members are directly employed by the various rail roads.
 Exact Language of Measure
 The exact language of the Cummins provision, against which the vigorous protest is being made, follows: If two or more persons enter into any combination or agreement with the intent substantially to hinder, re- strain or prevent the movement of commodities or persons in interstate commerce; or enter into any combina- tion or agreement which substantially flinders, restraints or prevents the movement of commodities, or persons in interstate commerce, such persons so combining and agreeing shall be deemed guilty of a conspiracy, and shall be punished by fine not exceed ing $500 or by imprisonment not ex- ceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment; provided, that nothing herein shall be taken to deny to any individual the right to quit his employment for any reason.
 End of Labor Organizations "A law such as this would spell the end of labor organizations in Amer ica," says the statement. "Is this the intent of the provision? Does con- gress, at the behest of the alarmed system, propose to try to break up the organization of labor throughout the country? Is it decided that the time has come to make this final fight? These are the questions that demand an answer and which every working man in the country is asking as he reads the newspapers. Tn his heart he
  spell more than death to trade union ism. It would spell the birth of revo- lution."
 Illegal to Strike
 ''This provision not only would make it illegal to strike with intent to hinder interstate commerce, but also would make it illegal to enter into any combination or agreement which does hinder interstate commerce. Intent | would not have to be proved in the courts. Thus the provision is iron clad, for any strike on the railroads of however small proportions, would unquestionably hinder interstate con- merce. The provision is carefully | written to remove from railway labor the right to strike under any possible circumstances.
 "If this provision was enacted into law, it would impose upon railway
 labor two insupportable conditions,
 namely, compulsory arbitration and economic servitude.
 The Right to Strike "The right to strike as a last re- sort is ingrained in the nature of the American working man; he has inher-
 ited it from the declaration of inde- pendence, from the constitution of the
 United States, from every tradition of this free people, from every
 achievement in the history of our
 great nation. If he failed to cherish
 his economic freedom he would no
 longer be a true American. To at
 tempt to put such prohibitive law
 into operation, therefore, would be madness. No leadership in the world
 could restrain the rank and file of American labor under such an imposi-
 tion. The human factors called forth
 would be beyond control.'