The Washington times., 1919-09-02
BAN ON Strikes
URGED BY LABOR
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(continued from Page one.)
ing attained the .eiEht-hour day. it is
said IL Is now the duty OF organized
labor to Increase production to the
point reached when the work day was
ten hours in length.
An appeal is made for the whole
American people to devote themselves
10 their work in the face Of indus
trial and economic peril as they did
when war united their nedeavors.
The report. in part, says:
Text Of Report.
your COMMITTEES does not intend
Ia. burden you with a tiresome dis
sertation on the causes Of the high
cost Of living. They are patent to
An thoughtful men. The Representa-
tive business men with whom your
COMMITTEES conferred presented facts
and figures to show that the high
cost OF living is due to the high
cost OF and decrease In production
These facts were well known to your
committee.
this condition IS ali wrong and can
not be permitted to continue unless
vze-and by we your COMMITTEES
means not labor alone but the people
of the whole United States--Wish to
invite q disaster unparalleled IN his
tory. The people must be given q
breathing spell. There must be q
suspension OF struggling for class
and party advantage. All Americans
must bend their backs TO their oars
and pull steadily together against the
storm-tossed waters until our boat
again rides safely on the placid sea
Of prosperity.
in 4. message TO his felloW-citizens on
August % refers specifically to the
threatened strike Of railway shopmen
and makes a plea which may advised
ly, be considered as applying TO in
dustrial disturbances generally.
Tee Many strikes.
aon every hand there are strikes
and threats Of strikes. Most OF these
disturbances have been provoked BY
radical agitators who have not the
interests OF the toilers at heart, but
who seek to promote Industrial war
fare for the purpose OF destroying
our present economic system and
substituting industrial ownership By
the proletariat.' Fortunately, the
same leaders Of organized labor have,
after a short period, succeeded in re-
gaining control Of their temporarily
rebellious unions and restoring order
lv procedure under the laws ane
rules Of the American Federation Of
Labor.
"The conduct OF men who cafl them
selves loyal supporters Of trade union
ism in breaking away from the au-
thority Of their duly elected onicials
and inaugurating uncalled-for, un-
necessary and unauthorized strikes
sieSuld at all times be severely con-
demned and the agitators who fOment
such outbreaks should be visited with
the severest penalties possible under
trade union rules. For trade unions
to permit themselves to be brought
under the influence Of laWless agita-
tors at this time OF national stress Is
treason not only to the principles Of
trade unionism, but to the United
states of America II would not be
too severe punishment 70 revoke the
American Federation Of Labor char |
ters of such unions and put them out
side the pale Of decent organized
labor.
your committee Is Of the opinion |
that President Wilson's reasoning Is /
based on sound economic principles
and that organized labor owes duty |
to the President to give him whole
hearted assistance in his efforts to |
reduce the cost Of living and place the !
nation on a strong business basis. We |
owe the President of the United /
States the same loyal support that we /
gave him during the war, even though |