The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-14
RAILROAD men TO
I PROTEST AGAINST
CUMM|NS MEASURE
Say the Bill Precipitates
Every Issue in the In
dustrial Situation, and
Will Tend to Spell the
Birth Of Revolution.

Washington, Sept, 13.-Fffteen
presidents OF the great railway broth
erhoods and other organizations rep
ting two million railway en-
ployes united today in signed state
ment declaring that If the anti-strike
provision of the Gumn1ins railroad
bill is enacted, it would impose upon
railway labor two insupportable con-
ditions, compulsory arbitration ana
economic servitude.
The union labor leaders declare that
the provision precipitates every issue
in the industrial situation and that the
advancing of the measure in congress.
at this time Is a step calculated only
TO increase the economic and industrial
difficulties confronting the nation. The
railroad leaders say:
"A law such as this would spell the
end of labor organizations in Amer
lea Is this the intent OF the proYis-
ion? Does congress at the behest or
the alarmed business system propose
TO try to break up the organizations OF
labor throughout the country.
is it decided that the time has come
to make this national fight?
These are questions which demand
an answer. Every working man in
the land is asking them as he reads
the newspapers In his heart he
knows that to enact this law would
spell more than the death of trade UNI
ionisrn. II would spell the birth or
revolution"
CUMMTNS BILL.
The provision OF the Cummins bill
which has aroused the opposition Of
the railroad leaders reads;
IF two or more persons enter
into any com bination or agree
ment with the intent substantially
to hinder, restrain or prevent the
movement of commodities or per-
sons In interstate commerce or
enter into any combination or
agreement which substantially
binders. restralns or prevents the
movement of commodities or per
sons in Interstate commerce, such
persons so combining and Agree
I ing shall be deemed guilty or
conspiracy. and shall be punished
( by a fine not exceeding $500 or
By Imprisonment not exceeding
SIX months or by both such me
| and tfnpr isonme provided that
nothing herein shall taken To de-
ny TO any individual the right 10
autt his employment for any rea-
son.
This provision not only would
make IL illegal to strike with intent
20 hinder interstate commerce, say
the statement OF the railroad men,
tut also would make IT illegal 20 enter
into any combination or asreement
y hlch does hinder interstate COM
n1erce. Intent would not have TO
ea proven In the courts Thus the
PROVISION is ironclad for any strike
on the railroads, of however small
proportions, would Internationally
Under interstate commerce Inc
proyision is fully. written to re-
move from railway labor the right TO
strike under any possible circum-
stances
If this provision were enacted into
law, il would impose upon railway
labor two insupportable conditions,
namely, compulsory arbitration and
economic servituoe. Such serious
and fundamental proposal opens up
the whole question of the relations
I of labor To the state and to the en-
eyer and precipltates every issue IN
the industrial situation.
To advance il in congress at this
time. in the face of an economic
crisee and when congress is refusing
the legitimate requests of railway
s.bor for full consideration OF Its
own proposals, Is a step calculated
only to increase the difficulties that
confront the nation
The right 10 strike as the last re-
sort is ingrained IN the nature OF the
American. working man. he has in
herited it from the declaration of in
dependence, from the construction of
the United States, from every tradi-
ton of this free people, from every