The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-05-29
GOVERNOR AND
LABOR LEADER
IN WORD FIGHT
ALLEN OF KANSAS AND
GOMPERS IN DEBATE
A. F. of L. Executive Assalls
Kansas Industrial Court,
and Allen Defends

NEW YORK. May 2S--Carnegic Hall
samuel Gompcrs. president OF the AM
erican Federation Of Labor and Cover
nor Henry ]. Allen. of Kansas. met to
debate the merits OF the recently en-
acted Kansas Industrial court law ana
kindred subjects. Judge Alton Is. IaT-
ker of this city, presided and introduced
the speakers. Mr.. Gompers and Cover
, nor Allen walked OH the stage shortly
ufter ) o'clock while the audience ar"H"
and checrcd Each was followed by Il
larKr body OF supporters. hen the ;ILsii
wave of cheering had suhsidcd !. band
struck up. There Ii b. Hot Time III
the Old Town Tonight"
MIR GOmpcrs. the iirr't speaker. pre-
faced his argument with the announce
ment that he had been III conference
during the day with representatives, or
. the striking longSh"r' men. ami that
they had authorized him I" state MAT
they are willing to submit pending
controversies 10 far and unbiased
board of arbitration and viii pledge
/ themselves IN advance /" ahtd" 10y IT'S
decision.
lie declared fu"rH.g tha; the long
shuremen would return Ia work WITHIN
SIX hours after the steamship companies
have sgnired their Willingness to ar
AT Parting of Ways
A.. we arr. now at the parting Of the
way, IN the great controversies which
are now occupying the minds Of our
ming his argument. ION the other hand
We have The great constructive move
mentS Tor progress. for ciHllIZatl"n, ana
with all the tasks theS" impose, and on
: the other hand We har" those VINO are
leading the cause of reaction. OF MUS.
tiCc, Of tyranny. The time IS M hand
when there must he determined whether
: the eternal principles of freedom JUS
: tcc and democracy shall hold sway or
| be supplanted by tyranny and the IN
, Krsuming his address. Mr.. Gompers
said:
IIacrc is "a common error in the
mind Of large number of our pcopi:
and peoples Of tho whole world, VII"
confuse the term labor and capital as
being in exactly equal position toward
: each other tn" fact Of the matter IS
that capital is the product OF labor.
There Is one thing about the labor
question which is automatic" Mr. Com
pcrS continued. THAT H. II You attempt
ID outlaw strikes 10y legislation. depend
upon il. your law will be futil" ana you
win simply mako criminals and Jaw
breakers or workmcn who are honest,
patriotic citizens.
There IS but one ground up0u which
any justification may he assumed TO tic
men to their jobs and make strikes un-
lawful that is, the concession thai our
rnnuhlican institutions and our de-
mocracv have ceased"
Mr.. Gompcrs' direct argVnen, "ndcd
amid prolonged applause and cheers
Defended by Allen.
, Governor Allen was greeted with
prolonged applause when introduced;
iIe defended the Kansns industrial
court. building his argument on m"
: premise that the safety OF tn" public
is the supreme law
/ He declared that this vas the funda-
mental action upon which h" and MS
supportcrs were working. and which
governed his attitude toward capital la
bor and the disputes which arise he
tween them. He asserted he was ~
representative Cf all Of us-the general
public"
.'We hav,. not forbidden to any man.
, the right to quit work h" asserted. w"
merely have taken away from Mr. Com
p"rs his divine right To order man 10
quit work"
Governor Allen referred to statements
nll"gcd to have been made BY union
leaders In the past including Mr.. Com
/ per1. that IL YOU take away tn" r'Tht
10 strike he will find some "thrr way.
Before III" uehat" ceases tonight hr
SAID. II implorc Mr.. Gompers in behalf
Of tho country that is waiting TO know
what other way h" has In mind.
Protection For All
, Governor Allen outlined in detail the
, organization and operation Of III" indus
trial cour; system in effect in Kansas,
S2raAinE ~ hs Tffrr' upon inc InduS-
| We hav" taken away nothing from
labor wc have provided prot Cction in All
the industries. "" haN" forhidden con-
wet labor t" com" into competition
" ith other labor We have established Il
FREQ employment service. we have pro-
vidrd an Industrial wclfar" commission.