The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-29
RADICAL LABOR
ISSUES FATAL:
COP. Warned
Forecast of Governor Allen In De-
bate With Gompers ON Justice
of Industrial Court Law.
(By United Press.)

cations that the RepuDllcan party
will be bidding for trouble if the
Chicago convention writes into the
national platform a plank dictated
by trainers of any radical labor leg
islation, was seen in the remarks
of Governor Henry J. Allen Of
Kansas in his debate with Samuel
Gompers at Carnegie hall last
night. The political party in the
forthcoming campaign that has not
the conservative courage to stand
out and pledge to the public protec-
ton against the wrong and terror
of industrial warfare will travel
down the pathway of cowardice
and defeat, Governor Allen said.
This declaration came after Al
len had called attention to the fact
that "Mr. Gompers within the last
three days has issued a proclama-
ton calling upon all men of organ
lied labor to assemble themselves
around the polls to see that no
man goes to congress who is not in
favor Of Gompers.
Grounds of Debate.
Allen and Gompers were matched
to debate the question of right OF
labor in essential industries to
strike if the common welfare is
threatened. On the speakers plat
form were leaders of workers and
others of national repute. includ-
ing Roger W. Babson, George Cor
don Battle, DR.. Nicholas Murray
Butler. Herbert Hoover, James w.
Gerard, H. P. Dawson, George w.
Wickersham, Miss Mary Garrett
Hayes, Warren F. Stone. Matthew
Vol and Frank Morrison. Judge
Alton B. Parker presided.
"The difference between slave
and a free man is that the slave
must work when his master COM
mands, while free man may dis
pose of himself and his labor ac-
cording to his wishes" said Mr..
Gompers in striking the crux of his
argument against Allen.
Hits Gompers' "Right-"
Referring to the Kansas anti
strike law, which he was instru-
mental in passing. Allen said:
1--WE have not taken away from
any man his divine right to quit
work, but We have taken from Mr.
Gompers his divine right to order
man to quit work"
| Allen made strong plea for the
, justice of the Kansas industrial
court
Allen in closing asked Gompers
whether the public has any right
I in a strike affecting production and
| distribution of necessities and il
| answered in the affirmative how
Gompers would protect the rights
of the public.
Gompers Evades Question.
II wish him to define for us who
had the divine right to forbid the
switchmen to strike in their out.
law strike; who controls the di-
vine right to quit work." Allen
said.
Gompers replied that he did not
have time tonight, but l will live
| longe enough to do So"
THE right to own our ourselves,
declared the labor leader, "the
| right to be free from a courts de-
rection or a judges decision when
we exercise that normal and nat.
ural right to stop work, not to CON-
| nit crime, not to commit overt
acts, but to stop work, the right
! for a man to own himself, to work
or not to work, is his right and hot
the right Of government nor states
nor courts.
! ut is mans; it is the human
right from which there can be nc
departure without taking away
the freedom, the liberty and the
natural expression OF the human.