The Washington herald., 1920-04-12
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

by Odgen L. Mills, of New York.
tee of the Republican National
Committee, contains several thou
sand words. The QUESTIONABLE was
sent to prominent labor leaders
throughout the country in the hope
the answers will define a proper
governmental policy and will sug-
gest remedies which those directly
interested may consider for their
possible Incorporation in the plat
form. OF the National Republican
convention in June
Labor Leaders Were Consulted.
The questions were on the in
dustrial relations and the problems
Of capital and labor and were an
swered by Gompers. Morrison and
woil only after they had received
communications from other repre-
sentative labor leaders.
The Kansas Industrial Court.
which has been bitterly opposed
by labor unions since il was passed
by the Kansas Legislature follow
ing the coal strike last November,
is condemned and its principles
to be repugnant to every American
concept of justice, freedom and
democracy.
Il /: set forth that the principles
around which the law is built are
the principles of compulsion and
coercion, constituting a negation of
freedom and voluntary effort Sue
cess and justice in American in
dustry can be achieved only through
the free negotiation between en-
ployers and workers in industry
shop Committees Opposed.
Collective cooperation through
shop committees was said to be
impractical as in modern industry
shop committees and other similar
devices are substitutes for trade
union organizations that do not
meet the needs of working people.
The movement toward the forma-
tion OF shop committees was char
acterized as one which had its in
spiration an inception among en-
ployers that aim to prevent or
circumvent practical organization
of the workers. 1t is in no sense
the result and study of the work
ers themselves, 1t is claimed
In answering the question of
collective cooperation through
trade unions, it was said perma-
nent interest and goodwill of the
wage earners in industry can be
developed to the fullest degree only
when they are free to follow their
own judgment in the matter of
organization and then only when
the employers confer freely and on
basis of equality with the au-
thorized representatives OF the
workers
The American trade union move
ment, with more than 100000
members, is a sufficient answer that
there can be no question as to the
manner in which the wage earners
wish to organize when left free to
act in accordance with their own
judgment, it is set forth.
Clayton Law Is Explained.
In reply to the question whether
trade unions be exempt from anti
trust laws, it was stated that
trade unions, cooperative organi-
zations and farmers societies, or
| ganlZeQ not lOE pIOAl Oub AOA ehS
mutual benefit and protection OF
their members, should be specifi-
cally exempt from the provisions
of antitrust laws. The existing
law declares the labor of a human
| being is not a commodity or arti-
Gle of commerce. The Clayton law
lays down the guiding principle In
this respect and this principle can
not, with safety, be abandoned OIL
| destroyed. 1t is this principle that
should be followed in all States
On the question, should lockouts
and strikes be restricted by law? II
was stated that acceptance of the
principles Of the Clayton law makes
impossible legislation limiting the
right to cease work-strike- The
strike is defined as a resort to the
final argument by workers seeking
to establish better conditions and
high concepts in industry A lock-
out is a resort to the final argument
in denial of those aspirations.
In regard to strikes among gov
ernment employees, the document de-
clared that the American labor
movement believes that those in the
employ of the government should
secure redress for wrongs through
the political machinery of the ma
tion. 1t is, however, equally frm in
the be II that the right of such en-
ployes to cease work must be main
tanned. The right should be main
| tanned, but there should never be
a t. -