The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-04-23

4 questlohhalre that is being issued
by the advisory committee on poll
cles and platform of the Republican
national committee has been an
sWered by Samuel Gompers,
Matthew VOL and Frank Morrison,
platform committee, national non
partisan campaign of the A. F. of L.
The questionable is ION indus
trial relations and the problems of
capital and labor" and includes SIS
subjects, with subdivisions.
Labor's answers are clear cut
and are subject to but one meaning.
Although the country has witnessed
an unparalleled period of reaction
following the armistice, the de-
mand for "can't-strike" laws and
other un-American legislation does
not affect the trade unionists, who
stand four-square for rights that
are accorded other classes of citi-
zens. y
The trade unionists say welfare
work, when administered by the
employers, the tendency of which is
GAL TWO 80. :. $50.
to buy the submission of the work.
ers, is utterly out of keeping with
the American spirit. Profit shar-
ing is placed in the same class, and
it is stated if employers can afford
to pay bonuses, then let them do
so in the form of a higher wage and
better conditions rather than in the
form of gratuities."
In answer to the question" should
trade unions be Incorporated, to sue
and be sued?" the unionists answer,
in part; Trade unions are not
formed for the accumulation of
property, nor for the making of
profits. Labor power is the in
herent power of human beings to
produce commodities for the sus-
tenance of life. To suggest that
this power and these qualities of
the human race should be incor-
porated by law is to suggest des-
peration on the part of employers
which must be curbed for the very
safety of society,""
Question-'In the event of incor-
poration should the power of in
junction be limited?"
Answer-'In this question the
workers are asked to barter one
evil for another. The workers are
asked whether they prefer being
struck on the left cheek to being
struck on the right cheek. The
trade union movement does not in
dulge in that kind of trading. 1t
opposes all injustice. The charac-
ter and integrity of the trade union
movement should be better known
than to permit of such an astound
ing suggestion.
Opposition to classifying trade
unions as trusts is recorded and
attention is called to the Clayton |
law declaration that 1.-THE labor of
a human being is not a commodity
or article of commerce"
The unionists say that when
labor asks to be represented in in
dustrial disputes by spokesman of
its own choosing it demands for it.
self no more than the same rights
exercised by employers.
When asked "do you approve the
general principles of the Kansas
anti-strike law" the unionists re-
ply that these principles "are so
as to be repre-
hensible in the extreme and repug-
nant to every American concept of
Justice, freedom and democracy"
The QUESTIONABLE again reverts to
force as solution for strikes and |
and the unionists reply:
"The difference between a strike
and a lockout is this: The strike
is a resort to the final argument |
by workers seeking to establish |
better conditions and higher con-
cepts in industry. A lockout is
resort to the final argument in
denial of those aspirations. The
right to strike should be maintain
ed, but there should never be oc-
casion to use it,"
Question-'What is the proper
scope of injunction in labor dis
putes?"
Answer-"The injunction has no
place in labor disputes. The use of
the injunction in a democratic ma
ton to restrain the aspirations of
the working people for an extension
of the horizon of democracy and for
H. oo1oroamant Of their ODDOrtllni-