Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-29
GOMPERS-ALLEN
DEBATE ON THE
RIGHT TO STRIKE
Labor Leader Locks Horns
With Governor of
Kansas.
THRESH OUT QUESTIONS
HlNGING ON WALKOUTS
A. F. L. President Taken to
Task by Kansan for Use of
Divine Right"
DENIES CHARGES OF MASTERY
Trust and Conspiracy Allegations
Discussed Pro and
Con.
THRESH OUT QUESTIONS
HlNGING ON WALKOUTS
DENIES CHARGES OF MASTERY.
Trust and Conspiracy Allegations
Discussed Pro and
Con.
tHy Associated rress.l

Nr" folsk. May 2S.-The rela-
Nons OF capital ana labor: the
right TO strike and it's legitimacy
az regards The effect on the pub
i'c; the Kansas industrial cour,
IA" and It's significance to the
future OF the worknEman. were in
tcrwined in q remarkable. debate to-
night In Carnegie Hall between
Samuel GompcEs, president o. the
american Fcdc-a,ion OF Labor. and
Governor Henry j. Allen, OF Kansas.
Governor Aliens main contention
Was that government has the right
To protect the public asains, strikes
when its welfare is impcri!ed. while
Mr.. Gompcrs held TO the argumcn,
that no law can prevent "A man from
stopping work IL by doing SO he may
benefit himself and his family.
''onpers labeled the Kansas indus
'riai court law the 'un-American
F!aHe law and Governor Allen de-
cared hc had taken away from
H' npcrs his divine righ, 10 order a
Tan 10 quit work
The o-atory OF the dcba,crs was
runctuaied with frcquen; Cheers and
hoos hy adhcrcnts OF each side ard
occasionn! questions shouted from the
fcor and the balconies
tomprrn supports Strikes.
In support OF the right 10 strike.
Gomncrs declared that the coal min
ers' strike took boys out o. the
mines that the textile workers.
strike brought children out o. tho
mills and put them In the school.
room. while the strikes in the nee
ole trades broke UP the sweatshops
"heh laws had failed to do SO.
Governor Aliens Industrial com.
mandment was:
You shall not conspire To shut
down the industry necessary 10 tho
welfare OF the people"
When the general public saws wc
have had enough OF this" he said.
"lt's over"
Who controls the divine righ; TO
quit work" Allon asked He was
answered with cheers and boos.
The debate called for no dec,sio,
The committees in charge having
rurposely divided the house cGuauy
between supporters of each speaker.
We are now n the parting of the
WAYS In the great controversies
"h!ch are now occupying the minds
OF our people, declared Nj Conn.
crs. uAc hrst speaker. beginning ar
Suineht OF the debate. "On the one
mana we have the great constructive
movement for progress, for civ!liza-
tion' and with all the tasks these
impose, and, on the other hand. we
EaVc those who are leading Tho
course OF reaction. OF injustice. of
tyranny. The time Is at hand whom
there must be determined whether
the eternal principles OF freedom.
justice and democracy shall hold
sway or be supplanted by the ty
fanny and the injustice of old"
Offers Fundamental Principles.
MT. Gompers said he wanted 10 Law
down a few fundamental principles
ana one OF his executive commi,tec
Mrs. Sarah y. Conboy, read the fol-
lowing statements:
The fact that the voluntary organ
izations OF the wage workers are do.
cia'ed Dy the courts to be trusts AMI
combinations in illegal restraint of
trade does not necessarily so consti
tute them: in fact, the unions of
workers are not such. None OF their
achievements in behalf Of the toilers
or society at large can be confused
with the selfish and pernicious ac,ivi-
ties of the Illegal trusts.
The trust, even at its best. Is an
organization OF a few to mono,.ol;ze
production and control distribution Of
material products. The voluntary as
sociations OF the wage worker. for
mutual benefit and assistance, are es.
seht'aiiy different. The fact must no,
oe lost sight OF that the power or
iapor is not material commodity.
ne'e can be no trust in anything
"hich IS not yet produced"
Labor Produces CAPITAL.
Resuming his address. AR ron,o-s
said:
Ihere is Il common error in the
mind of n large number of our ,eo
pie, and the peoples of tho Who'll
world, who confuse tho tor, .,ana..
anu eapitar as being in exactly equal
po'.o" 'o"ard each other. The fact
OF the matter is that can,,aI 8. 49,
product of labor ~
fhe difference between n s,avo
anu freeman Is that the slave must
ms master or owner di-
rects and wills The rreom.
s.op n'S WORK, and whatever consc
1usnces 0! suHering that may be in
o'e" ~ MS suHering and tho suffer-
."s VI no one eise. The right Of n
'eea" 10 dispose OF himself, OF his
iaoor ana ms labor power has been
set ioren IN supreme Court decision.
an opihion read by the then associate
justice or the Supreme Court. Mr..
Hughes. In which the principle is set
iorth clearly that no man is free.
that inyoluntary seryItudey exists,
Continued on Second SPage.5 = ~