New-York tribune., 1920-01-30
!ConPers Says
N0-Strike Idea
Must Not Win
Labor Will Fight to cut.
termost'' Against Plan
Contained in Cumm;ns
Bill. He Tells Federation
Parker Criticizes Brent
Action of Clergy in Pro.
=. testing Against Red
Deportations Condemned

Notice WIS served yesterday by Sam
mel Gompers president of the American
Federation Of Labor. that any attempt
ev Congress 10 enact legislation to pre-
vent strikes among railway EMPLOYEES
or in any ether industry would be op
uosed by labor "to the uttermost."
Speaking Of The pending Cummins bill.
which would prohibit by fine or impris-
onment calling 2 strike on the railroads
after they have been returned to pri
vste control next March, he declared:
The citizenship OF this country will
resent any movement which attempts
10 put shackles upon their liberties"
Mr.. Gompers was the chief speaker at
the annual meeting of the National
Civic Federation at the Hotel Astor.
Alton s. Parker. who presided. in
openng the meeting 18Th Ct attack on
the l. W ". Bolsheviki, anarchists
and scum o. the earth in general" con-
demned the ASTON of Bishop Charles H.
Brent, of the Western New York Epis-
copal Diocese, and twenty-one other
clergymen III slgn'ng a protest against
the deportation Of Reds"
Gompers Agrees With Shea
Mr.. Gompers said he acquiesced in
sentiments expressed by Timothy Shea.
acting president OF the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Firemen and Engineers.
who had called proposed anti-strike
and compulsory arbitration legislation
a conspiracy 10 reduce wage-earners
to "involuntary servitude" and to dis
iupt labor ,,nlons. Mr.. Gompers also
criticized the makeup and preliminary
plans of President Wilson'S second in
dustrial conference. He asserted the
absence OF labor representative
showed Il to be an attempt to adjust
lsbor disputes by political machinery.
He opposed the scheme to adjust labor
difficulties through regional boards
because. ne asserted. the boards miob+
be managed ny men mot sympatheti-
cally inclined toward labor
NO organization has done more TO
avert StrNss than the American Fed
e-s.ion OF Labor said Mr. Gompers.
Strikes arc deplorable. Yet thew are
me mos, civilized form Of protest
asalnsS injustice. Look at any coun
Try tree OF strikes and you will find
there the lowest form OF life-servil-
lty the most backward, least devel
oped people. lack OF civic pride and an
'mpo;ency either for that countrv's
OWL cohesion or its national defense.
II the aose7ce OF strikes bespeaks
psosperitl, independence, progress and
wealth, mon China ought to be the
leader O. civilization.
"A.y a-temp- BY Congress asthron~b
me tunr..as bill or any other bill. 10
impose r :..'-tic restrictions on work-
ssns men e' women vii lbe the cause
'or many disputes which otherwise
rlcbt 10 avoided
Shea Calls Plan "lmmoral~
IN ro'eins his opposition 70 anti
s;rlke legislation. Nr. Shea said that
compulsory arbitration was ''inmorsl
a1c lr rDract ca bic "
Il. Is part Of : general conzpiracv
= fnf age financial interests who
nave decided % attempt 20 disrupt 81
'aho- crsariza-.ons.' he said Their
oojec- . 70 continue unchecked their
Ta--.irre pro7teering and the exploita-
.'on OF he wage Garner and the public,
which ,nev Rave been successful in
doing before. dung and since the war.
ne wage earrer IS convinced tina.
here az .hreo objections to compul-
sorv arbitration:
Il, 's 'ooSed uoon az an ill-co7-
ce'7ea rcnrme h7 Which the cmrlorer
7ore7 20 v-I~ coripln-e mastery over
- amos ee7- mixing -nem criminals
= they fnDlov their oriy weapon Of
self-deferze tho Ike.
i. = conspiracy 20 deprive the
"ase earner OF his Fundamental con
'f'Sltio~a' nights and TO reduce him
actua = . involuntary servitude
lno growth of the forces backing
'1s Increment = = sign Of the moral
and mertal degeneration through -hich
sll g-eat s7d prosperous nations have
passed ~hen the struggle for wealth
cversnadcvs Al lother considerations
and the principle OF individual liberty
'~nlca ne founders Of liberty were
horored falls mt, social disrepute.
Rights of Public Qualified
30 one wiN GaInsay that the inter
est O he public - predominant in
disputes IN public utilities and basic in
olstrie7. StrlIes interfere with sup
pies o. heat. eht and food, and the
WORKERS whose duty It is 70 maintain
nae ,,l sn?pAss must keep at work
Hniie this attitude . entitely correct
~ me surface, II liftle analysis reveals
s"o profound falacies:
1t IS not 70 the public's interest %
cosrcs ~s7 % work under conditions
Sno relations which are unjust and
INTO israale and.
IN fhe faco of lNdefensible and IN
'oierab.e eonditlons OF this nature
scri.ns cannot be prevented b. legal
onioiNons AID penalties"
ia<irg IN the subjects Of "Reds,- Nr.
'aF.'r said: Il read in this mornings