The New York herald., 1920-01-30


culues. as proposed by tho CumInins
Brl now pending before Congress, win
reduce tho working men and women OF
this country 70 a state of servitude; or
ganized labor is cognizant OF the peril
and win fight passage OF the measure tc
the last ditch So Samuel Gompers
president or the American Federation OF
Labor. and Timothy Shea. acting presi-
dent OF the Brotherhood Of Locomotive
Firemen and Engineers. yesterday told
the members Of the National Civic FEEDER
alton at the opening session of their
twentieth annual meeting In the Hotel
Astor. Alton B. Parker. president Of the
session.
Compulsory arbitration, so far as the
working people are concerned Mr..
Gompers declared. win be not only un-
just but will prove abortive, no matter
what declaration may be made in ad-
vance. One of the fundamental facts that
is being omitted from it's consideration is
that the men and women of labor are
men and women, that they are human
and that they have the same feelings, the
same thought and the same aspirations
as the people in any other walk OF life.
"StrIkes Are for Better Lifc.o
What we are pleased to call strikes
cessations OF labor-are an aspiration for
a better life. Organized labor has done
much to prevent and avoid strikes
strikes. which are always deplorable while
in progress. 1 call your attention to the
fact that these strikes OF the working
people are their protest against wrongs
l l..
better relations with their employers.
Strikes are evidence of the most civil
lied form of protest against wrongs and
linjustices. Where there are no strikes
you will find the lowest standard of life.
You will find servility and docility in the
countries where there are not strikes. You
will find the country that has had no
strikes the most backward and the least
developed in commerce and industry. The
people of that country will have less civic
pride. There you will find the least amount
OF civilization.
eff the absence OF strikes meant indus
trial and commercial prosperity; II the
absence of strikes meant the independence
of a country and of its wealth, then China
ought to stand at the head of civilization.
THAT which the employer comedies is
that which the employe presses home on
the employer. Only those are heard who
Uldhe themselves nedTQ. Iii Certain lHdl
the citizens of our Republic will refuse
to submit to any movement that designs
to put shackles on the wrists of labor"
Certain Movement VIII Fail.
Mr. Gompers said he felt certain the
movement to "repress the aspirations of
the workers will not succeed. He asserted
that the American people have absorbed
the privileges of freedom granted by the
constitutie-~ Of the United States" to too
gresk "A degree to allow the adoption of a
principle as proposed by the Cummins bill.
I'VE know that We have certain in
alienable rights here" he continued. 1--WE
know that for three hundred years human
slavery existed in the United States. And
we know what price was paid to abolish
human slavery in the United States. The
constitution was designed TO protect the
people from involuntary servitude and
slavery"
Speaking of the principles Of organized
labor Mr.. Gompers said they were CON
structive and evolutionary, not revolu-
tionary." The speaker declared labor
sought ito cultivate the best there is in
man and woman" to provide justice for
all $50 every one may be able to enjoy
life. liberty and the pursuit of happiness"
Mr.. Gompers reviewed his work as a
member Of the first Industrial Conference
called by President Wilson He charged
that the group selected to represent the
public had more employers Of labor in it
than the group representing the employers.
The latter group, Mr. Gompers said, was
made up Of lawyers representing the
corporations"
"Not Labor Representatives.
'T have no desire to criticise the Presi-
dent" he continued, but may call your
attention to the names Of the seventeen
,,,JaA ha cernpd
At least three of them are members, or
formerly were members OF the Presidents
Cabinet There is not ono man among
them who could speak in the name OF or
as the representative OF labor"
Mr.. Gompers gave it as his opinion the
national and regional arbitration boards,
proposed by the second Industrial Confer
ence would not prove effective. He said
the boards eventually would become tools
in the hands Of the politicians. and that
whatever awards they made would have
the "tinge Of political partisanship or the
possibility of political advantage"
''It is something not yet understood, how
perfectly safe freedom is" Mr.. Gompers
said IN closing, -and so far as my associ-
ates and 1 are CONCERNED. we are deter
mined to do our level best and give all
that is In us to see that that freedom
which has been the historic development
and TIE final achievement in the republic
of the United States shall not be destroyed
through the hysteria of those who are
afraid OF the freedom of the people OF our
country"
In his opening address Mr.. Parker called
attention to the statement published in
yesterday mornings newspapers over the
names of Bishop Charles II. Brent, OF the
Western New York Episcopal diocese, and
twenty-five other clergymen throughout
the State denouncng the deportation OF
the Reds" the suspension of the Socialist
IAssemblymen and the sedition legislation
now pending in Washington.
'T know these good gentlemen are ac-
customed to follow the instructions Of the
Scriptures" Mr.. Parker declared, that II
he strike you on one cheek turn to him
the other but. my friends, that does not
apply to officials of a government They
are guardians. No more have they the
right to shut their eyes to the fact that in
certain quarters OF the world there are
classes who have never labored, who want
20 live the rest OF their lives without labor.
who are coming here for the purpose of
|overthrowlng our government, and our
government officials are in duty bound to
stop them coming II they can and to send