Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-06-03
OMPERS.ALlEN
DEBATE IS LIVELY
|rnegie Hall Packed to Hear
Labor Head and Governor of
Kansas Argue Their Respec.
tive Claims


npers, president of the American Fed
ton of Labor and Governor Henry J..
en OF Kansas met to debate the merits
he recently enacted Kansas Industrial
RI law and kindred subjects Judge
on p. Parker Of this city presided and
Eoduced the speakers.
r. GompegS and Governor Allen walk
on the stage shortly after eight o'clock
lie the audience arose and cheered,
Ii was followed by large body of
(porters. When the first wave of cheer
had subsidized band struck up
ncre'll be a Hot Time in the Old Town
night" and the appliance was renew
+. Gompors, the first speaker, prefac-
ais argument win the ailpouncemcn'
t he had been N conference during the
with Representatives, Of tie striking
gshoremcn and that they hal authoriz.
aim to state They were willinl to sub
pending controversies to fair and
,ias,od board OF arbitration and viii.
dye themselves in aivh.,r. &c aLidc by
decision
tCtiAlti luI l!lts t.Idl tle .pHESilpI
a would IctdIh 20 wcri; within six
IRIS after the s;a1a.s:,ip companies haze
ihfi.d .:,e.- willingness to arbitrate
te. beat i:oov,., II Ni,hoi.Ls Murray
ter, James ". Gerard. Henry p. Davl-
!, George ". Wick..sh2n. Paul NJ.
Irg, pI,J . oravath, George Eos
Peabody ,,,d Mss Mary Garrett Hay
r. emayg taose occupying seats on the
ffD-n o. l,nN,S when rho de Dat -
yan.
We are now at the parting of the ways
the great controversies which are now
upyins the minds Of our people," de
red Mr.. Gompers. beginning his direct
sument of the debate ON the one hand
have the great constructive movement
progress, for civilization and with all
tasks these impose. and on the other
hd we have those VINO are leading the
irse of reaction, of injustice, of tyran-
The time IL at nand when there must
determined whether the eternal prin-
les of freedom, justice and democracy
All hold sway or be supp.anted by the
amy and the injusti of old"
If. Gompers said he wanted to lay
kVn a few fundamental principles and
of his executive committee, Mrs.
rah A. Conboy. read the following
Etement:
The fact that the voluntary organiza-
rs of the wage workers are declared
the courts to be trusts ana combina-
ms in Illegal restraint of trade docs
necessarily so constitute them. In
I. the unions of workers are not such.
Pne of their achievements in behalf of
tollers or society at large can he con-
ked with the teitish and perniCous
FivitieS Of the Illegal trusts.
The trust, even at It's best, is an or
MIA ton of few to monopoize produc-
n, and control distribution of material
bducts. The voluntary associations of
wage workers for mutual benefit and
distance are essentially different. The
Fl must not be lost sight of that the
Wer of labor Is not material COM
bdity. There can be no trust in any
ng which is not yet produced"
'esumng his address Mr.. Gompers
i'd
There is common error in the minds
large number of our people, and
oples of the whole world who confuse
term labor and capital as being
exactly equal position toward eac
her The fact of the matter is that
pital is the product of labor.
The difference between slave and a
be man is that the slave must work
hen his master or owner directs and
lis. The freeman may stop his work
Whatever consequences of SUFFERING
at may be involved is his suffering and
suffering of no one else. The right
a. free man to dispose of himself. or
labor and his labor power has been
forth i'll Supreme Court decision
opinion read by the Associate Justice
the supreme Court, Mr.. Hughes-in
hich the principle is set forth clearly
at no man is free, that involuntary
rvitude exists when a man must worl,
ainst his will"
Governor Allen lost no time in COMING
the defense of the Kansas Industrial
Purt. building his argument on the
emise that the safety of the public
the supreme law"
He declared that this was the funda-
entail axiom upon which he and his
pporters were working and which
verned his attitude toward capital
Dor and the disputes which arise be.
cen them. He asserted he was no,
escnt as a representative capital OF
Dor but las a representative of all OF
the general public
We have not forbidden to any man
e right to quit work" he asserted. 1--WE
erely have taken away from Mr.
bmpers his divine right to order a mar
quit work.
A great deal is said about the growth
brotherhood and I am not unconscious
might of all the progress that has beer
ade by organized labor through its
lidarit, And | am glad for the legitimate
ogress of every labor union organiza
pm in the United States to-day"
Governor Allen then referred to state
ents alleged to have been made By
bion leaders in the past, including Mr.
bmpers. that 'if you take away the RICH,
strike, we will find some other way
Before the debate ceases tonight
said. II implore Mr.. Gomrery In be-
LII of ire country that T. waiting &c
now. what other way he has IN mind
We have taken away nothing from
Dor; we have provided protection in al
q industries: we have forbidden convict
Dor TO come in competition with othe.
Dor; we have established a free employ
ent service; We nave provided an indus
ial welfare commission; we have pro
ded that no irjunction whether inter
cutory or permanent in any case be
yeen employer and employees or between
.rsons employed, or persons seeking EN-
oyment. growing out OF a dispute con
-7ing terms. conditions, etc. shall b,
sued without previous notice and al
Jportunity to be heard in behalf of tn,
Arty enjoined.
we have established lines to protec
orkers, we have established the eigh
bur day in mines, VIC have established
erything that has been established IL
history of the progress Of this great in
lstry."
C.ouArnor Allan then assailed MI Gorn