The Washington times., 1920-06-09
LABOR ASKS FRIGHT
TO STRIKE" PLANK
Demands Also Immediate Cut In
H. C. L.-Gompers Goes Be-
fore G. o. P. Committee.

CHICAGO. June e. Maintenance
of the right to strike and to conduct
all negotiations with employers with
out interference by the Federal Gov
ernment was demanded by labor be-
fore the Republican committee on
resolutions today. This was insisted
on despite an understanding that an
industrial plank prepared by Cover
nor Allen of Kansas for the elimina-
ton Of strikes and for compulsory
arbitration would not be pressed.
Labor, through Samuel Gompers.
president of the American Federation
of Labor, also demanded the restric-
ton of the flow Of immigration from
abroad to the ability of America to
absorb and Americanize 1t, and the
stopping Of such immigration abb
solutely when there is an unemploy-
ment here.
Another demand was made for the
reduction at once and effectively of
he high cost of living and the curb
ing of profiteering.
Gompers headed a special commit
tee from the American Federation OF
Labor convention now in session at
Montreal. In it's protest against re-
stricting the action of labor In its
right to strike, the committee made
the following statement:
"Legislation which proposes to
make strikes unlawful, or to compel
the wage earners to submit their
grievances or aspirations to courts or
to Government agencies. Is an inva-
sion of the rights Of the wage
Garner.
when enforced, it makes for in
dustrial serfdom or slavery.
"We hold that the Government
should supply information and assist
ance, but it should not attempt by
the force of it's own power to stihe or
to destroy voluntary relations and
policies of mutually between employ
ers and employees"
other demands emphasized in the
bill of rights presented included:
Right of labor to organize and bar
gain collectively through their own
representatives, freedom from "un-
warrantable issuance of writs OF In
functions" and the right Of trial by
jury in contempt cases outside the
presence of the courts.
Removal of all effects OF the
espionage act in the restrictions
placed on freedom OF speech, the press,
the assemblage and association.
Right of Federal employees to or
ganize and to enjoy the same rights
and privileges of other workingmen;
opposition to the labor provisions OF
the Cummins- Esch law; exclusion OF
convict labor from interstate COM
merce; opposition to child labor; op-
position to Intervention in Mexico and
curbing the Supreme Court from over
riding the acts of Congress were also
included. The statement on the high
cost of living follows:
1--WE demand that effective steps be
taken Immediately to relieve the peo-
pie of the burden imposed by the
excessive cost OF living and to eradi-
cate permanently the underlying
evils, recognizing fully that no other
issue is of deper interest to the masses
of the American people.
"As comprehensive program OF
such relief and remedy we set forth
these demands:
"Co-operation should be encouraged
as an effective means of curbing
profiteering. To stimulate rapid de-
velopment of co-operatives the Fed
eral Farm Loan act should be ex-
tended so as to give credit to all
properly organized co-operatives just
as credit is now given to individual
farmers.
1--WE urge that the United States
Department of Labor compile and is.
sue monthly statements Of the cost
OF manufacture OF those staple ar
ticle which form the basis of calcula-
tion In fixing the cost OF living.
"As a means OF aiding anti-prof,t-
eering measures the Federal Govern.
ment should investigate profits and
prices. All income and other tax re-
turns should be available for inspec-
ton"