Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-03-04
Organized Labor Defies United
States Government in Mat
ter Of Injunctions.
IS READY FOR BIG FIGHT
"Bill Of Rights" and Legislative De.
mands Issued-Harding Completes
His acknowledgements Pro.
tests Japanese Rule Over
Yap-Near East Con.
ference in London.
By EDWARD W. PlckARD.

Organized labor Of America has
thrown down before It's enemies the
gauntlet of challenge to fight to
finish. The United States govern
ment is apparently included among
those "enemies" and is boldly dehed
to enforce judicial injunctons in in
dustrial disputes.
Under the leadership of Samuel
G0mpers the representatives of the
national and international unions af-
fiiated with the American Federation
of Labor met last week in Washing
ton and formulated their "blll Of
rights and their demands on the gov
eminent and the people. In these
there is much besides the injunction
matter, but that is perhaps the most
important. A statement prepared by
Mr.. G0mpers was issued In which the
injunction as now used Is denounced
as unconstitutional and pure usur-
patton Of power and authority The
only remedy in the hands of the
workers, continues the statement, "lies
in fiat refusal on the part of labor
to recognize or abide by the terms of
injuncti0ns which seek to prohibit the
doing of acts which the workers have
a lawful and guaranteed right to do
or which seek to compel workers to
do those things which they have n
lawful and guaranteed right to refuse
to do.
"This Is the only immediate course
through which labor can find relief,
and this course 1t purposes to pursue
Labor realizes fully the consequences
Of such course, but In the defense
of American freedom and of Amer
lean institutions 1t is compelled to
adopt this course, be the consequences
what they may"
OF course If this threat is carried
out the result will be the arrest of
great numbers Of working men for
violations of injunctions; and, presum-
ing that the courts and government
do not yield and that union labor
brings into action all Its resources,
something little short Of state of
rebellion will follow. Union labor
thinks that its very existence as such
is threatened by present tendencies
and conditions Other citizens must
see that the threat is directed against
the peace of the nation and all that
that involves. Nor will the informed
and thinking American accept as the
truth the statement Of Gonpers. that
only the Federation Of Labor is saw
Ing the country from 5osheyism. The
Reds have done and can do much mis-
chief In America but there Is no real
danger of their gaining control here
or upsetting our government.
Public support and recognition Is
asked by the labor leaders for these
propositions, comprising their "bill of
rights:
The right of the working people to
organize INTO tFaue unlOllS lor tne
protection of their rights and inter-
ests.
The right to, and practice of, col
lective bargaining by trade unions,
through representatives of their own
choosing.
The right to work, and to cease
work, collectively.
The right collectively to bestow or
withhold patronage.
The right to the exercise Of collcc-
tive activities In furtherance Of the
welfare Of labor
Their legislative program is sum
married. thus:
Enactment by congress of legisln-
tion to protect the workers In their
organized capacity against the con
cept that there is property right In
human labor.