The labor world., 1921-09-17

e, but he is against compulsion.
Its Against Freedom.
The president of the A. F. Of L.
warns labor and the people generally
to be on guard against the attorney
generals plan. "In principle compul-
sion is autocratic," he holds, land In
practice it will not be accepted by 4
free people," he asserts.
Mr.. Gompers disputes several state-
ments made by Mr.. Daugherty. THE
experiences of the past referred to by
the attorney general, he insists, does
not show that industrial adjustment
has been brought about by full and re-
liable information" He asserts that
there never has been any reliable in
Industrial disputes and he calls public
attention to the situation in West Vir-
ginia to prove his case.
Care Little for Truth.
Mr. Gompers also asserts that the
forces of greed have cared very little
for the barbs of truth, even wheh
those barbs have been accurately
hurled. He can see nothing in Mr.
Daugherty's speech but compulsion
for the workers, involuntary servitud.,
and slave labor.
1--WE will not have it. We will MAIN
tain freedom at all costs. America
must and will remain democratic. Be
on guard, be alert, be prepared to re-
sist in every proper manner such en-
croachments upon your freedom and
your democracy" he says to the
American workers. His statement is
in full as follows: - ~
Answer to >Daugllerty.
United States. Attorney General
Daugherty, addressing the American
Bar association, in which the lawyers
are 100 per cent organized, said:
1t is an undisputed fact that the
public have right to know what the
quarrel is about in every actual or
threatened strike or lockout and simi-
lar controversies
"He said further that there should
be some definite agencies in govern
ment for finding these facts and for
making an impartial finding and
went on to conclude that compulsory
jurisdiction over these two factors 10
compel them to submit to an inquiry
of this sort is not only desirable but
+ just
"Mr. Daugherty apparently sought
to forecast enactment of legislation
for the United States patterned after
the discredited Lemieux act of Canada
and the Industrial Disputes Act Of
Colorado.
But One Step, Now.
"Mr. Daugherty suggests that at
first the investigation should be com.
pulsory and acceptance Of the find
ings voluntary, because he thinks our,
present study does not quite warrant
compulsory awards. His intention is,
however, that after further study and
experience there should be binding
awards. -
United States cabinet members do
not go about the country offering
their mere personal opinions. They
are understood as voicing the We've
point and policy of the administration
of which they are part.
attorney General Daughertys Bar
association speech forecasts legislation
intended to compel workers to submit
their applications and their demands
for justice to compulsory investiga-
tion and award. Compulsion always
is followed by punishment for viola
q
I'm principle compulsion is wrong.
In practice it will not work.
I'm principle compulsion is auto
cepted by free people.
Warning Is Sounded.
''Let the warning be sounded. This
vicious proposal, so frequently ex-
posed by the American Federation of
Labor, so repeatedly denounced by the
great lovers of freedom, SO consist
emily discredited in practice, again
threatens our people. -.
The men and women Of labor must
be on guard.
Mr.. Daugherty says that the expe-
rience of the past shows that IN most
cases full. accurate, reliable publicity
Of the facts has been sufficient 10
compel an adjustment Of these castG,'
meaning industrial disputes. NJ.
Daugherty evidently thinks facts are
absolute. Most facts are relative and
not absolute.
"In addition to having committed
himself to an un-democratic principle
which is repugnant to the whole
American concept of social organiza-
tion and conduct, the attorney gem
eral fails to find the truth in history.
The experience of the past does
not show that industrial adjustment
has been brought about by full and
reliable publicity. In the first place,
it does not show that there has even
been full and reliable publicity in our
great industrial disputes. In the sec
ond place 1T does not show that the
forces OF greed have cared much for
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