The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-01-04
TEST OF LABOR UNIONS;
GOMPERS GIVES ALARM
ARE THREATENED BY LOWER
+. WAGES AND OPEN SHOP.
LEADERS PROFTTEERING.

The foundations of American organ
ize labor are being subjected to the
most severe strains they have under
gone in many years. Curtailment OF
industry, fiat wage reductions, nation
wide propaganda designed to restore
the open shop, and direct and effective
efforts by big steel interests to force
open shop policies in construction
work involving fabricated steel are
some of the Developments of recent
weeks that are putting ainalgamated
workers to the supreme test.
These startling Developments have
aroused labor. Samuel Gompers. vet
eran president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, stated recently that
the workers must accept the challenge.
"They can not drive back the Amer
lean labor movement" Gompers de-
clared. "Those fighting us represent a
new awakening of the old idea OF mas
ter and servant. In reply, we challenge
them on the principles of sovereignty
and manhood"
Labor Leaders PROTECTING.
Besides these developments, officials
of the federation fear an adverse de-
cision of the United States supreme
court on the Hartford valley (Ark.)
miners strike suit which involves the
question of whether labor organiza-
tons come under the jurisdiction OF
the Sherman antitrust law, as it pro-
vides for damages from action in re-
straint of trade.
The federation also is alarmed over
startling disclosures in the investiga-
ton of the building trust" in New
York. Evidence has been revealed in
dicating that labor leaders themselves
were profteering on organizd labor
at the expense of contractors and the
public.
Think Wilson Would Veto.
There is no great fear among labor
leaders as a result of the senate's &C
ton on the passage of the anti-strike
clause in the Poindexter bill. They be-
lieve it will be defeated upon promised
reconsideration, and that, even if it
went to the president, it would be We
toed In the steel industry movement
and in the possibility of an adverse de-
cision on the Arkansas case labor lead
ers are DISTINCTLY concerned, however.
The steel interests not only affect a
huge bulk of workers, but in driving
to force open shop policies on con-
struction work average approximately
SIS week less than they received un-
der the union scale during the last
year. Virtually all.of the workers af-
'fected are either on strike against the
proposed piece work system or have
been locked out by the manufacturers.
Wages Must Come Down.
Textile workers will be compelled to
work for considerably less money, fol-
lowing the decision of the operators
that wages must come down because
of the stagnant market and the refusal
of the retailers to buy at present prices.
While upwards of $4,000 textile work
ers in Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode
Island debated what course of action
they would follow regarding wage re-
duction of 22A per cent, announced
by the mill owners in those states, Of
Gals of large plants in New Hamp-
shire, employing about $4,000 opera
tives, announced similar wage cuts.
Union representatives decline to dis
cuss the situation, but from nearly ev-
cry section of New England comes
word that special meetings have been
called, at which delegates will vote
or not to accept these reduc-
tons.