The Washington herald., 1921-02-24
Open Rebellion Declared
to Uphold Rights on
Strike Issue.
REVOLT LAUNCHED
AT MEETING HERE
Unions to Show Defiance
for Injunction Laws,
GOmpers Says.
~ ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.

Open rebellion against the en-
forcement by the government OF ju-
dicial injunctions in industrial dis
putes was declared deliberately yes
terday by the zoo representatives OF
1Os American labor organizations
who met here at the call of Pres
ident Gompers, OF the A. F.4of L.
At the close OF an alI-dsy ses-
sion the conference adopted a state
ment prepared by Mr.. Gompers
which depicted organized labor as
being ground between industrial
sutocracy and Bolshevism. denounc-
ed the open shop movement as cloak
ing a campaign to destroy union
ism and flung defiance TO the gov
ernment on the injunction question.
Lacks Foundation.
The Injunction. as IL is now used
and abused in labor disputes. is
without sanction either in the con-
stitution or in the fundamental law
OF the land" says the statement
ls pure OF poNFF
and authority. The only possible
and practical remedy in the face
of a power so usurped and so com
pietely unjustified lies in a nat re-
fusal on the part of labor 20 recog-
nize or abide by the terms Of in
/ functions which seek TO prohibit
the doing Of acts which the workers
have a lawful and guaranteed right
80 10 NW-N4F F1H. l.
workers to do those things which
they have a lawful and guaranteed
right to refuse to do.
Only Course Open
4 This is the only immediate course
through which labor can hnd relief
and this course IL purposes to pur-
sue. Labor realizes fully the conse-
/ quences Of such course but in the
defense OF American freedom and
Of American institutions. IL is com
PEELED 70 adopt this course. Ne the
consequences what they may"
II organized labor should carry
out his threat in any of the cases
in which unions have been re-
strained by iniunctions from en-
ploying methods Of coercion held
| contrary TO law the government
would face a challenge to arrest the
offenders and hale them into court
for contempt.
Enforcement of injunctions might
result in sending hundreds. IL not
thousands. Of workingmen to jail.
II organized labor should back the
Gompers program with all fits re-
sources a state of rebellion of Sc
rious proportions would test the
power of the government to en-
force the law.
See Grave Crisis.
The union leaders profess to be-
lieve that with the open-shop move
ment growing. wages falling. un-
employment Increasing, high prices
and profteering continuing and the
courts outlawing some of their
methods, organized labor faces the
gravest crisis in its history. They
are going back to their organizs-
tions to help rase a great war chest
with which to fight the employers
and government enforcement Of in
functions.
L.abors bill Of rights" was set
forth in the following propositions
for which the union leaders ask
l''pubHc support and recognition.
The right OF the working people
Of the United States to organize
into trade unions for the protection
OF their rights and interests.
The right to. and practice Of.
collective bargaining by trsdc
unions through representatives ~
their own choosing.
Right 60 strike.
The right to work and TO cease
> work collectively.
t THE right collectively to bestov
} or withhold patronage.
r "The right TO the exercise Of col
Iective activities in furtherance of
: the welfare OF labor.
.. Legislative and other proposals.
, the adoption OF which labor will
! seek. were summarized thus:
= Enactment by Congress OF legis-
lation which shall protect the
workers in their organized capacity
against the concept that there is a
l human beirty.
r mo application Of the use Of in
J functions on the industrial disputes
where they would not apply IN the
: absence Of such dispute.
D Prohibition Of immigration for
{ a period OF not less than two years.
: More. general application OF tho
= initiative and referendum In the po-
: litical affairs Of the United States
4 and of our several States.
Action by Congress.
Removal by Congress OF the
!. usurped power of courts TO declare
r unconstitutional laws enacted by
5 Congress.
Y Election Of judges.
r Immediate restoration OF ex-
: emption from or the repeal of all
- anti-combination and so-called con-
Q spiracy laws.
e Restoration Of an adequate Fed
r eral employment service.
Administration Of credit as Q
n public trust in the interest Of all
n the people.
. Repeal by the States OF all In
= dustrial court laws and all restric-
e tive and coercive laws. including IN.
e so-called open-port law OF Texas
{ and freedom from decisions OF court, /,
h holding trade unions and individual
: members thereof liable I'm damage,
8 flor the unlawful acts OF others.
rEnactment by Congress Of q Law
declaring that labor organization