Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1921-12-16
Harding on Labor
PRESIDENT SUGGESTS Cant
STRIKE" LAW.
And FavOrs Incorporation of Trades
UniOns-GOmpers Takes Issue
With Executive.

Washington-In his message to
congress, President Harding recog-
nizes the right of labor to organize
and be represented by agents OF its
own choosing--with the two import
ant provisos that strikes be regulated
by law and trade unions be incorpor-
ated.
He said there should be established
Judicial or quasi judicial tribunals for
the consideration and determination
OF all disputes which menace the pub
lie welfare"
y This statement is in line with dec
larations made last August by Attor-
ney General Daugherty before the con-
vention of the American bar associa.
tion in Cincinnati. At that time the
presidents legal adviser favored COM
pulsory jurisdiction over industrial
disputes so that "we will have more
intelligent basis upon which to enact
compulsory legislation upon this sub
ject."
In recommending to congress that
trade unions be incorporated, Presi-
dent Harding said:
"In the case of the corporation
which enjoys the privilege of limited
liability of stockholders, particularly
when engaged in the public service, it
is recognized that the outside public
has a large concern which must be
protected; and so we provide regula-
tions, restrictions and in some cases
detailed supervision. Likewise in the
case of labor organizations, we
might well apply similar and equally
well-defined principles of regulation
and supervision in order to conserve
the public's interest as affected by
their operations"
In a public statement President
Gompers makes this comment on
President Hardings recommendation
to congress that "can't-strike" laws
be passed and that trade unions be
Incorporated:
"The presidents proposal for the
establishment of court with legal
powers to decide as to wages and
conditions of employment is nothing
more nor less than a reversion back
to the conditions obtaining more than
400 years ago, when the court of
quarter sessions determined the wages
of the workers and prohibited them
from asking for more or employers
from paying more than the courts
decision.
"The eXactions of corporations are
for private profit; the demand of the
workers for higher wages and better
conditions is an aspiration for better
things, for better day, and who is
he who would attempt to curb the as
pirations of the great mass of the
people?
at is quite evident that the presi-
dent has in mind the establishment
of court or courts to determine the
conditions and wages of the working
people, and evidently with the aim
that these courts can and will prevent
strikes and lockouts.
STRIKES are the expression of dis
content on the part Of the workers
with existing conditions Of employ
lnent as they obtain, and the with
holding of labor and labor power for
a while until new terms of employ
ment may be reached and agreed
upon.
"No one, no group of our people,
endeavor to avoid strikes quite so
much as do the ch-misunderstood,
misrepresented labor organizations,
the voluntary associations of the
workers for their common protection,
for the promotion of their rights and
their interests, for the welfare of the
whole people and our republic"