Middletown transcript., 1921-03-05
ORGANIZED Labor Defies United
States Government in Mat
ter of Injunctions.
IS READY FOR BIG FIGHT
"eiiI Of Rights" and Legislative De-
mands Issued-Harding Completes
His cabinct-Ameriea Pro-
tests Japanese Rule Over
Yap-Near East Con.
ference in London.
By EDWARD w. PIcKARD.

Organized labor of America has
thrown down before its enemies the
gauntlet of challenge to fight to a
finish. The United States govern
ment is apparently included among
those 'enemies" and is boldly defied
to enforce judicial injunctions in in
dustrial disputes.
Under the leadership of Samuel
Gompers the representatives of the
national and international unions af-
filiated with the American Federation
of Labor met last week in Washing
ton and formulated their "bill Of
rights" and their demands on the gov
ernment and the people. In these
there is much besides the injunction
matter, but that is perhaps the most
important. A statement prepared by
Mr.. Gompers was issued in which the
injunction as now used is denounced
as unconstitutional and q pure usur-
patton Of power and authority. The
only remedy in the hands Of the
workers, continues the statement, "lies
in a fiat refusal on the part Of labor
to recognize or abide by the terms Of
injunctions 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
lawful and guaranteed right to refuse
to do.
. 'This is the only immediate course
through which labor can find relief,
and this course it purposes to pursue.
Labor realizes fully the consequences
of such a course, but in the defense
of American freedom and of Amer
ican institutions it 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 it's resources,
something little short Of a 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 Gompers, that
only the Federation of Labor Is saw
ing the country from Bolshevism. 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 trade unions for the
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 collec-
tive activities in furtherance Of the
welfare Of labor.
Their legislative program is sum-
married. thus:
"Enactment by congress Of legisla-
ton to protect the workers in their
organized capacity against the con-
cept that there Is property right in
human labor.