New-York tribune., 1922-08-20
Labor Slavery
Hardilng's Aim,
Says (,ornpers
lnsisis Law Making Board
Decisions Enforceable Is
Step Toward Compulsory
work, Even ut Gunroint
Calls Address q ssUntiInely"
Unions Oppose Alien Bill
ON Ground II Ii Designed
10 Shield Strike Breakers

From Ths Trtsyxc's wazht~Ster Bsrsun
WASHIN GTON. Aug. is~rrssidsnt
Harding's messsge TO Congress hss Inn
periied the chances FOR early settle
ment Of the railroad strike, Samuel
Gsmpers, president 81 thc American
Federation Of Labor, declared to-day.
He criticized the massage ss "unfor-
tunases and 'untimsiy."
The Presidents whole course in the
industrai warfare Of recent raonths il
leading in the direction Of compulsory
labor. no declared, and In the growth
81 Injunction proceedings he saw q
gradual but steady recession Of gov
ernmsnt by Law.
1T think Il was nnfortunate that the
President went before Congress yestar-
day. Mr. Gompers said. "Satsleuent
sS the coal strike is imminent" he add
Cd, and the representatives of the rail
utrik4rs and ths executives In confer
encs yesterday s'nads quita some prog.
ress toward an agreement"
Says Reads AItexsd Attitude
"Thay took recess after the morn
inx session until the afternoon, and I
an informed that the executives mani
Sestcd 4 different mood and assumed a
diKsreat attitude In the afternoos,
after they had learned 6f tho Presi-
dents message declared Mr.. Gompers
Organised labor will fight efforts TO
enact Legislation giving the Federal
government the right to punish wrongs
70 aliens guaranteed prcteeticn under
treaties when the states fail In this re-
spset.
Il could not favor the alien bill,'
said Mr.. Gempess. y think ! know
Whist is intended. Profession Of alien
strike bysaksrs is back Of this species
Of lssisl.tisn.
Taking pp the two other measures
asked by ths President the labor chief
said that whether or not support is
given TO the plan for q commission to
Investigate the entire coal supply "da-
pends as to its provisions" He de,
clared:
@We prefer a coal commission along
the lines suggested In the agreement
At Cleveland. Apparently, as the
President suggested 1t, tbs plan is sha7
tha commissioners should be mon IN.
dependent Of the coal industry, or. In
other words, rnen who know nothing 81
the industry. Such proposal does
not commend itself to practical ,neE.
OF Mr.. Harding's request for ma
chlaery to prevent exorbitant Goa
prices, Mr.. GompeYs said:
"The suggestion is worthy but il.
prnctieat application extremely diff
deplt.
.The Presidents position in. hi,
message yesterday is nothing new fol
hin, ia se far ss it deals with any eS
sentiAl," Mr.. Gompers continued.
Inahis message ne says in substance
that the decisions OF tKe Railroad La.
Dor Board must be enforeesble Tha,
Is. that IL ths Railroad Labor Board o,
any other board further reduces wages
or imposes csRditions that are repug
Hant TO the rights and interests Of the
workers they must 60 to work whether
they like IL o. NOT. tn other words
the punishment of fne or inprison.
rnpnt will be used to force rnen tt
werk whether they want to or not, OF
to force labor into workshops undes
guns. I'm not willing to believe tha,
the President had in mind the ful,
consequences OF such recemmenda,
tien. Indeed. If thare is to be com.
puisory labor imposed upon the work.
ing people Of the United States. L
mGy well raise tho question whethe,
eeNappisory iAher nay not be enforced
upon every enc and net the wsgs earn,
srs aiane.
Full Pcwers Not Invoked
ut is said we are progressing legis.
latiyeiy tawafd preventing capitalism
or corporations or managerial Krouut
from domination contrary to common
Welfare. There is no evidence that the
President has invoked all the powars
Of his Office to compel the railroads
to abide by all the decisions Of the
boayd."
Turning to the Presidents requast
tor legislation giving the Federal Rov.
sgnnasnt tho right to punish wrongs *
aliens, Mr., Goppers said it was ref
arence to the Hsrrin massacre.
"No one can regard the Herrin trou
BILE without indignation" he added
yet it has bscn determined oficiail,
that the co,iapany's men fired the iirsi
shots ut innocent men not aven guilt,
OF trespasEing. 1t ie nasty piece oi
business that no one can justify, but
at any, rate, is the Recommendation
really a plan to protect the rights o,
aliens cf ono TO override ths consti
tutaoral rights of laber?'
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