New-York tribune., 1922-02-08
Bill 10 Prohibit Strikes
Means Fight With Labor

The introduction in the Legislature
Of the industrial relations bill. provid
ing for court action in industrial dis
putes similar to that in operation in
Kansas. means the beginning Of fight
between capital and organized labor in
this state which will be watched with
great interest by employers and union
leaders throughout the country.
Many union leaders regard the con-
test rs the first battle in q great ma
tiona legislative war for which botn
sides have been making extensive prep
arations for many months This cen
ters in proposals and measures for and
against industrial courts. the incor-
roration of unions. the use Of injunc-
tioNs in strikes and the open shop.
Organized labor both III New York
City and throughout the state is united
in opposing the bill, and its leading
spokesmcn repeatedly have announced
that they will do all in their power to
bring about the measures defeat. The
union opposition has been concentrated
in the hands of the legislative commit
tee Of the New York State Federation
of Labor, which also is acting in con-
rection with other bills affecting labor
which are expected to be brought be-
lOAc tHc Lex SID uIc.
Labor Objections Numerous
Objections on the part of the unions
to the bills plan are numerous, but
they all center in one chief contention
That it would deprive the workers Of
their right to strike. Compulsory ar
bitration. say the union leaders, can
mean only ono thing, compulsory labor,
and they declare that this is in viola
ton Of the fundamental rights guar
anteed all American citizens by the
Constitution. They have embodied
these objections in slogan, "No
slavery for the workers Of the United
States"
That the American Federation of La
Dor and other national union organiza-
toms viii support the New York labor
leaders in the fight is certain Speak
ing recently before the annual meeting
oi the National Civic Federation, Sam
uel Gompe1s, president of the Amcri-
can Federatio of Labor. said:
We may manage to go along for
years under a system where compul-
sorry labor may be enforced, but in So
doing there will shoulder in the hearts
and minds of the men Of labor the fac,
and hope that some day they will be
free.
Compulsory labor. wages and con
ditions, fixed by a government agencv
as the means by which labor shall be
employed, is not a new ideal. It would
be a retrogression to balbarism. We
might as well cndeavor to stiAc the
yearning and the aspirations for bet
ter life, for better conditions in anv
walk of life, as to talk about abolish
ing Strikes
Says Kansas Act Failed
In an address before members of the
Lions Club (Midtown7 Hugh Fravnc
chief representative Of the American
federation OF Labor in New York, de-
clared that the Kansas Industrial
Court had proved complete failure
Kansas has learned, he said, that "you
cannot make the wheels of industry
turn by putting men in jail."
When told Of the introduction Of the
bill William F. Kehoc. secretary OF the
Central Trades and Labor Council, is
sued the following statements:
"Organized labor throughout the
state has completed all Arrangements
to make the fight Of its lie against an
industrial court law. The entire body
Of 1880, coo trades unionists Of this
state has instructed its official repre-
sentatives to fight the proposal to q
finish. We recognize the menace it
contains and will not rest until it is
defeated for all time
pproximate 1900 leaders of or