New-York tribune., 1922-01-06
Labor to Fight
Hard Bargains,
Conpers W. arms
Declares War on industrial
Autocracy, and Slavery
for White Workers. He
Sees in Employers Plans
State Campaign Outlined
Calls for Defiance Of Court
TO Settle Disputes, Saying
Men Would Not Obey II

down the gauntlet to employers ycstcr-
day in tho approaching coming grips
in Legislative and other conflicts that
he lorcsccs.
'It Will not be good for yvu,' he
warned, speaking both Of employers
and of governmental hackers Of legis
lation opposed by organized labor, "to
try to drive your bargain too hard.
Picturing employers as attempting TO
establish an industrial autocracy" in
the United States "and cndcavoring to
cnslavc the white workers of this coun-
try as those Of the colorcd race once
lived in slavery" he urged the mem
bcrs Of the American labor movement
"to stand more grimly united and dc
tcrmincd in the fight for liberty and
justice than ever before. lest you have
to 20 through an era Of reaction that It
may take decades to overcome.
Against Industrial Courts
on one chief point of his attack the
proposal to establish industrial courts
similar to the one operating in Kansas
II he took direct issue With President
Harding. because Of the lattcr's advo-
cacv of such tribunals in has address to
Congress.
These declarations were made before
5000 cheering striking members Of
the international Ladies Garment
Workers. Union meeting in Thoma-
shcfsky's Theatcr. In addition, Mr..
Gompcrs made even stronger state
mcnts in a formal typewriter state
mcnt issued last night, in which, on
behalf Of organized labor, he declared
for fiat defiance Of the industrial court
plan wherever it may be enacted.
at will not work. reads this part
Of the statement, "bccausc organized
labor will not obey it. 1t is impos-
sblc to prevent workers by law from
ccasng work when cessation OF work
is the one means by which conditions
Of life and labor can be improved and
industrial Justice secured. The as
women cannot be curbcd by law. and is
they could be so curbcd our civiliza-
ton would soon begin rapid decline
and decay"
In this stand Mr.. Gompcrs was
backed By the Central Trades and
Labor Council which adopted resolu
tions condomnlrg "thc proposals for
compulsory incorporation OF trades
unions and for the use OF so-called
court of industrial relations. on the
ground chat such legislation would be
hostile to the interests of the masses
and contrary to the traditions and
prir ciplcs established by the Consti
tuition Of the United States"
This action was taken after con-
/ ference held by Mir. Gompers with the
councils executive committee, at which
plans were laid for combating both
! these measures and other legislation
/ The conference was Mr.. Compress
chief reason for coming to New York.
IN referring to the garment strike in
! his theatcr speech, he termed the
employers action in abrogating the
( agreement as "thc most gross breach
OF contract in human history aud
save the strikers assurances that the
American Federation of Labor will do
everything in its power to achieve a
triumph for YOU
You will come out of this struggle" :"
he said with flags and banners fly
ing. and Haunted in the faces of your
enemies not only by you but also by
/ ali those who aspire to help along the
progress Of the human race"
He began his speech as follows:
The people have been told time and
again that employers would enter into
agreements with their workers pro-
vided the latter would carry them out
After observations of many years. | say
that there has been far less Violation
of contracts on the part of organized
labor than there has been on the part
Of the employers. With them. contract
breaking has become a set policy to a
large extent
Fears Sweat shop Reviva!
lou see this now as victims OF the
most gross breach of contract in hu-
man history, done by employers who
would return you to the old sweatshop
and bedroom manufacture Of clothing,
which was abolished through your ef-
forts ten years ago after years OF
struggle. in which you sacrificed every
thing you had but nonor and right
There are two ways for struggle
for justice to succeed, one when YOU
arc financially able to support it and
the other when the people become so
depressed BY financial distress and
hunger that the poverty Of the masses;
becomes the greatest weapon with
which to CONQUER autocracy.
My word to all whom it may con-
Germ, whether it be the government OF
th.s or other states or the employers
IN this or other industries. is that it
wiil not be good for YOU to try to drive
your bargain too hard. Employers must
understand that our people win no
longer tolerate the exercise of auto
cratic powers over our to!ing masses
that they once held.
Nothing which | can forcsec now
would be great Il calamity as the de-
feat OF the cloakmakers in this strike.
But have am abiding faith that you
will come out OF this struggle with
flags and bannerss flying, and Haunted
in the faces of your enemies"
Calls Court Plan Slavery
Referring to President Harling's
advocacy Of industrial courts he de-
clared they had proved complete fail
ures in Kansas. New Zealand ard else
where. ln Bleeding Kansas" he
said, there are now $4,000 men on
strike, more than at any previous time
in its history.
I'VE don't want to 20 through any
such situation in New York" lie con-
tinued. 81 don't mind going to jail in
a lust cause. but | don't want anv one
to go. including myself. because of a
foolish and unreasoning lack of fore
sight.
1--WE would be towards to leave this
fight 10 Our children'