The Washington times., 1922-08-04
SAYS
MOVE IS ON To
| OUTLAW LABOR
Declares Rejection Of Harding
Peace Terms Reflects
Collision.
BY WARREN w. WHEATON.
En..-n.tioo.I Nsws Sarvice

Rejection by rail executives and
coal operators of peace overtures in
the increasingly menacing twin
strikes indicates collusion Of effort
to give the death thrust to organized
labor, Samuel Gompers, president OF
the American Federation Of Labor, in
directly charged today.
In a vitriolic attack, the union
leader averred the rail and coal heads
are defying the Government and by
corruption, brutality, and unlawful
methods are attempting to break
down the spirit and morale Of the
strikers.
Predicts Firm Front.
He predicted there would be no
wavering among the strikers and
warned the public of further incon.
Venience."
Gompers delivered a scathing
broadside against the railroad chiefs
and the mine operators. Hescharged
them with attempting to destroy the
Government and set up In its stead
q "rule of kaiserism and junkerism."
"They assume they are greater
than the Government. II big bust
ness thinks 1t can deny the right Of
the working class to protest against
this condition II Is mistaken. There
were 100000 working men in the
army and they were fighting for
freedom and against Kaiserism and
they are not likely to take for
granted that they have to live
under Kaiserism or Junkerism in
the United States. American labor
will not live under those conditions" I"
Gompers notified the public that
Governmental coercion. appeal or
force, will avail nothing in strike
settlement attempts.
"It must be increasingly apparent
to the people of this country that
under no conditions can coal be
mined until the union miners have
gone back to work and 1t must be
also apparent that the rail shop
mems strike will end only when the
unions demands are met"
Says Labor Disregarded.
Railroad managers and coal mine
owners, in rejecting terms of set
tlement are manifesting more than
ever their disregard for the workers,
their disregard for justice and for
the welfare of the people. 1t was
said of the Bourbons of old that
they never forgot anything and
never learned anything. l am not
sure that the employers in these
two industries forget nothing; but
It becomes clearer each day that
they learn either slowly or not at
all. They seem utterly unaware Of
the potentiality of the forces with
which they deal so casually.
II have said that the employers in
these industries are following a pol.
Icy laid down by the powerful finan.
, cial overlords of Wall Street. The
similarity Of policy and the peculiar
synchronization of tactics Is suffi-
cient to indicate that there is at
least a perfect sympathy. II not
more organized accord, between
those who dominate these two vital
Industries"
The truth Of the situation, accord
ing to Gompers, is that the speculat-
ing and money-lending interests ars
dominating the policies of the rail-
roads and mines and making their
operation impossible"
Under the circumstances, there ls
nothing that the workers can do but
await a more reasonable frame of
mind on the part of those who con-
troll the management policies. The
country will be further inconven.
fenced by this, but the workers them
selves are the chief sufferers. Their
courage and fortitude are a splendid
example Of American devotion to
justice and TO principle, and these in
the long run must prevail"