Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-02
Gompers Raps
Anti-Strike Bill
Before N. Y. SolonS

Albany, Mar. 1--Legislators sitting
at Z stormy Hvs hour hearing On the
Dseu- Miller anti-s1rse and conpUl-
sorry ..rbitration Dill today heard
Samuel Gompers describe the meas
ure az a plan TO Institute group
slavery" and z scheme TO confne the
aspirations OF the xorking man for
better life into Legaiistic straight
Jacket Later tEey heard members
Of the New York city board OF trade
and transportation picture the bill as
/ the road TO industrial peace" and
the means Of ~sendiag the strike 70
the junk hear."
! The hearing which took place before
the Joint legislative committees on Ia
Dor and industry was one OF the most
picturesque demonstrations in IegisIa-
tive halls in recent years. Hundreds
Of representatives OF labor oEganiZa-
ton. from all parts OF the state
crowded the chamber &c capacity. All
wore plat ards bearing the word PRO
test" In little group directly in
/ front Of the seats Of the committee
members sat the proponents ot the
measure q half dozen strong.
, Repeated bursts Of applause re-
verbcra+ed through the chamber at
ever derogatory utterance On the bill
Z by Mr. Gompers and other speakers
who presented labqr's arguments
against the bill Cat calls. Kisses. and
( in one instance a shout throw him
I OUT" greeted the arguments Of the
supporters Of the bill
-ir. Gompers who made the first
speech in the attack N the bill quick
Z ~ served notice on the committee Of
!abor's opposition
We are opposed to any Iegisla-
I ton that will bind men 10 their jobs
for one minute" he said.
! Henry d. Sayer. State Industrial
. Commissioner and Mark A Daley.
representating the Association Indus
ties Incorporated, were others who
Joined with the labor delegations in
opposing what they termed the COM
pulsory features Of the measures.
81 can state 10 the committee that
the bill did not originate with the
state Department Of Labor" said
Mr.. Sayer. We are opposed to
compulsory arbitration. ANY at
tempt BY judicial degree to inter-
fere with right of contract will not
be accepted by the people Of this
state in my judgment"
We do believe" ne added. that
Investigations Of Industrial disputes
Will be helpful"
William McCarroll of the New
York city board OF trade and trans
portation asserted that the measure
would be simply submit industrial
disputes 10 adjudication.
During his statement Mr.. Gompers
critlzed modern newspaper methods
and deplored the extent Of space
given to headlines. scandals, muir
serted, news giving labor's side OF
the question, was sighted.
Next reviewing the progress Of
civilization on from the days Of
serfdom in Great Britain down 10
the abolition Of negro slavery, Mr.
Gompcrs styled the measure as a re-
turn to the evils Of three hundred
years ago.
And now he asserted, "the pro-
posers Of this legislation seek to i'm
pose slavery on the white man,
II doubt If this Legislature VIII
! enact any such law. But suppose
sou do, suppose some other legisla-
thre does. Is the threat Of putting
them in Jail going to keep the work
crs from aspiring to better life?
! No" u
i III you make this law, he cor
timed, people will hasc as much
/ contempt for II as they generally
I have row for a law on the federal
statute.