Arizona republican., 1922-06-10
LABOR CHIEF
F[AYS COURT
DECISION N
STRIKE CASE
Organized Labor Centers
Protest Against Supreme
Court, State Legislatures
And u. S. Congress

CINCINNATI, June 9.-Protests of
organized labor as voiced here today
at preliminaries for the annual con-
vention next week of the American
Federation of Labor, centered against
the supreme court, the congress and
state legislatures in general.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
federtion. in addressing a club of
business men, interpreted the su-
preme court decision in the celebrat-
ed Coronado coal case IS a negatIon
of the right to strike, and declared
that organized labor would appeal to
congress for new legislation setting
aside the decision
In criticizing the matter, Gompers
said that he expected to be taken
strictly to account for his utter
ances,i' adding that Il don't run away
from a fight" But it has come to
q pretty pass" he continued, when
an American citizen can no longer
discuss and criticize the decision OF
the courts. Anyone, if he feels so
disposed, can criticize even the
President of the United States or the
United States senate or the congress.
Pray of what flesh are the members
of the supreme court that they are
above criticism beyond that of the
President of the United States?'
Delegates to the meeting of the
metal trades department. of the fed
Grafton, by unanimous action assailed
congress and state legislatures as
enemies of labor, and declared for
labors active participation in the fall
campaigns in an effort to elect its
friends regardless of their politics.
In his speech, Mr.. Gompers said
darfcioI1 f11ada infpr0d-
tional unions endorsing strikes liable
for damages. and he asserted this
meant the unions must withstand
constant litigation or go out oil
business"
IF you compel men and women.
regardless of conditions" he contin-
ued, ito work against their will, you
have re-established slavery. Some
people are impressed now<is the time
to take advantage of the working
people. reduce wages, and break up
their organizations, and under the
open shop weaken or destroy the
unions.''
In this connection. he warned
against driving the bargain too hard,
asserting that a day Of reckoning
will come" and adding that the or
ganized workers are the greatest
stabilizing force" in the country.
Referring to the rail union chiefs. he
said they had prevented strikes,
which, he said, had been desired by
the union members generally and he
concluded with the expression of
hope for the time when employers
and employees would solve their prob
lens at the conference table.
The delegates to the metal trades
meeting, in turning attention to poll
tics. declared by resolution that con-
press had sneered for months at the
representatives of organized labor.
and that most members had been
elected for services rendered high
corporate interests.
President James O'Connell of the
department was instructed to take
the stump in congressional districts
whose representatives were declared
antagonistic to the metal trades and
he also was authorized to participate
actively in state campaigns. the reso-
lutions asserting that what is true
of congress is largely true of most
state legislatures"
The gathering of labor chiefs for
the federation convention also was
marked today by meeting of the
executive board of the International
Ladies Garment Workers union, at
which s150,000 was set aside as a
fund to finance an organizing cam
paign extending to the Pacific coast
middle western cities and Canada.