The Washington times., 1922-07-22
TOF|GHT
BOARD system,
Says GOMPERS
Demands End Of compuIsion.
Blaming Railroad Board
For Present Strike. =

"Ws give until it hurts ,ohen
oar interest and good wu are s,t5Q
listed; zoe fight ttntl death under
attack by force" Darns Samuel
Gompers, giving notice that
oyganixed labor ,oiu not stand for
nsu legislation by Congress
creating additional Government
agencies to deal With labor dis
ptites.
"No more labor courts" 10
Labor's asD battle cry sounded by
the vsteran head of the American
Federation Of Labor In tho follow
ING statement toritten expressly
for the Cosnsopolitdn Nsws Service.
BY SAMUEL GOMPERs,
President Of the American Federation
Copyright. 1922. by. Cosmopolitan News
Sefyice.)
Those who understand the
issues involved in the present
, railroad and coal strikes will not
propose legislation for the crea-
tion Of additional Governmental
agencies for dealing with indus
trial disputes.
The futility of the Railway
Labor Board and of that method
Of dealing with Industrial dis
putes must be apparent to every
thoughtful person.
Board Wrong In Principle.
The Railroad Labor Board was in
tended to be a body having power to
investigate and to make recon-
menda lions; that Is, TO issue findings
or awards which II was hoped would
be acceptable. OF course this peace
full dream could not come true, be-
cause wrong principles were applied.
In the first place, the board Ue-
came a court where both sides went
with maximum proposals. 1t became
q place for litigation. Concession
was impossible. as II is impossible In
a court. Each side goes into court
to beat the other side. II is the op-
posite Of conference, negotiation,
conciiiation, and agreement.
The labor board is the reason for
the strike of railroad shopmen.
am aware that there has been
talk Of new legislation, but l know
that no members Of Congress who
have an understanding Of the needs
Of our time will propose such legisla-
ton. Those who have political ambi-
| tons and political interests to serve
may seek such legislation. No
| others are likely to.
Courts, such an the Railroad Labor
Board and the Kansas Court Of
Industrial Relations, cannot be sue
cessful. Without compulsion they,
can get nowhere, and with compul.
sion they can get nowhere.
II In still q fact that men cannot
be compelled to labor In the United
States except as a punishment for
crime whereof the accused have been
duly convicted.
We still have our Constitution and
| the freedom which II guarantees.
We still have the bill Of rights. We
still have the Thirteenth Amend
ment.
More than this, we still have the
spirit Of freedom.
In the case Of the coal strike, the
men were compelled to stop work
because Of the conduct Of the coal
mine owners, who arrogantly and
automatically refused to comply
| with the terms Of their agreement.
| No such institution as the Railroad
Labor Board would have the slightest
effect. II would but add the same
confusion which 1t has added in the
railroad case.
Voluntary Action Solution.
| Voluntary coming together is the
one road to Industrial peace and
prosperity. Voluntary action is the
: keystone OF success In America. We
do not yield easily to force in this
country. We never have and never
will.
We give until 1t hurts when our
interest and our good will are en-.
listed. We fight until death und9
attack by force
No! No more labor courts. No
more compulsion. Let us hope that
Legislators will forget these un!'
workable, foreign conceptions. They
| are OF a piece with state socialism.
They mean bureaucracy with its
burdens and inevitable injustices.
Industry must solve the problems
OF industry. Politics is not the
place.
Our belief IL firmly fixed and it
Ia founded upon eternal truths.