The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-04-17
Declares Recent Decision Made
Practically Annuls the
Clayton Act.
DESCRIBES FARM BLOC
AS A FINANCIAL BLOC
Chambers of Commerce At.
tackled for Alleged Effort
to Destroy Unions.
(sy The Associated Press)

4
NEW HAVEN, Conn, April 16-
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor launch
ed a vigorous attack against the '.in-
terests opposed to organized labor" in
an address at an open forum session OF
the Connecticut Federation of Labor
here today.
Mr.. Gompers scored Chief Justice
Taft when he referred to a recent de-
cision of the United States supreme
court He said the decision practically
annulled the Clayton act. He said the
courts which have been issuing in
functions against striking labor organ
izations are courts of inequity" in
stead of courts of equity He declared
that organized labor is asking for more
and would continue to ask for more.
He recommended that organized labor
strive for modification of the Vol
stead act, instead Of trying to repeal
the 18th amendment. He described
the congressional farm bloc as a III
nancial bloc"
The railroad brotherhoods, which are
not affiliated with the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor had delegates present
who asked about the policy of the
American Federation of Labor relative
to the recently organized non-partisan
party fathered by the railroad 5rother-
hoods. Mr. Gompers answered that
'the American Federation of labor
would follow the policy laid down by
our conventions of electing our friends
and defeating our enemies. land would
have no part in any party campaign.
The chamber of commerce, and es-
pecially the United States chamber
of commerce, were scored by Mr.. Com
pers for an alleged attack upon the
workers of the country in an effort
to destroy organized labor.
On the bonus question, Mr.. Gompers
said that 'the American Federation of
Labor believes that the men who Of
fered their lives, gave up their jobs
to do SO and are now out Of work
should be compensated. TO do so would
put them in funds whereby they could
get new start, business would be re-
yived, an enormous amount of money
put into circulation, and honest bust
ness thus would benefit, while the pub
lie at large would be affected finan-
cially very little if congress passes a
just taxation act"
THE farm bloc in congress-" Mr..
Gompers said, "is not a farm bloc at
all but a financial bloc made up Of
lawyers representing the banking and
-
seeks to dictate to the mud farmers
Referring to the success of labor
in securing the passage of laws regu-
lating the working of women and chill
dren, he declared: 'Organized labor
is going to ask for more and more un-
til it gets sufficient to have the COM
forts of life that the worker is enti-
tied to and the rich man enjoys. Where
wages are good and hours Of toll are
short, honest business is prosperous.
The wage cutting. open shop policies OF
the financial interests are but reacting
against themselves, for to cut the
earning powerof the worker reduces
his power of consumption, and if real
normally is ever to be attained, then
that policy must stop. The safest way
the only way to return to normalcy
is to pay the highest wages industry
will bear. Then the family man will
have the money to spend, the business
man will get it, the country will benefit
and the circle will be completed 10y 1t
coming back into industry"
Organized labor is not going to su-
pinely submit to an industrial autoc-
racy in America" Mr.. Gompers said.
1T must get right down to the ground
in political life, go into the primaries
right away, see that men friendly to
labor are nominated and elected, and
go the limit to defeat those who have
shown their antagonism. There are
now II men in congress who have al
ways proved themselves 100 per cent
/ loyal to the working people of the
land. There should be many times that
number and there will be in congress
| If the organized workers assert them
selves they should and must.
"Organized labor had a large part
| in the election of Woodrow Wilson to
the presidency. During his adminis-
itration many laws beneficial to ev-
eryonewhotoiis were passed. This was
not due to any pull" but solely be-
cause Mr. Wilson had a real insight
into the needs of the people. Labor
asked no privileges, and asks none
now, hut it will not stand for being
driven back to serfdom."