The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-09-02
Injunction
Stirs Ire
of Unions
Organized Labor Threatens
General Strike in Retalia.
ton for Action Against
Railway Shopmen.
Compers Denounces Act
By GRAFTON S. WILCOX.
Omaha lie. Leased Wire.

organized labor threatens a general
strike IN retaliation against the gov
ernment for its course IN obtaining a
temporary injunction at Chicago
against the striking railroad shop
men and their union officials.
With President Harding acknowl-
edging that the injunction is the
most sweeping ever obtained in this
country and expressing a determine
ton not 10 stop at this, IL further
steps are necessary 10 maintain rail-
road transportation, the American
Federation OF Labor was aroused to
the point OF seeing red" and will
consider the advisability OF general
strike call.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation OF Labor, de-
nounced the governments course.
He declared the injunction to be in
violation OF the law and announced
that the federation executive council
would meet inNWashington Saturday,
September 9, TO consider the question
OF general strike.
Prepared for Consequences.
The conference OF American labor
leaders will be held just two days
before the day set by the federal
court in Chicago for hearing on the
governments motion TO make the
temporary restraining order against
the shopmen permanent.
The president, il was declared in
an authoritative quarter, is prepared
10 meet any consequences, political
or economic, that may come from the
governments action. The govern
ment is determined to keep the trains
moving. II believes that the injunc-
tion is fully justified. The govern
Inent, il was declared, has done all
that it could to bring the strike to an
end. Mediation having proved futile
and negotiations frditless, the gov
ernment will now proceed to fulfill
its full duty in protecting the rights
of the public and preventing break
down Of transportation.
Says Injunction Outrage"
The American Federation of Labor
president was so aroused by the gov
ernment's move that he summoned
the press to his Office TO make a
declaration bristling with defiance
and denunciation OF the order issued
by Federal Judge Wilkerson in re-
sponse to Attorney General Daugh-
erty's petition.
Mr.. Gompers called the injunction
most outrageous" He broadly in
timated labor leaders would ignore
its provisions, which he declared
constituted fagrant violation OF the
labor sections of the Clayton anti
trust law.
Never in his long career at the
head of the American Federation of
Labor, Mr.. Gompers said, has he
found such widespread demand for
a general strike. He stated that ne
had received no less than 200 letters
and kilograms urging a nationwide
walkout OF union labor.
Up to Various Units.
The demands were so powerful, he
stated, that he felt it his duty to lay
the situation before the executive
council. He pointed out, however,
that neither he nor the executive
council had any authority to call
general strike. Such action would
have 10 be endorsed by the various
units that make. up the American
Federation OF Labor. The powers OF
the executive council are limited TO
recommendations in this respect, but
their recommendation usually carry
great weight in shaping the strike
policies OF the various component
parts OF the federation.
The formal meeting OF the eSeeu-
tive council for September was not
specially called to deal with the pres
ent situation, Mr. Gompers explained
The date Was fixed several months
ago. Because that date is so close
at hand, i, will be possible to bring
the injunction and the calling OF
general strike before the council Just
ahou, as promptly as would have
been possible u special meeting had
been called.
Injunction "Bombshell.'
The action oi the government in
Chicago ieli like a bomb into the
headquarters oi the various big na-
tianai and International labor unlons'
". II. Johnston. president OF the In
tsfna,ionAl Association ol Maehlu-
4si,. Was the iirsl to speak lie DE-
slafed ,ha, The laiHHelian would have
20 effect upon the continuance oi
The stf,ke and prstisisd traffic 90
many railroads would collapse within
the nest a days,
Mr O0mpsgs anaQuaeed shsf the
Amfricaa tsasfai,on Of Labor Nonld
ftsfs ~ rsxs f~~, tuis~a o=sA
Wage Increase Announced