The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1922-02-10
COMPULSORY LABOR
Is a Denial of Liberty, De-
clares Secretary Nor
risOn
Says Certain Employers
Want Laws That Would
Establish Group
Slavery

jamestown, N. Y.-"The great
American labor movement must pre-
vent the enactment of laws which will
prohibit a group of individuals from
ceasing work when they SO desire.
The fact that we can cease work as
a group stamps us free men," That
was the declaration of Frank Morri-
son, secretary of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor, at meeting of repre-
sentatives of labor and other citizens
in this city, among them the mayor, a
clergyman and business men. After
ward he spoke at the Eagles temple
free forum, and upon invitation of
the pastor of one of the leading
churches of the city addressed large
congregation in the edifice. There
was time" said Secretary Morri-
son, addressing the citizens meeting,
when | thought that if organized
labor ever Rad a million members it
would have accomplished great
achievement, but in my 25 years of
service ! have seen it grow from
240, 900 TO more than four millions.
No other organization has done more
to bring about good will among man.
kind than the labor union"
Asking those who are not members
of labor organizations to Judge the
labor movement by its ideals, by its
achievements for the good of human
ity and by the facts, the federation
secretary declared:
There is at present going on one
OF the greatest conspiracies that ever
existed Starting before the armis-
tice, it has for its purpose the cleo
ton of congressman and legislators
TO enact laws to impede the progress
Of the labor movement. The Declara-
tion of independence says that we are
all born free and equal, with certain
inalenable. rights-life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness. All are en-
titled to liberty, workers as well as
fnanciers and lawyers.
What certain employers want is
| legal machinery to prohibit US from
ceasing work; to establish group slav-
cry by compulsory labor. They have
already started to do it with indus
trial court laws, injunctions, incorpor-
alton laws and compulsory arbitration.
Group slavery is not new 1t was
tried four thousand years ago in
China. AS a trade union we are op-
posed to any law which prohibits an
individual or group of workers from
ceasing work The American FEEDER
alton Of Labor is opposed to compul-
sion of any kind which limits human
freedom"
Reciting the history of compulsory
arbitration in Australia, New Zealand
and Canada, showing that these laws
had no effect in preventing strikes
because the strikes resulted from
efforts of employers to break the spirit
VI CiiN WI NStS Hy Cilttt CiiiS Neiil u
strike" laws, the speaker declared:
eve are having crisis in this
country which we must meet We are
going to meet it and we are going
to march forward step by step. The
result of the movement to destroy
labor unions has been to increase
their membership. The labor move
ment wants to see the time when the
highest ideals of man will be prac-
ticed by our government and by the
workers of our country; the labor
movement wants to see the time when
all the boys and girls in this nation
will have an equal opportunity for
an education and training to enable
them to do their share of the worlds
work"