The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-09-02
Federation OF
LABORURGED TO
ORDER WALKOUT
National Convention viii Be
Required for Action Now
Being Proposed.

CHICAGO, Sept. 2.-under re.
strictions placed upon them by the
United States government by means
OF tho most drastic and far reaching
temporary injunction ever issued
In an industrial crisis, the 100000
railway shopmen, who walked on,
July l In protest against wages and
working conditions prescribed by
the Railroad Labor Board, today
had entered a new era of the ma
tion.wide rail strike. The restrain
ing order obtained from Federal
Judge James H. Wilkerson by At,
torney General Daugherty prohibits
interference in any manner with
any and alt phases Of railroad op
erations. Printed and oral propa,
ganda were placed under the ban
and the injunctions directed against
all persons connected in an official
capacity with the rail department
of the American Federation OF
Labor and federated shop crafts
md system declarations.
The life of the temporary injunc.
ton extends to September II, when
Judge Wilkerson will hear a mot.
ion for a permanent order.
Meanwhile the executive council
OF the American Federation OF "a,
Dor prepared to meet September 8.
Samuel Gompers, president Of the
American. Federation OF Labor, who
branded the Injunction as outrage.
Gus, said that communications from
labor organizations requesting the
federation to sponsor a general
strike in sympathy with the shop,
men were received.
Officials OF the federation ex.
planned that it was not within the
authority Of the council to order
or TO even authorize a general
strike. Such action, they said,
would require a national conyen.
ton.
AT the same time officials of the
SHOP crafts asserted that the or.
der would have no effect on con.
tinuance Of the strike. In a state
ment issued by the executive coun.
ell OF the railway employees de-
partment Of the American Fedora.
ton Of Labor strike leaders pledg.
ed to aid by their every power
enforcement Of the Injunction
against 'lawlessness and violence
in connection with the strike. From
the White House came the declara-
ton that the federal government
will not stop with the restraining
order II It finds THAT other steps
are necessary"
In their statement the council
assumed that the right Of railway
employees is acknowledged to con.
tinue lawful strike in a lawful
manner until a satisfactory settle.
ment is made.
"At least until advised that thu
Constitution Of the United States
and the decisions OF the Supreme
Court are no longer to be relied
upon as the law Of the land" the
statement continued, "the officials
of the organization Of railway EN-.
ployes are to perform their legi.
innate duties to their members, to
aid them in the lawful pursuit. OF
their lawful purpose and to do all
in their power, in conjunction with
officials OF the government, to re-
strain and to punish every unlaw.
full act OF those who are rightfully
involved or who without right in.
VOWED themselves in the operation
Of the roads,"
The statement declared that It
could not be assumed that the At
torney General would await two
months to proceed against the
strikers II peaceful conduct Of
the strike was unlawful or that
President Harding would have held
conferences with law breakers
and proposed that the law break.
ers whom they represented should
return to work under terms which
they afterwards accept and which
the railway executives rejected"