New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-09-08
Idea tDf General
Strike Dropped
By Federation
European Institution, Ne,a
Adapted 20 This Country,
IL View; Plans Campaign
for New Laws Instead
Gompers Assails Harding
Says President Swung Big
Stick on Labor Instead
off, on Rail- Executives
Bv Gilman Parker

ATLANTIC CITY, Sept. - Unless
the national Industrial situation under
goes the most extreme changes during
the next few days the executive council
of the American Federation of Labor
will not recommend that the organized
workers of the country go on a general
strike, even OF the basis of twenty
four-hour protest, it was made plain
here to-day.
The council members, gathered here
for the conferences, which are TO begin
on Friday, decided through preliminary
conferences that the making of such a
recommendation now is out of the
question. and criticized the general
strike az "a European institution, net
to be followed by American workers"
Instead. os was forecast in The
Tribune yesterday, they will rely
largely on public opinion to aid them
in combating governmental action,
considered by them as oppressive, with
the Daugherty injunction as the chief
object Of attack.
In connection with the general labor
criticism directed at the injunction and
Mr.. Daugherty, Samuel Gompers, presi-
dent Of the American Federation of
Labor, tonight issued q formal state
ment, in which he attacked President
Harding as favoring the cause of the
railroads against their striking en-
pIoyees, and Swinging the big stick in
the form of the injunction against the
shopmen, who accepted his own plan
for a settlement.
go, for one hour of normal thinking
l. 80. II. ~ -
ment concluded"
Anti-lnjunction Law Sought
In addition, it was announced that
organized labor will carry it's battles
to Congress. Feeling that the Daugh-
erty injunction has brought the whole
question Of such writs to the front as
never before, the labor chiefs intend to
draft bill for submission to the ma
tionaln Legislature, which, if enacted,
would prohibit the use iii industrial dis
putes of "injunctions abridging or tres
passing upon the rights of the workers
the United States
Further to rouse pubic opinion in the
matter in order to strengthen the con-
gressional campaign for such a meas
ure, the council will recommend that
organized labor shall conduct series
OF demonstrations throughout the coun-
try, it was announced by Matthew Vol,
vice-president of the federation and
one of its most influential officers.
The union heads made clear that they
will not be satisfied with modification
of the Daugherty injunction when the
hearing to make it permanent comes
up, or even with the vacating of the en-
tire writ. The "injunction principle
would remain, they declare, and they
believe the time is now opportune to
wage finish fight over it,
Other Legislation Desired
In addition to seeking the anti-in-
junction law, the executive council will
take action in furtherance of CAM
paign for the adoption Of three consti-
tutional amendments, These are as
follows:
i. An amendment prohibiting the
labor of children under the age Of six
teen in any mine, mill, factory, work
shop or other industrial OR mercantile
establishment, and comforting upon
Congress the power to raise the mini
mum age below which children shall
not be permitted to work, and to en-
force the provisions of the proposed
amendment by appropriate legislation.
2. An amendment prohibition the en-
actment of another law or the making
of any judicial determination which
would deny the right of the workers
of the United States and it's territories
and dependencies to organize for the
betterment of their conditions, to deal
collectively with employers, and col
lec3ively to withhold their labor and
patronage and induce Others to do SO.
j. An amendment providing that if
the Supreme Court of the United States
decides that an act of Congress is un-
constitutional or by Interpretation as
serts a public policy at variance with
the statutory declaration Of Congress,
then if Congress by two thirds ma
jority repasses the law it shall become
the law of the land.
Despotic Powers Charged
These three measures are directed
against was was termed "the despotic
powers now welded by the courts, at
tanned through a gradual usurpation-
a judicial tyranny which has all but,
thrown this country back to medieval
feudalism." Consideration will also be
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