The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-09-03
Labor Chief
Defies i. S.
Samuel Gompers Renews
Pledge Of Federation's Sup.
port to Railway Strikers
Hopes for Success.
Legal Attack Is Planned

Washington, Sept, 2.-Defiance NJ
the federal governments injunction
against the railroad shopmen's strike
came from the American Federation
Of Labor today, when il telegraphed
renewal OF is fullest possible sup
port 10 the strike leaders in Chicago
aud expressed a wish for the success
OF the struggle.
Samuel Gompefs. president Of the
federation, who Friday announced
tina, the executive council next Sat.
urday would consider the question u
general strike call, in retaliation
against the governments injunction
move. sent the telegram renewing the
pledge OF support TO the enioincd
strikers on behalf OF the federation.
Although Department of Justice
officials here would not discuss Mr.
Gompers' telegram, il was believed
here that the renewal OF the fedora
ton pledge 10 support the strike
might automatically bring Mr.. Com
pers and his associates within the
scope oil the injunction, which spe.
cihcally cnjoins anyone from aiding
In the obstruction Of railway opera
ton. Actual support OF the strike.
II is contended, could be construed
as violating the terms oi the injune-
tion.
Text Of Telegram.
Mr.. GomperS' telegram, addressed
to b. NJ. Jewell, president OF the
railway employees department, Amer
ican Federation OF Labor, was as
follows:
AT the meeting OF the labor legis-
latiye representatives July Il, a reso-
luton was adopted conveying to you
and through you, 10 the striking rail-
way shopmen, the pledge OF our SYM
pathy and support to the fullest ex.
tent within our power. At the
meeting OF the same conference thi,
evening, il was decided to ratify
and emphasize the declaration made
July Il, and pledge anew our SYM
pathy and support and iho iest wish
es Tor the success o iriking
railroad shopmen in nment
OF their cause"
The telegram was signed by Mr..
Gompers as Chairman, conference
lsbor legislative Representatives"
First Gun in Fight.
The dispatch OF this message was
regarded here as signalling the first
formal act OF the American Fedora.
ton of Labor in pursuance Of a poll
cy OF resistance TO the injunction.
Within a few days plans probably
will be announced for legal attack
upon the injunction. The federation
is considering the legal course it will
pursue in an effort to have the in
junction set aside when the hearing
is held September II, on the mo-
ton to make the temporary restrain.
ing order permanent.
Primarily the labor leaders will
maintain that the Injunction is in
direct violation OF the Clayton anti.
trust act, which holds that there can
be no enjoining OF peaceful picketing
The Chicago injunction even goes So
tar as TO cnjoin "oral persuasion" to
induce railroad workers to leave their
tasks, This drastic provision OF the
injunction is regarded here as fore.
ing the issue directly between organ.
the question OF peaceful picketing ano
it is believed it will precipitate
most stupendous legal struggle.
Labor Leaders Aroused.
That portion OF Attorney Gen.
eral Daugherty's address to the court
in which he says he will use all the
force OF the gomernment at his com.
mand to prevent the overthrow oil
the open shop has also aroused
the labor leaders, who declare til,
government, in this, is playing di.
rcctly into the hands OF organized
capitalists and employers who are
with having conspired, ever
since the armistice, to accomplish the
overthrow OF trade unionism in the
United States.
The filing OF the Injunction pet.
ton was the presidents first proof
that he meant what he said in his
to congress that the govern
ment by law must be upheld. Friday
the president made i, plain that the
government would not stop at the
Injunction il further steps are neces-
Sary to keep trains in operation. Al
though he did not specify wha, the
next step would be. it is generally
that the president. ii re-
CURED TO, will call upon the army to
enforce the Injunction, il the courts
cannot do H.