Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-09-05
G0MPERS URGES
FUNDS FOR RELIEF
Asks Unions to- Aid Shop
Strikers Fami|ies-"Men
Must Care for Selves"
INJUNCTION A CONFESSION
Leader Declares Writ Indicates
Strike About Won-Sees Effort
for Compulsory Labor.
INJUNCTION A CONFESSION

PHILADELPHIA, September b
President Samuel Gompers OF the
American Federation of Labor, In
Labor day address, said that the in
junction issued against the railroad
shopmen last week was a violation
of the Constitution and the laws OF
the land. He characterized the ac-
ton of Attorney General Daugherty
as Exercising power never dreamed
of in the history of the republic"
The veteran labor chief said the
injunction was wrong in principle ana
in fact, and was a confession that the
shopmen have nearly won their
strike. He urged that the unions
furnish money to support the women
and children of the men on strike.
1.-The men,must fight and take care
of themselves" he declared.
CriticIzes Administration.
President Harding and Attorney
General Daugherty were criticised by
MIR. Gompers for the issuance OF the
Injunction, and he asserted that both
had advocated legislation to bring
about compulsory labor" The party
of Lincoln which freed the slaves.
said Mr., Gompers, is now trying to
force compulsory labor on the whites
and blacks.
Mr.. Gompers spoke under the aus
pieces of the Central Labor Union OF
Philadelphia, at Point-Breeze Park.
Says Open Shop Is Dead.
In introducing the labor leader.
John A. Vol, international president
of the Glass Bottle Blowers Union.
said that, according to Washington
dispatches, labor leaders have been
admonished to speak carefully or
"the COLLINS would get them. He
declared that the open shop is deac
despite the efforts of the administra-
ton to rescue it from oblivion.
Telling his hearers that he came
to Philadelphia to deliver a mes
sage of hope and encouragement to
men and women who believe In Tree
dom, justice and democracy, MI
Gompers declared that the present
is the time when organized laoor
must more firmly resolve to stand
for the declaration of independence
and the constitutional guarantees or
the republic. "In view of existing
conditions and circumstances. SAID
the veteran labor leader. now Is the
time that tries mems souls to over
come tyranny and injustice ana 10
maintain the fundamental principles
of America"
Attacks Company Unions.
Mr. Gompers compared the labor
present and asserted that COM
pany union is "a company union dc
tated by the company and not by
workers union"
1--WE are not going to have any
such unions. if We can help it. he
The labor president said that after
the war a drive was made by hostile
forces among the employers to re-
duce wages, but that labor refused
ito consent to bend the knee to any
industrial autocracy."
The drive is also on for the nom
union shop under the cloak of the
open shop. he added, and some men
are so treacherous as to call the open
shop the new American plan for the
purpose of reducing wages and the
standard of living
Taking up the cause of the shop
men, he said the spirit of real America
was exemplified by these workers, and
brought cheers from the rain-soake ed
crowd when he declared that the tide
Of lower wages has stopped and we
are on the road to better day.
He mentioned the fact that there
have been disturbances and that
strikers had been accused. "They are
not interfering with the operation OF
the roads," he declared. Let the rail-
road employers operate them.
Mr.. Gompers asserted that Mr..
Harding, as senator and President.
and Attorney General Daugherty both
advocated legislation that mean com
pulsory labor" Despite the Presi-
dents appeal to Congress on August
IS, he declared, to put teeth in the
railroad labor law, Congress has so
far refused to do so and Mr.. Daugherty
resorted to the injunction. more far
reaching than any legislation. In
doing this Mr.. Gompers asserted that
he was Exercising power never
dreamed of in the history 70 the re-
public"
V0rF ErrNDs FOR sTRIKERs