Norwich bulletin., 1922-09-27


 mediation Is a policy favored by the unions themselves
 Tn the packing house strike the court issued no decision at all, retiring from the field completely after an ineffective and totally disregarded initial gesture Furthermore 8 strike is not a conspiracy to close the factory If the workers find it impossible to accept proposals made by the employer they cease to work. Labor asserts that in thus ceas- ing to work the workers are exercising lawful. constitutional, and moral right. Labor also maintains that the right to quit work must be retained inviolate if freedom is to be preserved. The essential difference between free men and slaves is that free men may quit work and may move ,om place to place in accordance with IF oEn will and regardless of either e wishes of the employer or the state. No matter with what fine phrase ology the Kansas idea. may be cIoaked, condition of involuntary servitude, con dition wherein men may not of their free will leave their work and go elsewhere, To certain alleged industrial malad- 1 justments to which Gov. Allen refers in connection with restriction of output and the Iatter's statement that 'it was necessary to do away with the pernicious f works least, MT. Gompers replies as fol- I lows:
 Upon the signing of the Armistice re- actionary employers generally resolved upon a course of conduct calculated to I reduce wages and to deteriorate the con ditions of labor. Labor proclaimed that it would resist these. efforts to the utmost | The standards which had been establish ] ed were standards which approached I justice and equity. and labor was re- l-solyeds to maintain those standards. to the attempts of these reactionary em- ployers. The American trade-union movement has never either tolerated or practiced restriction Of output There may be isolated cases in which small groups have resorted to practices which no one could approve. but these instances are so few as to be unworthy of con sideration.
 Tt is argued that there Is public necessity which is paramount to the righ' of the workers to cease work Much Is made of the alleged necessity No one
 will contend that an avoidahle stoppagt of work is desirable, but America car never afford to contend that the restora tfon of slave labor or involunt ary ser
 vitude in any. form. Is desirable Tfer,
 is no such thing as a detached and sun interested general public. Our whol,
 population is divided as employers ant
 employed. There is none with norma
 faculties who is not numbered eithe
 among the employed or the employers
 Every one must be interested either il
 the securing of justice OF in the. irnposi
 ton of injustice. Voluntary arbitration
 agreed upon by both parties to labo
 dispute Is always a principle to be sup ported. There is nothing in common be .tween. this and arbitrary decrees by government tribunal having power c
 conpulsion which carries with it enforce ! labor. The fact that the state trl , hunal puts an end to conciliation an makes both employers and workers litig ants, each contending for maximum . each fearing to approach the other in \ spirit of conciliation, each in constant pre- paration for a suit instead of in the de i, velopment of mutual trust and respect
 In the current number of The. Rotal s ian is also an expression from ". l Huggins, presiding Judge of the Kansa t Court and author of the industrial law.
 Judge Huggins says: T am firm i the faith. that Congress will soon enac f a federal law of similar import to tn : Kansas law creating a tribunal of hig : iudical nature (not an arbitratio . l board) and giving 1t jurisdiction ove .. COlIInSEC0 Ail0 AdC
 believe the commerce clause of tn
 Constitution fs broad enough to cove t both, for fuel under modern conditions ], as necessary to the flow of commerce a . is transportation It should. as the Kar g sas Act does, protect labor from the az e gression of employers by recognizing tn : right of collective bargaining and b s gtiaranteeing a fair wage and moral an t healthful surroundings. It should protee r capital from sabotage in the way of UT fair rules and regulations, the strike, tn