The Washington times., 1922-09-03
STRIKE LEADERS DEFY DAUGEERTY ON RAILROAD INUNCTI

advanced by labor leaders In re-
taliation for the Daugherty injunc-
tion.
The talk of q general strike Of
all labor unions affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor ap-
parentiy did not Jar Government
officials to any appreciable extent.
President Harding. It was said
by his advisers, carefully considered
beforehand the fun effects Of the
far-reaching court action In Chi
cago and is determined to go
through with It" to the end that
transportation shall be maintained
and disorder suppressed.
No General Strike Likely.
The War Department has a COM
piete set of plans pigeon-holed that
are calculated to meet any situa.
ton that may arise.
The belief strongly prevailed In
washington's last night that there
will be no general strike. This opinion
was shared almost universally by
Government officials and by not a
few labor officials.
Samuel Gompers. president of the
American Federation of Labor. re-
fused to talk about 1t other than to
reiterate that the executive council
of the Federation would meet in the
Capital Saturday and would consider
the scores Of requests that have
come into A. r. of Il. headquarters
urging such action. "
- Ready To Contest.
Gompers contented himself with
asserting that the unprecedented in
junction could not be enforced and
that It would be fought to the limit
by organized labor.
American workers" he said will
not permit destruction of their free.
dom. They. are determined that the
principles upon which this Republic
was fouhded shall endure, law-break.
ing judges, greedy financial powers.
grasping reactionary corporations
and paid propagandists to the con-
trary Notwithstanding"
While \the opinion prevailed In
Washington that there would not
be a general strike, 1t was never
theiess apparent that the Chicago
injunction proceedings have aroused
and inflamed organized labor to a
pitch seldom witnessed before. This
was reflected yesterday by the
messages that came into A. F. Of
l.. headquarters. The tone OF
these messages was that this is
Labor's supreme test and that 1t
cannot afford to suffer defeat.
BrotherhoOds May Join.
What the more reflective leaders
in the labor movement predicted
would happen, however, was not a
general strike, but a strike of other
employees of the railroads in SYM
pathy with the shopcraft unions.
The four Brotherhoods Of Engine
men and Trainmen would not be al
fected at the outset, 1t was said. but
ultimately they would be forced to
quit by the lack. of other working
personnel, the switchmen, mainten.
ance Of way men, telegraphers and
others.
Some labor leaders also professed
to believe that the Chicago injunc-
ton may supply the incentive for the
brotherhoods to abandon their tradi-
tional policy of not going out on
sympathetic strikes, but those who
inclined to this belief were notably
in the minority.
The expectation prevailed last
niRht that the big test" Of the
Governments drastic move will
come this week IL and when at
tempts are made to enforce literally
the provisions of the restraining
order against peaceful picketing,
strike assemblages, and other
activities which the unions contend
are constitutionally legal.
Trouble Threatened.
It was predicted in labor quarters
that II attempts are made to enforce
literally these provisions trouble
will ensue.
Orders went out from Washington
Yesterday to District attorneys al
over the country to report viola
tions to the Department Of Justice,
and to Judge Wilkerson's court In
Chicago. Further than that no
steps were taken yesterday to bring
the Injunction actively into opera
ton. Washington strikers continued
to picket the shops here In the
shadow of the Capitol, unmolested
by either the municipal police or the
Federal authorities.
Congress Is Silent.
The evident desire on the part Of
labor officials as well as Govern.
ment officials to refrain from public
comment on the situation was re-
Elected in the Senate and House,
where there was almost total lack
of public expression concerning the
Chicago injunction.
Privately, the Governments action
was both praised and condemned by
Senators, depending upon their Views
on the industrial question.
About all the injunction ,eaves
the men," said Senator Tom Watson
Dem.) of Georgia, 'is the right to
eat II they can find something to cnt,
and the right to breathe IL they can
find air to fill their lungs. The In.
junction Is revolutionary; 1t invites