Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-22
300 M|L|T|AMEN
Of NORTH CAROLINA
At SPENCER SHOPS
Railway Executives viii Lay
Brotherhoods' Seniority
Compromise Plan Before
Full Meeting Wednesday

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20.-Samue
GompelS, president of the American
Federation of Labor, expressed the
opinion Saturday that President Har
ding had added to the difficulties of
the present industrial situation by
his message of yesterday, and, like
wise, had chosen an unfortunate
time for it's delivery.
The labor chief, in critical dis
cussion of the presidents message,
announced that his organizations
would oppose any legislation carry
ing out the suggestions that the rail-
road labor board be given power to
enforce it's decisions, or to allow the
federal government to punish
crimes against aliens, such as those
alleged to have been committed dur
ing the Herrin, ILL.,, massacre, while
he described the presidents pro-
posals for legislation to control coal
distribution as probably impsacti-
cal.''
Message Unfortunate
''It was unfortunate that the pres
dent should have gone to congress
yesterday" Mr.. Gompers said. "The
coal miners had just effected an
agreement with a part of the
bituminous operators. On the morn
ing before the president spoke, the
representatives of railroad workers
and executives of the railroads were
in conference over the rail strike.
Progress was being made, but they
took a recess over the noon hour.
When the executives came back in
the afternoon, after hearing the
presidents speech, they were in
different mood. The meeting adj
journed."
In declaring that labor would re-
sist legislation to give the railroad
labor board power to enforce it's de-
cisions, Mr.. Gompers expressed
faith that the people would not give
up the principles of guaranteed free
dom, and that congress will not
enact law to deprive working peo-
pie of the right to strike" Such a
measure, he said, would mean slav-
eAerS anal thats.railroad workers would
have to go to work whether they
felt like it or not
SIN not willing to believe the
president had in mind the full con-
sequences of his act" Mr.. Gompers
commented. eff there can be COM
pulsory labor for working people,
will it not allay the probability of
enforcing labor on everyone, wheth-
er wage workers or not?'
No Conspiracy
Mr.. Gompers said that while the
Herrin massacre was "a nasty piece
of business" which t"nobody could
justify" there was mo reason in
i1 to override the constitution and
set aside the rights of states" by
giving the federal government power
to protect aliens. .
Mr.. Gompers also criticised the
presidents statement that the coal
strike had showed the country lat
the mercy of the United Mine
Workers"
eff high finance and big business
can enforce wage reductions that de-
stroy the buying power of the peo-
ple," he said, that will be a greater
menace to the public than any or
ganization of labor. The president
is wron< when he says there was a
conspiracy to stop trains on the
railroads, and conspiracy between
the miners and the rail workers.
Trains were stopped because loco
motives were unfit for service.
Knowing tye heads of the railroad
and miners unions as know them,
I can say he was wrong in convey
ing the impression that they were
conspiring against the government
or the common welfare"
GOVERNOR MORRISON
CALLS OUT GUARDSNIEN
RALEIGH, N. c., Aug. 20.--Troops
ordered to Spencer, East Spen
Ger and Salisbury for strike duty,
Saturday night reached Spencer and
taking up guard duty, according to
official reports received here. There
were no disorders today, the reports
added. When the troop movement
is complete, nine units, including a
hospital detachment, with a person
mel Of 500 men, will be on the scene.
1t was said this is the largest body
of troops ever called out for similar
duty in the state.
The soldiers were ordered to
Spencer, where large shops Of the
Southern railway are located, after
railroad and Rowan county officials
had said that the situation was
menacing as the road attempted to
open the shops.