New-York tribune., 1922-09-02

Federal Writ Against the
Striking Crafts Evokes
Swift Move for Retalia-
tion From Labor Chief
Executive Board
To Meet Saturday
Harding Stands ByDaugll-
erty in Plan TO Keep
transportation O Open

|
| From The Trtbune's WASHINGTON Bureau
| WASHINGTON, Sept. Aroused
by the sweeping Federal injunction
issued to-day in Chicago to prevent
striking railroad shopmen from in
terfering with movement of the
trains, Samuel Gompers, president
of the American Federation of La
Dor, announced tonight that the
question of calling a general strike
of all organized labor in the United
States would be considered at a meet
ing here next Saturday of the Fed
eration's executive committee.
This body, the labor leader ex-
planned, has no power to order such
suspension any more than Mr..
Gompers himself has, but if the com.
m1ttee regarded such action as ad-
vlsable it could make strike recon-
mendations to all unions affiliated
with the Federation. Mr.. Gompers
said that more than two hundred pe-
titions from labor locals in all parts
of the country had reached him, ure-
ing general strike in sympathy
with the shopmen, and that in view
OF to-day's developments the ques-
tion would be brought before the ex-
ecutive committee.
Harding Approves Injunction
+ The possibility of general strike is
not now regarded seriously in Wash
lngton in quarters other than labor.
AT the White House it, was made plain
that President Harding was determined
to maintain transportation, that he an
proved the injunction proceedings as the
best means to that end, and that any
other steps necessary to preserve the
supremacy of the government in the
/ industrial crisis would be taken with
| out hesitation.
Whether the calling of a general
strike, or recommendations to that end
by the executive committee of the fed
GRAFTON, would lay the union heads
open to charges of conspiracy against
interstate commerce is a question for
| lawyers to decide.
The general run of comment in
Washington on the injunction proceed
| ings was favorable outside Of labor
| circles. Mr.. Gompers sneeringly
termed it another step back to nor
malcy," Centuries back
The chief criticism from non-union
and non-radical sources was an express
sion of wonder if the move would do
any good. Those who were a little
! skeptical in this direction pointed out
! that the men who committed the acts
against which the injunction is leveled
do so mostly under cover anyhow, and
would probably be no more afraid of
committing contempt of court than Of
perpetrating the outrages, with nothing
to fear but the ordinary processes of
justice.
1 On only one point was there COM
mon agreement between the conflict
ing forces. At the White House it
was said that the court order, while
! speaking for itself, is the most sweep
ing restraining order ever issued.
Harding Jusfifies Step.
Labor leaders agreed that this was
the truth, but bitterly condemned it,
the Administration and MIR. Daugh-
erty for proposing it. 1t is another
/ example of government by injunction.
they asserted and again shows usur-
patton of guaranteed constitutions
| rights by the courts.
In the opinion of President Hard
+, ing, the. railroad situation and the
!! continued tampering with railway op-
eration--which the labor leaders de-
clare Is not caused by their men,
fully justified the drastic step to which
resort has been had. If necessary, it
was pointed out, the government
1 doesn't need to stop at that.
The government is determined to
keep transportation going a spokes-
/ man for Mr.. Harding said.
/ In so far as the injunction infringes
upon the constitutional rights cf
strike leaders, MS. Gompers said, they
wonid ignore it in accordance with res
olutions adopted at American Fedora
/ ton of Labor conventions. Ii merely
/ coiinrms, ne asserted, statement
made by a railroad lobbyist in 1920
/ when he wired his superiors after the
coaferees IN the Railroad Labor Board
/ reached an agreement.
The only difference between the
ant1-strske clause in the Cummins bill
and the one in the conference report
is that in the former the penalty is
| affixed, which has to be tried BY a
jury, while IN the latter an injunction
method viii be followed and the pen-
/ atty fixed and assessed by court and
not a jury in contempt proceedings.
This is better for the railroads, as it
is more effective and because it would
1 be harder TO convict a union man be-
fore a jury"
"Ail thar the Injunction order does
not contain" declared Mr.. Gompers,
is an order to the men TO return to
work. The result of this court order
will be the solidifcation of the men
on strike and increase the support Of
the great public who sympathize with
the men in their just cause. 1t will
! not bring men into the railroad shons. !.
This action, he asserted, is a eonfes~
sion that Che strike Is effective and
j that it will not erumhle, as some re-
/ ports have Indicated. He said II was
Fodd that the government resorfsd Ia
/ tAis method against the strikers. when