The Washington times., 1924-06-30
FRAMES
LEG|SLAT I'VE
PROGRAM
Present Laws Too Restrictive,
according TO Statement Of
A. r. OF l. Leaders

= 1NNSA~AAAN~e MAANb1O@NA@
international News Service.
American labor has laid down q
certain definite legislative program
upon which It win base its action
during the Presidential campaign 81
1924, according to the announcement
Of the American Federation Of
Labor.
I'VE need less thou shalt not
in our laws" officials OF the Fed
Grafton declared. I'VE. need more
law that helps get things done and
less law that stops legitimate, con-
structive effort"
Based upon the program adopted
by the executive COMMITTEE Of the
American Federation national non.
partisan political campaign conf
mittee, It was declared that the
American labor movement asks no
favors from the Government.
Self-Help IL Aim.
ut demands. above everything
else, the opportunity for self.help,"
the Federation said. 1T prefers
the direct relationships and con-
facts of industry to the devious, in
direct and frequently deceptive
methods Of politics,
Laws are necessary too the
maintenance iof civilization. But IL
is % important to- have laws that
encourage and permit as II is to
have laws that discourage and pro-
hibit.
TOO generally the thought of
politicians Is toward the making Of
laws that prohibit and restrain.
This is largely because politicians
and lawmakers are outside the
realm of productive achievement
and either do not understand Its
requirements or serve. some special
group or interest that believes 1t.
self best served by special legisla-
tive .favors."
Scores Corruption.
Hitting at the recent disclosures
Of graft and corruption in high Of
flee, the federation declared that 1t
Is essential that there be re.
vival Of the spirit Of honesty, in.
tegrity and high-mindedness in pub
lie office.
Public office is for public serv.
ice, never for private gain or ag.
grandizement," said the. statement.
: 1.-THE last vestigA Of the. spirit of
private gain must disappear from
public life, and labor pledges itself
to the cause Of publication until
the battle Is won forever"
Briefly, the Presidential cam.
paign program Of labor on the
major issues before the country
was outlined as follows:
& Restricted Immigration.
A policy OF strict exclusion is i'm.
perative for many years to come.
It is necessary to be protected
against q constant influx of immi-
grants in order that America may
have the opportunity to develop an
American people with her own psy-
chology, standards, ethical values,
characteristics, and that its own
sense Of unity with American soil
shall be inherent.
Labor will insist upon the adop-
ton of the child labor amendment,
through its ratification by the va
rious States, until 1t 10 finally writ
ten into the Constitution.
Labor approves the adoption Of
adjusted COMPENSATION as matter
of simple justice to the soldiers
who fought in the world war. La
Dor intends to press continuously
in the future for adequate recogni.
ton Of the services rendered to the
cause Of democracy and human
freedom. by the soldiers. sailors and
marines Of the late war.
Protection Of Rights.
Labor demands affirnfatively alb.
sollte recognition Of the right to
organize. to bargain collectively
through a union and through rep
resentatives freely chosen. to work
or to cease work collectively and
collectively to withhold or bestow
patronage. To this end the follow
ing Constitutional amendment Is
proposed:
An amendment prohibiting the
enactment of any law or the max.
ing OF any judicial determination
which would deny the right OF the
workers Of the United States to
organize for the bettefTnent OF their
conditions; to deal collectively with
employers; to collectively withhold
their labor and patronage and in
duce others to do 80.
Labor demands final abolition OF
the power Of the courts to issue
iniunctions in labor disputes under
circumstances where no injunctions
would lie II no labor disputes were
in existence. Rights guaranteed by
the Constitution /. Of the United
States have been set aside at will
in scores Of cases through the use
of the Injunction. Issuance Of in
functions is judicial reputation Of
democracy and the rights Of man,
an assertion Of unsupported, un-
warranted and intolerable judicial
autocracy.
Repeal of the provision of the
Esch. Cummins act providing for the
Railroad Labor Board, termed fail
ure, resulting only in disharmony
and fiestructiveness. Enactment of
a measure which provides a plan
tof voluntary arbitration and con.
citation, measure intended to
suppIant coercion and restriction,
with cooperation and encourage.
ment in the development of better
relations and consequent better rail-
road service for the whole country.
Trusts and Courts.
Labor demands legislation repeal
ing the sherman antitrust law,
which, though intended by Congress
to prevent illegal combination In re.
straint Of trade. has been, through
- ~ A.