North Carolina Newspapers

. - .w. . ft , - " , r . . - - y "V Official Organ , of Iiaieih Endorsed by North qarolina State Federation of -Labor and Wake Connty Parmer .Union Central abdr Union and Allied; It s Unions Devoted to the) Upbuilding of the Trade Vhioh Movemehi j VOL : ill; t RALEIGH , NV fc., TIf URSDAY; OCTOBER 9, NOI27 2- . . .: ! . : . v v i '.:.-'.. 4: . - V - i y i " . - i ' : j - v -: , ..v -, - . - . . , v.y '' ' - v . .. . ' ... " . s. - ...... r . '.'.,... t. , v. GETTIKG BACK TO FACTS IN HIE BIG STEEL STRIIE American Public , Policy , as 5 ITow; , of ' Organized; Labor.. V: By. Chester M.Wright. ' - Judge Gary,' chairman of : the ?Ei- aance Committee ot the Steel TjrusM 1 i Ik. "'.i.ii- ''i s-; & ?.. says,,concerniu5 vue striae;, I believe our, cdfporatibn is under." great obligation to the gen-. eral public concerning theiissues in volved in the' present strike. -rj . 1 He also saidt ; : ; ; ; y ; . . I will ay for myself, that questions o moral principle, cannot ho t rhi trated nor comoromised. " and in my opinions suefhqjetionsj are". in-'i eluded m ? the?; present unfortunate struggle." ' ; . ; . 4 And he added: .'?: - "I willlonly say that you 'Tkfiowil vrhat the" questions., involved aeahJ You know full well that if the strike succeeded, it , mi?ht, and , -probably wouldr be the, beginnings. or- an up heaval whfch;Baight'.brag tipoa all of us very "gnrave and j : serious -"bonse-qaences.V - ..;T r . -. , y; That was qhite . a v.o ior i Juig Gary to say; -'It was quite1 a lot.5 of words; also iuite "a lot" of. . what Ms palled sophistry. - Bluntly, : it was quite a lot of bunk! . . "Uiider great obligations to . the rpnpral D(blic' ".There Iii a RE AI v jQBLIQ ATI 01 to f th general nnblio-ear.''oldU:Oeheral:-,!P.ublic, which seemasoften to l)Va general whose orders i are not: obeyed!' v But that REAL. OBLIGATION to the vub lie seema to ; meanjinothink vfojth'e steel trusts" V The rear obligation is not what the judge has Jninind- rWnat he means to say is .that i ihe : steel trust owes it to the 'publia to fight trade J union ism. ?He -wants to' convey "the idea that , the eteel trust is under some kind , of vn sacred obligation tp mainT tain a state of disorganization among working people. ; There is no record, that the Amerir can people have . ever Instructed the steel Crust to-fight.'the ffdrt of -the workers to unite and fofm unionis.- There is no record of ; any4ledge aked of the steel trust to jef use to deal with organizations of workers.V . -.And. -there xneief wa-"r.anx.y6uch, pledge asked,' of jcourse. , " f " '' And if thb generaL public ever did ask the steel corporation to pledge itself to a certain line of conduct in dealings with tabor the steel corpora tion would,, do as it pleased, anyhow. It will 'doubtless contiiiue to ' do. as it pleases until itfis COMPELLED-to. do otherwise. rv-7 , V - Now, as to public spolicy in connec tion with organized labor, wha. does the record snow t - . ; -: it shows that Judg Gary is wrong. decidedly 'wrong. . ' , Nothing that could be called a pub lic policy was ever formulated in this country until v . ( - . , ' ( The jClay ton Act became law, 'and m'1 . " -' t '.' V ( 2 ) The great ,warbrought about organization of the: National" War The Clayton : Act J pro vided. that , "The labor of. a human bein? is njt a commodity or article of commerce.': The National' War . Labor Board was organized and function,ed in obeT dience to the vnrincinle v that ' COL LECTIVE BARGAINING :is 'the prop; er m ethod 'of - dealing between ; em ployees and ; employers. The Presi dent of the t United Statesv approved that principle and it" was followed by the National; War Labor Board -'until its career came to an endV , Collective bargaining, is possible, only where labor is organized. Th'ereV fore, the National ' War Labor Board always insisted? upon -the unqualified right of . labor to 'organize. . , ,That was the ABC of its wtiole cddeJ )In fighting organization of .labor and in refusing v to deal with the chosen - representatives ol the work ers, Judge Gary is fighting the: only authoritatively expressed wishes of the American people.V V' ,' " - That which he declares i himself Pledged to ial the -opposite : of ALL RECORDED'AND AUTHORITATIVE AMERICAN PUBLIC P0LIGY1 ,r Judge Gary's second point is that there is some sort of moral objection to dealing with ' .organized labor. "Questions . of moral oprlnciple,"A fie says, -Cannot be "arbitrated nor, com promised."' Jle says such questions are : involved, in the steel strike. which- he terms - an" "unfortunate" struggle. ' , L ; , ' While Judge Gary does not specify the moral principle Hhat Jte believes is involved, It is presumed that it concerns recognition of ' unions. Therefore,' it Is fair to conclude that he holds it immoral to recognize and deal ; with workers , organized in .anions! , . ' . , , InJ 1917 ' President Wilson jour- oeyea to .Buffalo. -N. Y.. to address IhetConvention of the American Fed eration Of Labor, there assftm hi pA. Every organized labor mission ' to Europe called at the White House to consult With the PrPsirtPnt ntlnn r turning ff6m Europe, and the inter est manifested at the . White House waeep and sincere beyond dispute; ,v. ThV Britishv government does - not consider it immoral to dal with labor unionsv Aii , agreement with union1 labors was aboutvthe first thing that .the British-: government sought when war began,' r.j -: y f ; .The French -government does' not consider "It: itonioral .W -deal with labor unions. It sought the co-opera nun union laoor . long - ago, and seeks it still." V - ; r'I : --i They International Peic .Congress at "Versailles .did notrconsideritim-.Hbserve"r. dense ignorance is shownJ moral ; to deal with Mbor-.unions.'. K It called iippn laboi to j oih in .t work of formulating ' th, treaty ,lmost at thd start The peace, congress set ; up' a; spe cial commission on international Ja- bor legislation" and fPregident'-tlom'-pers ot the; American Federation of Labor -'was . appointed -one v of the American. members of. that commis sfon.. He was elected to be Its preisi- dent,A special lafioih section- was inserted in the' treaty ot, peace, the result - of thejxwork of ,thig commis sion -v ; 1 :' : ' " : - - " y - . If M?. , Gary ; is right.then all J of these- governments have 'beenhighly immoral.andHhey, have teen so.with the consent t)t 4he civilized peoples o t the wotld. If. he is right; then, in the -peace- t?sity "thereMs ltd) befound the crownlns : immorality; of vall--ra special ' r section dealing , with ; labor: and v providing' A for Tegular : inter national labor conference, in' which representatives of -'union labor of alld the allied; countries are:to sit as. ac credited, mem bers.r' j 'C- ; ,'' i But. it .will, scarcely be .contended by-,even"M"r Gr'a most' ardeift de ienaers tnat :nis'; special moral code isi.rlght? and "the s whole , orld ' is in -errorr, -yx- The - world approves: trade union organization. . If there, is .a .moral principle" involved,' it-is established by the overwhelmingopiniori '"bfciv- '.Sit. i' -' V uonunuea . on - page 2. ; : u 1 v- U.iS.iDi.inaSTRATION y SEES L1EPJT III DILL Puts' in Potce Law Advootedfby -r 1 r "1 . 3 it1-' ... ' u zuon iaoor w men : 14 ' . (Special Correspondence.) 4 In t - reporF of J th" 'fLeglslaUv Committee - of the ."North Carolina Federatipn.-ot .Labor,t. made to the State Convention at Raleigh in Au gust, attention is 1 called' to the .de feat , in i Ue , Legislature . of what was known as the "Train . Crew Illiteracyr Test'r 'bill. ;" Labor v people who 2 are faniiliar. with the. facts kow rthat union labor was V trying to protect the train "crewp and the public by se curing a law- requiring train , opera tors to be-able ; to' read' and under- stand train' orders. f Tlie Trill was the"' same ' as"- heretofore before the 1 i . . . legislature forr the ppst'four es sions, being .unitormiy aeieatea ' ay the railroad lobby'. ' The . bill was en dorses by 11 labor. :s organizations including . lx)comotive . Engineersi Conductors, Firemenand Trainmen and j endorsed by the State Supepn tendent of Public Instruction The same . railroad lobby - Of the past was present with" , the sidetracks around ' Raleigh filled with private carsw - The Legislative . Committee, Xo ; which the ' bill vas referred, ttn der corporate influenCei'turned ... the measure down, -f'with - only one dis- sentihVvote. When the -bill came up "In the House, the same influence was In, evidence, and. the. bill twas defeated.1 .The merits of the .bill be ing" called to the ;aitenfron of the Director of Operation, United States Railr6ad Administration and; he' be ring convinced, afteriving the -mat -ter mature, consideration, that tne measure - should be enforced,- Issued tne following: .j; t r ? : Relative to bill introduced, in the . North "Carolina , ' Legislature; requirine that men : employed ; in train-service snaii xiuto ;c. . educational qualifications " r' ; .... . t. ii ' . .-flHM a 4 it -. It has-been decided -toadopt , the v following . rule . oh an ranroaas -under Federal control; V.. -. , ;"0n and-after. September , 2 5,thfr ,1919; inen "entering the. service to fill ! the position ; 'of Brakemanj; Flagman, . 0 Baggageman,-. Switch-man and Fireman, must be. able to " read and .write, will , be subject to : and required topass unuorm ex lamination, land will cdmply with ;the regulations governing the, use 1 nf standard watches " . ' . ' Tabor's compliments' ; . to -Mr Prince, t General Council Southern Rniiwav: Mr. James H.Pbu ; and the Legislative Committee. r , PUICB OF BREAD GOES HIGHER ItrtiUiprs ' Add- One Hundred Per r ' ' ' - Cent. Chicago; . Oct. 6. Retail dealers today increased the price of , bread one' cent a lbaf.; The present price is eleven . cents a loaf or two loaves for 21 'cents. The bakers raised vth? nricft one-half a cent a loaf and the vet a n 1-r a flirJpd-a full 'cent to 'the price charged customers. FAYETTEVIHE EDITOR. DISPLAYS IGKORAKCE Claims tefe ' is .Pratcicall Jlina'iand driticizes At-;,, v ; '..i"--' torneyEitch'rTt". In ' an; editorial ' in; theyFayettevilldl bjt present-day conditions'7 in connect 1 uon.witn.tne labor, union men in tne. oiaie.r jine eauoriai is ir criticism 01 Lawyer Ritch,.attorn,ey for the, Tex Mr. in .eventMr.' Webb :is not "a- candi date, the remaTkafele 'Vtatfeme'nt ' .is'r made" that VTHERET IS PJRACTICAL LY . NO, ORGANIZE LABOB , VOTE ItT NORTH , cAROLINArr and that "North Carolina, up '.to i: thia time, hasf been blessed wijh immunity from , "the; disturbing . ': '.efforts of scheming. political leaders-?' . , The Observer -claims ,to -Hav been: r-...., "-I O-l '-...'-Tj 'v .V'.: ,'Tf'l-.-" uuuucu tu. ioi 1 ,.auu ;iuai nt. ixuxA-si s- President of .the comnanv that' publishes itvOue would it suppose, mat unaer -orajnary ?. circumstances, certainly under .such -educational fa cilities as the State Jbaa furnished in i nitf.: last: few . years, that there would b-; morej evidence ?ot knowledge of. present-day ! conditions- displayed by he-paper's editor. It is Indeed sur- prising thatucliianf astute ( ?1 ' poli-- 1 -- ticiin"as E; J-Hale should remain' asleep "aTme switch,"- especially as Cumberland' bounty .x!:haa: a " ibrand J -ew arn.ycamp,- aitnpugn . it is. reai. izea , tnat ; tne countyor - Cumberland : asf,' well -as ;Fayetteyillei .the county: seav s noted; lor: its. ancient history, a and, its jpaper Is"; evidently of an an cient. Mintage; 'it 6r it I appears not to keep 1 up wlt.preserit-day events.. If it did, its editor Vwould iknowthat. here 4 are some - scared oldtime - poli- ticians.ln the Ninth i District; thatl now ha a; more than ,2 0 ,0 0 0 "union; la' Dor memoers wno bold ' in tneir hands,;the political balance ofrpowei4,' and can defeat "eitfier, .political" party at W11K . : . . v T V r - - - Tlie . editor : seems to ' have -located some. ' scheming a political labor lead ers' in the -Stated (Xn thia he Is in a class to ;hims,elf;- for no pother, paper, has annbuncedfclxv, -a' ' find 1 Fay ette vlllfi and . Cumberland t f County have a goodly number of ; union la boii&en, ,-cextainly enough, to "shake bp" some - of i the scheming 1 politi cians, not.of "labor leader" kind, if they , s& desired. : Theditorial-men- itiona; the -"good lawst the State has; presumedly It means' for, the protec tion- of the 'masses. - If such Is , the case j Charlotte might be advised . as to them, for 'days and ' weeka e have passed ; ' since-l; innocent..,-'spectators were . killed . and maimed,, ' shot ; in the backhand the law Is such, so it is claimed that no investigation has been held - to fik responsibility upon those, wjat did the shooting, f Some of this good law - should be passed up to Solicitoi'-Brock, for he and r; the numerous lawyers somebody is pay ing: to assist him, have only progress- - -- . x .'." :-. .! . . ! V X . ! . ea J.O xitij.u-.ui wuere iue prumis is made-to investigate the ill treat ment of- cotton mill operatives. :This is as far as tho 'good laws' for the protection- of labor ; people have "irone. in Stanly County; Vand in " Charlotte these "good laws" have reached . the point where Judge Shaw has 5'caught up" with Marvin .RItch in 'quoting the Bible. . ; . - Sleep on : ye : patriarchs, if you wish, for you "can "cut no . ice" , if youiwere awake. : 'j . ' TEXTILE WORKERS', UNION WINS RECOGNITION Shutting . Down of . : Iills . ; Failed to Vgcare Mraitbers Into Giving Up Their Cards.'."'., u ' Nashville, vTenn.--Two large tex tile mills in i thifiNclty posted ' notices early ; in v September ; . that i owing to "I- .J -f i.j uurest buu i.i ixnui matipn xnai - eiu- ployes wereabqut to join a N newly, formed union of the United Textile Workers,'; that the 1 inillsjw-ould re. main closed ,tintil the unrest terminated-in- the hop6 of preventing the formation of the. union. This .action failed- te'discduragVs the workers; Who ; completed the union.: Afwagree7 ment has just t been 1. reached with the ; "representatives of , these mills that "not only recognized 'the union but; reinstated - all -5. employes who signed the , charter application and those who have V "since - joined the unions The", fight of the textile workers was '.stubbornly contested and has Resulted 'iiv completevic tory. . 5 r 7" fl-v j I got quick: kesuics; " Detroit, v Mich; Quick -; results were obtained ; by the members I of Sheet Metal Workers' Union No. 105 when all ;ht two .employers surren dered to their, demands for . an - in crease to $l.per hour after two days strike. 'The; former scale was 80 cents . "Kitcli's candidacy 'for , Congress. i! oL acceptance, he "stirred he CAPITAL AND LABOR. . SIT BI C0I1FEREKCE Secretary Lane is Chairman of n '' Tdustrial ; Conference Called Vy ' y President Wilson. , :j Waghingt6n;- 0ct.- 8. The -Industrial Conference called by President. ;W.ilson tcT meet n Washington tis week has v made, little headway so far. beyond perfecting, an. organiza tion and appointing. committees.-. J Secretary Lane was elected ; per- . dele esenting - Capital-Labor and the Public, to !. greit enthusiasm by declaring that the bjgh 1 purpose of y the gathering: made failure - im possible in. "the effort to harmonize industrial relations 'in-his .country. ' A committee; of-fifteen ''was named to .recommend ' fojir "against : all resolutions Introduced v, as follows i . ' Representing' i the '-public: Thom as ' L. Chadbburne-;A;SA Landon;. H Bu Endicott, ; Cliarles - Edward ? Rus sell and Miss, Lillian Wald-v-'1 A . Representing capital: 1 S. Pember John, j! ftaskob, Herbert F. Per-" kins , and JT.Nt Tittemore. V--V! 1 TRei?resenting . organized? labors a Samuel Gompers, Frank Morrison, Matthew Woll'.W." W. Mahonand L. E.Sheppard. " f v "' The J employers' roup - wasHhe only - one ready, under the, rulesiwith any . business,- Frederick- P, , Fish, of Boston offering' a; resolution - declare ing the need, of the industrial - situa. tion was - increased production, ; ade quate:, "compensation for . services and. just return on capital and ' that each delegate, should" he ' guided,. In uis- actions oy ,vus- guuu-ui uib twiu- I .... "'. . . ..' . !' '('. .-,..-, V try., as a: wnoie,r ratnerxnan oy. tne interests of his particular - group. : .-. Secretary Lane, in his address .as chairman, said he was shre the gath ering wquld be able , to work out' a solution 4 of 'C industrial troubles growing. out of recobstructibxu.. . ' '.'We willwork out a way because it cannot, be" that: there is no wayr "5- "I, wish that , it : were possible that the Prfestdftnt" mierht have ariven VOU the stimulating influence'- not onlH pr,. nis t presence, dui . jinai-jirutf word "which, he always speaksVeon tinued .the chairman. , That Is de nieA now, but possibly : it may - not be denied.' The" w6rd comes to us f resh !Und cheering .from the " White House that-before x your Ji. delibera tions are through, it may be possible that you may yet hear, directly from him. Whethetthat :is so or not, you are to go On with your ' work in. the spirit that I believe is in you. t'Men say that this problem of lab7)r ' andI- capital , is- - unsolvable. You cannot say that to me. f In my department Is the .Bureau ;of.rPat: ents, . and each . year, as I .read 'the reports, I see , that .In America we produce more-' inventions each, year than the two' largest : contries of the world, and "as I , read those figures I say to myself : 'A people- that . have that practical, imagination, t 'that amount of genius, cannot I he meV with, a problem that; in time, they cannot sojve? . 5 . '- ; J . ' No Class in America. ' .0w "Men talk tn, this , country of class and a clais war. Why, gentle men, tfire can be v UoVclass, inv this land. . Who is to be-the next presi detnt of the . United VStates? Wbo- ever he is, you wiu.nna ma ne 13 some boy that years ago worked for wages; and- there . can be 'no class wHere suclr a thing , is posaible. . 1:. look ' upon this conference as the greatest and most; important ex- ,tra-legal body that has been called in this country, certainly in our time. 'There are 'som here who have .doubted its success. Why, gen tlemen, this -conference is' bound to be a succers. -: Its .extent is not to be measured by resolutions that come from it " by- platforms for . by program; or by bits ot machinery that it may invent 6:reveaI.J The spirif of' thlS'ConferencJs is its justi fication. " J;'. ' ' 1" "We wiil draft here a declaration of dependence, not s of independence;" a declaration that we. are united: one withlanother, and that we can not live - In ' isolation ; ' that we must join hands together -not tor "our own sake alone, but for' the ,! greater sake of our countrytt and of! the world." , , kJHARLQTTE WILI VOTE. "A . ON., RECALL OCTOBER 31 Incumbent and. Candidates ; Bottv Running on LaWr and. Order U . .Platform. ; Charlotte; Oct, 8. Tuesday,- Octo ber '21, 'will: be"; named .as the date for the recall election here in reso lutions, to be pas-ed by the city com missioners Monday, c j t; v The registration looks .will be opened eight or tenrday before the date of the election -to allow7 those desHng to " voe the opportunity; ta dualify. - Of the 1,614. persons, yho ji gates, repr signed petitions for the recall; elec tion only 4 6 5 5- ; were registered 'to vote.V f'Zy--: P .Candidates for. tl three "offices have; not filed - their-, notice ofen trance into the race yet; but the law requires that this, be done . 1 0 days . before the " , election. , Mayor McNinch and' Commissioners A.H. Wearn and ; George-: A.- Page --.willF stand . together, ,and' will be opposed by. J.' Frank Flowers, W.H. Hall and D. L. Kistler. V ' " ". ' Those, opposing' thepresent com- nissiouers , nave ormea what is cauea.tne Vcitlzens'.aw and order ieagie .This, is . the. -.first public move! in the way. of a campaign that tasbeen matle by either party. How- ever(r the present' commissioners have, anouncea tiiat their ;.piatrorm will be he - preservation o -law'and or der so that both sides claim that victory. must be for them if law and order is to he preserved.1 'ENACTS ANTI-STRIKE LAW. ' Montgomery Ala.r Th' Alabama L.. -. . y ' ' .. i ( - is . legislature mas jewarueu worKera- of this State who fought, in the great war for liberty and ; democracy by passihg.'af;law against . . strikes.'-. A penalty of $1,000 is provided. ; Opi ponents of the law; declare that if it is enforced to the : letter it will '' be impossible for any; group of Ala bama workers, to suspend work. Section two 'of, the bill is as follows, "Any person firm "or ""corporation, who enters 'into '. any - w agreements combination n3r-; understanding with another or -others that the party so agreeing shall riot engage in or aid in carrying1" on 1 public . service; o whoN'so:" agrees xr conspires with others 'to prevent, retard or impede third personi from engaging in. or working at . any pu blic, service, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor." , VHEIIE IS RALEIGH'S FADj price corjr.intE? ; - -,v J in v -r Reports From Other Points De- ;": note Activity While Raleiffh -p:;;;tis' Silent. , J,', f Asheville, Oct. "7 The price - of meaj; in -Asheville - has decreased from, five tolO::andl 12 cents.Jper lound ,' durlngthe "past :f ew'dayi and local -meat dealers.are - announcinsr the ,X.ct to : their patrofTs in 1 special I circulars sent out bymail. r I .ln -t)he instance va' local dealer states - that ? he '? has reduced the price of - best grade breakfast bacons from 65 cents per pounds to 55 cents per pound sliced. Onrhams, best graded this dealer -reports he is now selling hams which' formerly brcjught65 cents - per (pound, sliced, at '60: cents per pound, sliced.''-' ' Beef prices have also beefu lower ed ; and the present .prices are fquoted. at: Porterhouse steak, 40 1 cuia per, pouna; sirioin, 40 cents; round steak, 35 cents; rib, roast; 3,5 cents; rump roast, 30 cents; boiled ham;7 5 cents; r . ; - ' Prides on . many otler. articles of ftrtid have : also been lowered in Aehevile during the past, few day si While the names othfc federal fair rice ' committee, recently appointed by the State' food adminJstrattnn iave noteen given - out,, it is her lieved that - this committee v has been at work- for several , weeks now"y holding meetings with localdealersV Baltimore, Oct. 7. The following retail price list has just been issued by the Fair Price Committee, -following., a conference with "2 0 or rkore of Baltimore's leading grgocers: . Lard, :'. -Y. . . :.26 to 34c. Lard Compound . ... . . . .27 to 36c. Cabbage, 2 lbs. -. . Chuck roast "V. ; . Whple cross rib . Cut. cross rib V . . Shoulder . .Y: . Sirloin steak,,'. . . Porterhouse .steak 2 to j4c.' 16 to '23c. . i .,'-.22 to:37c.' . .Y; . ;,24 to 35q. f .16 to '25c. . , . .32 .to 34c: 3 5 'to 3 8c. MACON UNIONISTS "'-- ; CAKIIY CITY ELECTION " x , ' s' Anti-Union1 1 Candidate ; for . Mayor, - With Entire Ticket, Defeated. " Macon; Ga. -Advocates 'of the unionization of the , city employes, including' policemen ; ; and ) firemen, have scored in probably, the first political contest in which this ques tion was made a' leading issue. . The candidate for ir-'vop" on a' platform opposing v. unionization ot the city's employes and his v entire ticket, with Tone exception were de feated. N . , -' ' ' J - "r : ' Mayor Olen Toole, ; who wasv gen erally,' believed to' be .friendly , to the idea pf""city employes' unions, was renominated. " He ' is' said "to t liaye received; almost the solid labor vote I' ' The - controversy over the union q u estion," which reached , an acu te stage several weeks ago when tle civil (service commissfonj ordered the men to quit 'either their;,unioris or the city service,-had been, held in' abeyance r - pending the ; outcome ; of the primaries.; . l.x-l v . , .-': . , , - (H.EBILL VOUID. - rHEUFF WORKERS Under. ProvisiVV of Measure, if Two. Men Shdv:vQ They Conld Be JailedXv!(Oonspira, tors ! ConcilatiQa 7onld " Be Dead Letter. . (By staff. Correspondent) V' Washington, D. cl-Hearings on the '.. ummins railrodd j biU before the ir HSummins Senate Interstate Commerce Com- ;; mittejf . has developed ; that It ,1s the . most drastic measure ever proposed : against labor. No analysis yet. given , -publicity, has brought out 'its- most 1 ; glaring -. features. u Samuel -Gompera" " startled the Senators' when he -. ,'de . clared in opposing the bill: f ' '' "When during the. stress of wai the government was compelled to 1. take over the railroad tjielr em, . ployes were free men., Now H is ' proposed that the railroads be given o " back to their private owners . with' the employes, handcuffed." - Here, are some of the most dras- r tic provisionsTr " . The 'bill .provides that merit half . arbitrarily . make ' the wages anav,. nx ' tne nours' and work ing conditions "forf the employe's of private companies. . TMs r is , the , . method proposed;;; ( ; . A" ooardf five : members,"' to be known as the :. Railway Transnorta- tion,.Board, snail be appointed - by' me tfresiaent. This boara has -the nnal say in: all- na.t.tfm wagfes, hours and forking condi- -uons. ., The; eight-hour day can : be" -cnanged at ; win -ia7) this , -board. A. . -committee on wages ;and working- ' conditions is, provided for to b com: posed of an equal: number .6f repre sentatives of employes and Olficialsr This committee (which i' "amdu-1 flaged for the r realrpurposej will . -hear all . requests f or ' cbknges in . A wages, , and ( conditions.' "Whatever ' ' "thfr members agree to is, passed on br1 the board.-It can vetoi: or ap- Vf-v "y reeommenaaiion w V the v committee. The bdard' decision - . is final. There , is ' no appeal 4froin its action. No'pfovtetonvto'jhade f or mediation, conciliation - Qt volnn- V tary arbitration. - ' '..v"4 t - - , V-.",: . : - After the decision 4s made the enf- -ployes are "ancuffedV - s Presi- dent Gompers :ehargesIf two or ' more of theirs object, to 'the 'decision ; and. agree to quit' wbrk each can , be " ' fined $500 or Jmprisoued. or .toth, for conspiracy. .J", " . ' 4 The Adanisbn: law, provided thai, railroad employes .should have a ba sic eight-hour 1 day. ;lt , is still Y the Haw. The Railroad : :Transnortatlon, Board, which- iwill : be the supreme C court in1 altmattera'-Vi-regarding 5 wages and hours,;: -can . make, any . - change at any, 7 time. '.There isno appeal. It ia: to He presumed, that all ; members ? of V" the; t board - wilir be anti-labor.. Evenf if. one ;:renresents labor he will .be in. such a . minority he can make no successful - protest. ' The bill also provides sfor a "com pany union.". A certain -portion ol -the earnings are set aside in ai fund , ' to be known as: the "employes wel fare fund.' President Gompers teer . 7 tified that ".welfare ; workm adopted by non-union: employers 5 was "Hell fare work.". He. also charged that its intention- waW, to; encourage -. or-J induce employes to Yibt"- 'join the brotherhood unions. It was hinted severail' times in the , - hearings that the rbtiyd. behind such a drastic measure was. to force Lthe labor people to Agree finally to ax compromise estaplishing t compul' . ' sory arbitration.' Senator . Cummins, '? ' r author of the . bill", and chairman of fthe interstate-commerce committee," appeared deterinedto force theWHY" -throuigh, however. During;' Prr dent Gompers entire' , time , .' on the stand the Senato-did.tibtld ' J question He defended;!; , the . bill, , however, k when' President '. Gompers charged thai no penalty was - pro- . Yrhe( most dangerous part, of th -bill is : the. provision that wages hos and 'working, conditions shall ' be 'determined by -the board of five ' members1, The decision of -the board v must be obeyed:.; Tliere. is iio middle -grotoid. lVls tecoUrt of last pp- , sort. ; -J , - : Y ; " f ,,The bill if enacted into lawwlU not stop -jstrikes,'- said; President - Gompers. to the committee. - will ' . beYthe'. cause , of - strrkes'lle . hen ' explained 'how Nfw Zealand, the Y, "country J . without - strikes,"; v a , found its arbitration law which.- . forbids strikes, . not possible of en.- forcement. r ' ; - ; ' Y - "Labor must be given the right to work out Its own destiny,, he said.' ; 7 The country Is. anxioos tiat s the . -A danger of a general- strike oa rail- v '; roads shall - be removed, said Sen aor Underwood. Wht should be done to make it impossible fcr such strikes?" , ' . ' ; ' . " s.MN'ofhris,w .V replied . President K Gompcrsr-i--, s : 1 i .4 1 I f : V