STRIKES AND THE UNION WAR PLEDGE NO STRIKES IN WAR, Gompers Promises Full and Un- NO CHANCE IN CONDITIONS Federation, Urges Defense Council to Bafeguard Interest of Werkers. Berial to The New York Times WASHINGTON Apris-Organised labor has pledged its full and vaguel support to the Government for the duration of the war, and its leader have promised to use their full influ effe to to prevent any attempt to take advantage of the existing emergency to press the claims of labor for a change Thin In exfting Industrial condities announcement was made today in a statement inued by the Count of Na tional Defense and signed by Ramuri Comper President of the American Federation of Labor and member of the Advisory Commission of the council and his fellow members of the Sub-committes on Laber. A report made to the count by Mr Compers' committee urged both capital and labor to unite in common support of the nation, waiving for the duration of the war any plans for changes in existing labor standards The report [of the committes, numbering on to list) "prominent executive as well sy labor leaders, la regarded here as marking an! Important step in the flags of the Govern both labor and capital The full trat of the recommendations of Mr Campers and his committee fol low The defense and safety of the na The Washington Post. Labor's Patriotism. Organised labor in the formal anpouscoment of the labor committee of the Council of National Defense, bas placed patriotism above selfishness by proclaiming that there shall be no strikes or labor disputes of any kind during the war The announcement is a striking evidence of the solidarity of the American people in the present crisis and to ab su Bury of complete success is the war The defense and safety of the nation should be the first consideration of all citizens, regardless of class or occupation. And this spirit of national unity has now bee realized The presence of Mr Gompers in the Council of Defense, where he is working to organize as industrial reserve, is suffclear answer to the arguments of Socialista that American labor would refuse to take up arme in case of war If this evidence of labor's patriotiem sumclent, addtuonal proof te to arrete re in. found la the plain statements of the leaders of the various labor federations Recently a so-called labor forum in New York elty claimed that in its pacist campaign it represented 300.000 orgas land wage-earners to that city This socalled forum has been labeled by Ralph M Easley, chairman of the executive council of the National Civic Federation. as "nothing more than one of the aumerous useBetal attachments of the Socialist party Mr Ealey added that it red seither the Socialista nor the GOMPERS PLEDGES Strikes and Lockouts Will Be APPEAL TO ALL TO KEEP EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS. Legislatur und in manwar! Governo It Neces WASHIN Gompers, L Under thi to the natid the Council gards this d Appr A report amittee on Commission Gompers in ployers as sets upon to change ployment" The recor and adopted The com the Govern and bet pures of ( his commid Call Ther Call STRIKES BANNED COUNCIL OF NATIONAL An ocial proclamation reached New Tak yesterday from the unct of se final defense of which Samuel Gem. per prendent of the American Feder which Alson of Labor is a member. In w pabor unions are advind got to lik dantage of the present war Mtuation strikes DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE IN THE "New York Times" of May 13, 1917, the President of the American Federation of Labor made the following statement: ap "I have information which leads me to believe that capital as a whole is eager to do its full, honest share in this war. On my labor committee in the Advisory Committee, pointed by President Wilson, I have about 200 from the members, two-thirds of whom of ranks of labor. The other third is made up business men and large employers of labor, and I have abiding faith that they and other larger employers of the country desire to carry on the standards of labor which we now have." THE HERALD The far-sighted leaders of unionism They ask the same pledge from tempt to disturb existing standards THOMAS. OF ENGLAND. WASHINGTON. May 13-Organ Ized labor of Great Britain spoke to ored labor of America today to win-the-war a To the laboring men the spokesman, James Thomas MP. of the British labor commission, slid tre up all sorts of material gains With one common thought work for peace and the preservation of the de mucity of the s To the enipuses Thomas and It is to the prosection of this great qunity that jou owe por furtubes or the cune uring pit pose to give up prots and work for the salvation of The recommendation of Samuel Gompers, Chatr Buchman of the labor Committee of the Council of) in intestinal Defense, that emplovers and employees incil of natin? be advised not to take advantage of the country's Larverall, to change existing standards" virtu of natione dali pledges the Amerina Federation of Labor, as slar ire of the great railroad orders are already committed, entremeto the national service during the war. in their, the gra duterpective calitage the exit An attitude so patriotic eœmmands respect also for in and well parture frohe advice that departures from 1a or etandarde, fecting the health of laborers or boars of labor' labor shou of hell be taken only upen declaration of the cous. that sell that such departure to esential for the effe the effective ursuit of the national defense" fem of nation The possibilty that relaxallus of labor or segist health laws may become necessary is foreseen: in the gay but Chairman Compers te right in Inaleting that' Hark's step shall not be taken except in emergency. The careful tavestigations of the Betts Govern natthement inte conditions of labor and fatigan affect. !ional coing munition workers have proved that nothing enntique for is gained in the long run by excessive hours, that inger than thuch is lost by unfavorable senitary surrounding Extra Manager Pronoviania Ralit THE EVENING STAR, Labor and War In a letter to Speaker Clark on the "There need be no apprehension en- The Washington Post. Capital and Labor Labor members of the Brish parla ment made a plea to Anerican capital and labur at the meeting of the labor com mirten of the Council or National Defense that might well mark the beginning of a new era of patriotism in the United States iten plea to both capital and labor to eliminate all selfch considerations white It was a plea to labor to forego any demand for higher wages of nr condicions It was a plea to capital to forran prot out of the war When labor and capital in Enziand de laved a truce shor;ly after the beginning for the European sar i marked the be ginning of that nationemciency in war Each ride made sacrides spirit of | self abnegation was so contagious that soon it affected every one The There is nerd of the same spirit here If the miners and farmers and all others who do not go into the army do their part In this age the country will be effective howar The workers cannot be expected to do their part however unless the employers are willing to do the The employes must know that their in vased energy Lorenting the government and not any 1 private interests If the eruployers Back to Brat by the inest energy of the From American Industry in War Time Shortly after the United States entered the War union labor, through its officials, pledged its full and unqualified support to the Government, which included a definite promise that there would be no strikes during the war. How this promise has been kept is shown on the following pages] 2.500 Cable Work Sunetal Work New York Tri Men in Hasting 48-Hour Hastings, NY, July 9 hundred plages of the Nat. des and Cable Company on and the plans are is The TRADE MAY STRIKE 75,000 IN CLOTHING wractone of $1 a K ESTABLISHED BY PPR PULITER. PLAN TO UNIONIZE YORK CALL FRIDAY, JU STOCKYARDS M Chicago Federation of Calls the Packers mical ASHLEY RAILROAD New York New York Times STRIKE OF KENTUCKY STRIKE SPREADS Coal Minere Work Out: ITALIAN DELAYS BIG LINERS Six Hundred Laborers Engaged, in Loading Coal in Man hattan Break Contract. U.S. SHIPBUILDING Work in Navy Yards Likely to Progred THE WASHINGTON POST CO. STRIKE OF BAKERS Daily Bread Output Cut Are DeNew York Tribun by Million Loaves. President Orders He Also Receives Assurance U. S. May Act. The New York Times CREWS OF TUGBOATS Union after union have demanded higher wages, shorter working hours, or the unionization of open shops where a small percentage of union men worked in co-operation with nonunion men Wages and hours have been adjusted to suit in many cases, but such concessions did not seem to satisfy and now it is evident that the real plan of union labor is to increase its membership by compelling, through Government co-operation, if possible, the unionization of all non-union or open shops, under the threat of strikes and the tieing up of emergency Government work. If anyone doubts the accuracy of this state- New York Tribune Ca حومانة ids of Union DeNaval Base Work at Hampton Roads. Norfork Va 2017 24-APTI. THE EVENING STARA TERMINAL RAILWAY EMPLOYES STRIKE PCar and Electrical Department mand is Rejected. THE NEW YORK CALL, Pearl &treet, New York City. TAL STRIKERS PAPERBOXUNION TALKS OF STRIKE hexCall lay They Were Not - jobs if they apply morning that the not even know that ad for increased pay the master had hot THE WASHINGTON POST CU at M SOUTHERN PACIFIC MEN VOTE STRIKE. Mediation Suggested AMALGAMATED TAILORS. 6,000 The Sun IG, STRIKE! STRIKERS DELAY SHIPS. Work Tweler Woodes Ove S ARE AFFECTED THE NEW YORK CALL.; 1,000 Shipbuilders Sun Strike at Wilmington MECHANICS San Francisco. Ang 1-Eight that WILMINGTON Das AUE 71- IT ON STRIKE grievance claima agernes two out on Monda, at the Pusey & reliread company are settled. It becar Jones works being tort dmits 2,500 ave but the from Marisa Malaw and the strike when solved union The trainmen affected are the end on demand the anxharge of sons Claini 3.800 peers. Aremen, conductors and bray Pune Jones workman * * men employed on the Bouthern Parane to have penghuni of ingeponded Oreg un from El Paso. Tex in Portia union has now become a SUPE From American Industry in War Time This page contains exact reproductions of newspaper headings published from the date the United States entered the war to the present hour. Only a cursory glance is necessary to show that union labor has been engaged in labor agitation to an extent unequaled in any similar period of our history. THE EVENING STAR. The New York Times The With Bandar Moralog Blom A Threatened Shipyards Strike. A strike is threatened on the part of 12,000 men employed in abiprando in New York and New Jersey who ack for an increase of 50 cents a day Orders for the strike have been actually pre pared, though a circulated, having beea withheld upon the solicitation of Secretary Won, who is now working to prevent a suspension of laber in the garda During the preecat weck excep itional efforts have been made along this live, and it hoped that an adjustment will be effected by Naturday when, ar cording to present plans, the strike will. begin, if the demaels are not met A Heppage of work in shipyards in this country would be calamitoge in the prent condit pas, when every pose be CaEW YORK IN COAL MINE STRIKE This rostroversy over the wages be gan shout a year ago There is probably Lequity in the demand of the workmen turky and northear Shields was formall, o'clock this afterno of the various shipholding trades fe higher wagen, expecially no in all the other liars of industry the wags arale Thas been rig As arbitration is im peratively dronded. The government ramont ford to let thu ter proceeds Cating the usual line, even though a strike Hof only a few hours would result shipyards must dept going The The POLICE GUARD WORKERS Prevent Kentorky Property LEXINGA ON U. S. CONTRACTS Clock NEW YORK HERA Shore for the New Army by CSPIRIT OF UNREST Under the protection re from the commanded Nally work on contracts ( ng the new army with an ON PACIFIC C TAPPA PERPATEN TO THE The ARE IMMINENT governme UNION LABOR has not kept its promise And The titular head of the Federation thus gives acknowledgment of the commendable spirit of fairness shown him and his organization by the President of the United States and the Government. Why, then, are the President of the United States and the Government compelled to face practically each day an increasing condition of industrial unrest which seriously menaces the safety of the Nation? NEW YORK HERALDW YORK CALL PRIVAT, AUGUST UT. TOLE WORKERS IN VARIOUS Expected Strike Occurs at Plant of CITIES ABOUT TO MAKE Lake Torpedo Boat Company, TAPETA PERPATH TO THE Bo 10,000 Paper MR. in Claims Must Be Settled by Hurday, Says Uimatum to Company. N FRANCHOD Cal, Wednesday. HE WASHINGTON POST CO. IPOLICEMAN SHOT IN STRIKE RIOT Call VILLE THREE FACTORIES Patrol Springfield,) Las Street Cars Are Attacked. New Work Tribune STRIKE BREAKERS "REATEN STRIKE "&ELINES ment Yashingt Reging In Police Guard Gas Tanks When Strike Is Called alice from the East 104th Street tation were detailed yesterday to I dated reservoirs of the Consoli 11th Street THE EVENING STAR KANSAS CITY CAR STRIKE ENTERS ITS SECOND WEEK fram mewe Railway Oficials to Attempt to Ope K HERALD of Delay on Selzed German an lyreum, 44 East is being delayed by striken He The parked in br to abipyards in the vicinity of New York GREGORY, IN BOSTON, Sees State Officials in Regard to BOSTON, Sept 1-Attorney Ges: eral Gregory arrived here from Washington today and talked with Henry B. Endicott Secretary of the tata Committee on Public Safety, diaruas. ing tending More to settle a strike of 1,000 machine shop and round. house employees of the Boston and Man Railroad Mr. Uregory talked later with United States District Attorury Georg Wander From American Industry in War Time The reproductions of newspaper headings on this page show labor disturbances in eleven States and in many industries. It is also evident that the strikes and threats of strikes reported as actual news facts involved the railway brotherhoods and unions affiliated with the American Federation of Labor. COMMENT While Samuel Gompers was attending the convention of the American Alliance for Labor and Democracy which was pledging its "loyal support and service to the U. S. government in the present world conflict," he was asked his opinion in regard to the proposal of the National Industrial Conference Board for the elimination of labor disputes during the period of the war, the full text of which appears this month as the leading article. "That sort of thing won't be tolerated for a minute,” he is reported to have replied. And in another interview he stated, "The standards of labor which labor and the council have agreed to maintain are union standards of wages, hours and working conditions." The plan of the National Industrial Board provides: That all existing regulations for health and safety be maintained; changes only to be made upon recommendation of the Council of National Defense. That existing wages shall be maintained with such modifications as are necessary to meet any demonstrated advance in the cost of living. That existing hours shall be maintained subject to change when in the opinion of the Council of National Defense such change is necessary to meet the requirements of the Government. That existing shop conditions shall be maintained, i. e., no employer who enters the war with a closed shop shall seek to make it "open" by strike or lockout; likewise the union shall not by strike or lockout seek to make an “open” shop "closed." Surely no one, with ordinary common sense could maintain seriously that these four provisions do not cover the whole field of "existing standards." Yet Mr. Gompers says, "That sort of thing cannot be tolerated for one minute." What, then, did Mr. Gompers mean by his pledge, "that neither employers nor employees shall endeavor to take advantage of the country's necessities to change existing standards." Fifty thousand employers, under the exigencies of war, concede closed shop conditions wherever they now exist. Mr. Gompers, in return for his loyalty, insists upon not only this concession, but evidently also reserves the right to call strikes to force these same union conditions in all other shops. Despite the necessities of war, the A. F. of L. apparently intends to continue to strike for wages, hours, and closed shop conditions. What other possible excuse can it find for a strike? Under such absurd construction, the whole pledge is nothing but a farce. The declaration of Andrew McNamara, a national organizer of the American Federation of Labor, as reported by the press, that the strike at the Jones & Laughlin steel plant, Pittsburgh, is a "bonafide trade movement of the American Federation of Labor" seems to confirm the general opinion that the numerous strikes throughout the country are not only authorized by the constituent unions of the Federation, but likewise by the Federation itself. The steel industry has been open shop for a generation. Its employees have stood fast against unionization because the scale of wages, combined with certain profit sharing privileges, which the unions refuse to allow their members to accept, has been more of an attraction than the mere carrying of a union card. The Federation recently, however, put a large number of organizers in the Jones & Laughlin plant, and inspired unquestionably by the promises of these agitators that the pressure of work would compel the company to grant any demands the men might see fit to ask, some 7000 went out on strike. While these strikers were holding up emergency government contracts of vital importance, their leaders sent telegrams to President Wilson and Secretary of War Baker pledging their loyalty and patriotic support in the conduct of the war. |