Newark Leader, 1919-06-13

In reply to a local newspaper’s re request - quest request for a comment on this outrage Secretary Morrison said: “This attempted destruction of life and property should cause calm re reflection, - flection, reflection, rather than hysteria, on the part of every American. “I can understand why the nihilist of Russia used bombs, but this method can have no place in American in institutions. - stitutions. institutions. And w'hen it is used it is our patriotic duty to inquire why. “For years the trade union move movement - ment movement has urged the restriction pf im immigration, - migration, immigration, but the workers were op opposed - posed opposed by steamship companies, the steel trust and other employers of la labor - bor labor who stimulated immigration at the rate of 1,000,000 persons a year. “Many of these immigrants were herded in large cities or other indus industrial - trial industrial centers. They were encouraged to use their own language and to per perpetuate - petuate perpetuate traditions of their mother country. At election time, in in innumerable - numerable innumerable instances, they were voted en bloc, and if they would organize a trade union, or suspend work to stop exploitation, they were enjoined, clubbed and jailed. This is an. old story in West Virginia, Colorado, Pennsylvania and elsewhere. “What can Americanism mean to those people. They do not even un understand - derstand understand our language. To them Americanism means a petty boss and low wages. They know nothing, of our theory of government. “This country is now .reaping the result of its immigration policy—or lack of policy—during all these years. “Bomb throwing is always a chal challenge - lenge challenge to organized society, and should be met in that spirit. But the ques question - tion question must be traced back to its root and treated accordingly. American Americanism - ism Americanism must be more than a shibboleth. It must mean education, opportunity and social justice for all. We must vitalize our declarations and our be beliefs - liefs beliefs that injustice has no place on American soil. “In this soil, bomb throwing will wither and die.”

New York—The 45,000 striking members of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ union won a 44 44hpur - hpur 44hpur week and increases in wages. President Schlesinger and the confer conference - ence conference committee continued in confer conference - ence conference with representatives of the Cloak, Suit and Skirt Manufacturers’ association almost continuously dur during - ing during the two weeks strike. Almost all demands were secured. There were 13 points involved. Briefly summar summarized, - ized, summarized, they are as follows: z Week work system, abolishing piece Work entirely. Reduction of hours from 49 per week to 44 hours. Com Complete - plete Complete unionizing of shops. Not more than eight hours a week overtime for more than eight months a year no overtime Saturdays or Sundays. Equal distribution of work during the slack season. In case of shortage of labor, union and association will work out a system for newcomers that will pre prevent - vent prevent wage reductions. Manufacturers must register sub-contractors to in insure - sure insure union conditions by latter. Mini Minimum - mum Minimum of 14 machines in manufacturers shops, and 10 machines in sub-con sub-contractors’ - tractors’ sub-contractors’ shops. No work can be turn turned - ed turned out for shops where strike exists. Union officials permitted to investi investigate - gate investigate in the shop the cause for dis discharge - charge discharge of union employes, the burden of proof to rest on the manufacturer. Doubel time for overtime for those who have worked by the week pre previously - viously previously time and a half for former piece workers.

The newspaper asked President Gompers’ views on the proposal, and the trade unionist replied: “A conference of the character in indicated - dicated indicated may be helpful in bringing men to a better reaization of each other’s point of view and the claims which the workers make upon society as a more adequate reward for serv service - ice service performed. “If, however, there is in the project the thought that a ‘set of basic prin principles - ciples principles for guidance in solution of la labor - bor labor problems and assurance of indus industrial - trial industrial peace’ can be adopted, it will utterly fail. There is no royal road to a final solution of the ‘labor prob problem,’ - lem,’ problem,’ nor can ‘industrial peace’ be secured by a set of resolutions. “I have endeavored to do my share to help solve the problems of the day and of the time, and to bring about as nearly an approach to industrial peace as perhaps any other man In our country, but to entertain the idea that the ‘labor problem’ can be solved

The following message was received from President Wilson: “May I not send my warm greet greetings - ings greetings to the annual convention of the American Federation of Labor and express my deep gratification that the international conferences which have growm out of discussions of peace have led to a much fuller and more ade adequate - quate adequate comprehension of the questions of labor to which statesmen through throughout - out throughout the world must direct their most thoughtful attention? It has been a real happiness to me to be of a little service in these great matters. “I cannot justly refrain when send sending - ing sending this message from expressing in very warm terms the appreciation felt by all who have been dealing with labor matters of the invaluable serv service - ice service rendered by Mr. Gompers. He has won universal confidence and has firmly established in the international articles as well as at home, the repu reputation - tation reputation of the American Federation of Labor for sane and helpful counsel.”

New Orleans A survey by the Louisiana state council of national de defense - fense defense shows that 12 per cent of the women in the state are not paid suf sufficient - ficient sufficient for existence. Wages, hours, living conditions, fatigue and acci accidents - dents accidents are estimated. Wages are the substance of the situation. The fig figures - ures figures obtained on working women of New Orleans cover 11,383. The fac factory - tory factory inspector estimates 13,536 are employed in industry. During the past five years, wage increases have reached 60 per cent, not sufficient to cover the living expenses by nearly 20 per cent. Budgets of individuals, government statistics and two big charitable organizations make it clear that 12 per cent of the working women are earning less than the mini minimum - mum minimum existence, $6 a week. Forty per cent receive under $9, which is con consiedred - siedred consiedred the minimum comfort wage.

Whereas, The cardinal principles of labor organizations being founded up upon - on upon the statement of the Declaration of Independence that “all men are cre created - ated created free and equal”, it follows as a natural sequence that militarism is not only obnoxious to organized labor, but is also antagonistic to the prin principles - ciples principles of Democracy and free govern government - ment government and believing that labor has in the past too often tamely and quietly submitted to high handed outrages perpetrated by autocratic and tyran tyrannical - nical tyrannical officers of municipalities and corporations and private individuals, which were made possible through the assistance rendered by armed gangs of scab protectors called militia or state constabulary, we deem this an opportune time to enter a protest against the continuation of further crimes against labor. Therefore, be it

When James Duncan reported for the last labor mission to Europe he said that after the Americans had conferred with the French Confedera Confederation - tion Confederation of Labor the Frenchmen asked the Americans not to divulge what had taken place as it would injure the Frenchmen whose position had not accorded with the American position. What wTas the American astonish astonishment - ment astonishment to find next morning in La Bataille, organ of the French Con Confederation, - federation, Confederation, a complete report of the proceedings. European labor diplo diplomacy - macy diplomacy was a devious proposition.

No man, or body of men, in the United States has a higher regard for our returning heroes or is more eager to award praise and honor to the men who risked their lives and to those who made the supreme sacrifice for the perpetuation of principles of democracy, than the Trades and Labor Assem Assembly - bly Assembly of Newark but when the official uniform of God’s great greatest - est greatest nation is besmirched and trampled in the mire,as is being done by a comparatively few of its wearers, it believes it em eminently - inently eminently proper to protest against its desecration.