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Show SAYS IBS WEI GIN A BAD HE Samuel Gompers Defends ihe Western Federation Before Industrial Commission. WASHINGTON, April 9. Charges by Samuel Gompers, president of tho American Federation of Labor, that tho Western Fedora t.iou of Miners has not been treated fair!- in tho Calumet copper cop-per strike, and criticisms of tho principle prin-ciple of compulsory arbitration in labor disputed hy representatives of both employers em-ployers and employees, today marked the closo of the Jirst of a 'series of hearings by the United Slates industrial indus-trial relations commission on collective bargaining. Tho Western Federation of Miners, Mr. Gompors said, had been given a "bad naino" by its enemies and by an old declaration of principles adopted yeans ago. Ho said the members of the federation havo conducted themselves them-selves peaceably and fairly at Calumot, and that for the last few years the orgauization has been conservative in its general attitude. Tho Canadian industrial disputes act, under which employers auo employees aro forced to deter drastic action until arbitration has been tried, was criticised criti-cised as a i'orru of " slavery " by Mr. Gompers. TV. L. Mackenzie King, former for-mer minister of labor of Canada, defended de-fended it an an excellent method of avoiding labor troubles. Mr. King added add-ed that ho favored any means of reaching labor disputes -which would give publicity. Mr. Gompors placed responsibility for most labor strikes on unorganized or nowly organized men and said that most trouble of this kind is causod by the mental attitudo of employers and cmploj'ces. I To assorted ho would not object to a federal mediation and conciliation con-ciliation board for industrial disputes, except for the danger that efforts to bring about compulsory arbitration might follow. Belief in governmental authority to investigate labor troubles affecting tho public generally' was expressed by lames A. ICmcry, counsel of tho National Na-tional Association of Manufacturers, who said be approved of mediation and conciliation, opposed compulsory arbitration arbi-tration and was against tho ''closed shop." The commission plans to hold several executivo meetings, beginning tomorrow, tomor-row, to considor tho evidence gathered at the hearings here, and then to take up consideration of efficiency" plans at another hearing starting April 13. |