Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-11-02
Mr.. COMPERS
FACES CRISIS
If His Political Program
Fails His Downfall Is
in Sight

CHICAGO, I'LL, November Or
ganized labor throughout the United
States is looking forward with keen !
est interest to the annual convention
OF the American Federation Of Labor, |
which is TO assemble in E'~neapolis |
week after next. There is no con-
cealing the fact that the rank and
file of the organization looks upon the
approaching gathering as the most
important in the history of the fed
Grafton, which entends over a quarter
of a century. There is a feeling,
which has yet been scarcely given ex-
preston, that the organization is APP
, preaching a crisis in it's career.
Has Gompers Proved a Frost?
To put the situation into plain
words, it is becoming recognized
among the more intelligent Of the
labor element that the political pro-
gramme of President Gompers and
his advisers has proven a frost"
Some of the prominent leaders no
not hesitate even now to say SO. If
the elections next Tuesday are dis
astrous to the plans of the American
Federation Of Labor or, in other
words, If the Congressional candidates
that the Federation has marked for
defeat are reelected by normal ma
jorities, it is safe to say that Mr.,
Gompers reputation as a leader will
suffer terribly. That the reaction
against his leadership will be suf-
ficiently strong to result In his over
throw at the Minneapolis convention
is scarcely probable under any circum-
stances. He has successfully guided
the organization for years and his
personal popularity among the rank
and file is believed sufficient to keep
him in power. But it is also prob
able that he will be forced to en-
tirely abandon his political schemes
| or put them upon wholly new basis.
Railroad Men Eschew Politics.
While the radical element Of or
ganized labor enthusiastically en-
| braced the scheme of going into pol
itics, it is at the same time true that
| the more conservative of the organic
atoms, such as the railway brother
hoods, the painters, and others, have
been only lukewarm in the support of
the political programme. The senti-
ment of those opposed to President
Gompers is well set forth in an edi-
| torial appearing in the official organ
this week of one of the strongest and
most influential labor organizations
part:
| I'VE regret, but we are not sur
prised at the apathy of the unor-
ganized and the absence Of enthus-
iasm on the part of the organized
workers In the political campaign
| The executive council of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor must feel
discouraged at the GOODNESS with
which their plans were received and
disappointed at the lack of interest
shown by those active in the move
ment. 1t is not difficult to account
for this unfortunate situation. Those
responsible cannot plead ignorance of
the methods of trade unions or Of
the sentiments of their memberships.
No one knows better than President
Gompers that trade unionists the
world over are staunch believers in
self-government, that they have con-
fidence in their ability to decide for
| themselves what policy is best for
them to adopt, how and by whom it
shall be carried out, and now the
funds necessary for it's carrying out
shall be provided.
Will Not Be Dictated To.
They refuse to be committed TO
any programme in the adoption of
which they are not consulted, and re-
sent the assumption of irresponsible
| authority and even the semhlan:e Of
dictation by their leaders. Yet -
knowing the aggressive democracy of
trade unionsnl-President Gompers
and the executive council, with
out consulting the three million
members of the American Federation
of Labor. decided to commit the trade
unionists of the United States to
platform in which they bod no hand
In framing. to a policy which many
think ill-advised and impractical, To
a campaign for which no adequate
plans have been made or funds pro-
| vided"