The Washington herald., 1907-11-18
GOMPERS ANSWERED
American Industries Con-
tainS Renewal of Charges.
COMPANIES PAYING TRIBUTE
Asserts that Advertisements in the
FederatiOnist, Organ Of the Ameri-
serted by Manufacturers Who Can
not Be Directly Benefited.


nation by a firm OF New York account
ants. American Industries. official organ
Of the National Association OF Manufac-
turers. 7enews its charges against Presi-
/ dent GOmpers and other officers Of the
/ American Federation Of Labor that were
/ printed in its first issue. and which were
I last week denied emphatically BY Presi-
/ dent Gompers.
/ IT says: The charges stand without
/ any effective denial Further than that,
! it is significant that on the morning after
| its appearance great quantity Of papers.
1 letter files, and records were removed
/ from the New York Office OF the Ameri-
/ can Federation Of Labor and presumably
/ destroyed. according 70 credible eye-wit-
/ ness reports.
The advertising man OF the Fedora
/ zionist is John Morrison. Figures from
monthly reports show that his yearly
commission averages j5.5 per cent. or
about $1,000 per year This income ex-
ceeds that OF some advertising managers
OF the most prominent monthly maya
zines that carry advertising sections a
score OF times as large as that OF the
Federationist.
Could Not Be Benefited.
a perusal Of the pages OF the Ameri-
can Federationist discloses the fact that
many columns are carried that are Of a
business nature that could not De directly
and legitimately benefited by the pur-
chase and use OF such space. Indeed
there can be no question that under the
/ suggestion, this will put YOU right with
! the boys manufacturers. such as auto
mobile companies and others Of A ike
character, pay Il tribute in this way for
/ immunity from attack. Even II such
methods were sanctioned by organized
/ labor il does not appear from the report
that the resultant financial benefit is
shared by more than few men. since
II goes into their individual pockets while
/ the mass have 10 pay the deficit "
Quoting from the accountants report
! il says:
Each year since 1904 the amount col
lected from advertisers has diminished.
but the percentage paid in commissions
has Increased until for the year 1906 IL
was 56.7 per cent, ard for the first ten
months of 1907 an average Of 90 Der
cent has been maintained. amounting 20
$io,94956 or about SIS per day. From
these figures il would appear that the
average amount paid 20 the advertising
solicitor during the past five years has
been maintained AT approximately SIS Der
day. regardless of the percentage Of the
/ receipts necessary to accomplish this re-
suit
The question naturally arises Is Mr..
John Morrison. advertising solicitor al
lowed TO retain this full amount? Does
he receive more than S1O0O per month for
his own use. or does he divide the amount
with some other person or persons? sam
j
| of $3.50 per month (and expenses). while
Frank Morrison. secretary. is paid s2lS. .S3
salary (and expenses. is il logical TO
! suppose that an advertising solicitor en-
gagged by Mr.. Gompers would be paid 81
much in excess OF the income Of the per-
son Kho employs him?
Advertising Solicitor.
Would it not be natural for Mr. Com
| pers TO take the position of advertisiDg
solicitor in preference TO that of president
Of the American Federation Of Labor if
the remuneration and emoluments Of the
respective positions are as would auoear
from the figures submitted? Mr.. Com
pers. II looking only to the best interest
or the American Federation Of I.abor
could scarcely be so ignorant as to make
an agreement whereby an advertising So
hcitor would receive a compensation so
TAR in excess of the amount for which
he could have engaged a reputable and
established advertising agency to han5le
the business and thus relieve the offjc.
of the American Federation of Labor Of
the work and expense OF handling all the
details This expense, Of course is
charged TO the publication.
The fact that the monthly reports do
not show any salary charges against the
American FederatiOnist is significant and
may cover some iTregularity.
This question of advertising is one
point that certainly shows poor manage
ment and gross negligence. II nothing
more Having no data available from
which TO determine the circulation OF the
American Federationist, the number of
pages in the publication for each vear i
shown and used as a basis for comparison
OF printing and other expenses. The
amount shown as received from subscrlp-
tions will also give some idea as TO circu-
lation. although the number Of copies fl,r-
nished free 10 organizers and Others re-
mains an unknown quantity.
Finally. In our opinion. after an ex-
haustive examination Of all the data
available. the accounts OF the American
Federation Of Labor are kept in such
form that almost any irregularities are
possible, and that the way is open for
juggling OF figures and the improper dis
bursement Of funds. Beyond what We
have indicated. there is no actual proof
that such IS the case. but certainly no
great organization can be properly ad-
ministered and its members be certain of
the honesty OF that administration under
system that gives rise to so many
grave suspfciOus"