The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-01-18
DILETTANTES HIT
HARD BY GOMPERS
Continued from Page I.


In any true sense Of the Words
Considerable feeling has been en-
gendered by the action of the in
dustrial relations committee of the
commission Of the church and social
service, in that the wording of the
protest, in substance assumes that
the appointees representing organized
labor ARE not only largely unknown
and without adequate weight, and
are not social workers or economic
students In any true sense Of the
words"
Category of Arrogance.
This assumption falls within the
category of arrogance. The organ
lied labor movement is the. only in
st1tution that deals in a practical
manner with the social problems of
the day. Economic Students in
the trade unions may not have at
tached to. them the appendages signi-
tying that they are the possessors of
university or college degrees, but the
results accomplished by them are far
more important and far-reaching
than the combined achievements of
theoretical economists.
Letters have been transmitted to
Secretary Macfarland severely criti-
c1slng the position taken by the in
dustrial relations committee Of the
organization he represents. In con-
sequence thereof Secretary Macfar-
land, in answering one of the letters
referred to, assumes that, according
to his Interpretation, the Industrial
relations committee did not have in
mind the appointees representing or
ganlzed labor in drafting the pro-
test. Other letters, however. from
individual members Of the committee
take an opposite view, and vigorous
ly assert that the indictment against
all the appointees on the industrial
relations commission was intended. A
letter from one member of the COM
mlttee condemns in plain terms all
officials of the trade unions and the
American Federation of Labor.
Monopoly on Acumen.
The presumptuousness of come
members of the protesting committee
in their attitude toward the ap-
polntees representing organized labor
is In accord with the monopolistic
tendencies Of the day, in that it is
easily discernible that some of the
protestants, at least, are imbued with
the idea that they are in possession
of all the economic acumen, and none
but they are fitted to carry forward
the work of meeting and solving the
social problems of our day.
In connection with this subject an
incident Of recent occurrence Is an
apropos. John B. Andrews, secre-
tary of the American Association Of
Labor legislation, is one of the lead
ing protestants against the confirma.
ton of the commission. A few days
ago Mr.. Andrews, in a letter to Pres
1dent Gompers, notified him that he
{Mr. Gompers) had been reelected
vice president of the American Asso-
citation of Labor legislation. In re-
ply thereto President Gompers states
in succinct and clear language his
attitude in the controversy. The let
ter follows:
Hot Letter to Andrews.
Dear Sir:-Your favor of Jan. 2
received, In which You notify me Of
my reelection as vice president of
the American Association of Labor
legislation at the sixth annual meet
ing in Boston. Dec. %, 1912. am
glad to accept the position, and am
willing to serve as best I can.
But I cannot fail to reflect upon
the peculiar position presented, in
that you and several of our: associ-
ates should have entered protest
against the two representatives of the
American Federation of Labor being
appointed by the president on the in
dustrial relations commission, the
commission to inquire into the causes
OF unrest among the working people
of our country, and to inquire into the
relations between workmen and en-
ployers-a protest against two men
who have made a life study. not AZ
dilettantes, but who have given more
than 30 years of their time in deal
Ing with the. everyday problem of
the relations between workmen and
their employers. -. &.~.S
In all the years of my long expert