Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-09-19
Some Significant Facts i'm Regard
to the American Labor
Movement.
A Closer Union of Socialists and
Trades UniOnists Covertly
Desired.
ABSOLUTELY FALSE STATEMENTS

In the advance sheets of the
translation of his work, "Observa-
tions On the Labor Movement of
America" consisting of information
Cleaned while on tour of this
country in 1912, Carl Legien, former
Secretary of the International
Secretariat of Trade Unions and
now President of the International
Federation of Labor, points to some
very significant facts and notes for
us some dangerous tendencies in the
American labor movement. Legien,
is must be remembered, is a Social
list; a cursory reading of the copy of
his book would reveal that. Although
| the Eastern part of his tour was
undertaken under the auspices of
| the American Federation of Labor,
he continually consorted with the
Socialists and was to a great degree
| apparently preaching Socialist doc
trine. At Indianapolis he listened
eagerly to the tale of woe of one
| Speyer, assistant editor of the Car
penters' Magazine, who complained
that the Secretary of the Interna-
| tional union, Frank Duffy, now a
member of the Executive Council of
| the A. F. of L., was ga fanatical
Catholic" and would not allow the
editor to print Socialist matter in the
magazine. He also declared that
"though most of the members hold
| opinions at variance with those of
| the Secretary, he is regularly re-
elected to office" through the aid
/ L l.. aI,s. 90 = hfo1a
is absolutely false. He accused the
officers of other unions of similar
| tactics.
Legien also had to have his tour
| altered by the American Federation
of Labor so that he might attend the
convention of the Socialist party in
Indianapolis. In speaking of his
| address before Congress, he ex-
pressed the hope that he might make
some of those to whom he spoke see
red. In describing his trip to Cleve-
land he expends much time in at
tacking an organizer of the Bar
tenders Union and of the A. F. OF
L., who was "a strong Socialist
hater," and sympathizes very much
with Socialist singing society
which refused to sing because of this
obnoxious individual. His interest at
all times, as evidenced in his ac-
count of his Cincinnati visit, seems
more centered in the American
Socialist movement than in the
American trade unions. He also
Significantly remarks that he was
much bewildered when prior to
starting my meeting l was fire.
quently asked by people who repre-
sented themselves as being members
of the Socialist party to refrain from
attacking the church. With this re-
| quest / could not comply, as l was
to speak not of American but of
German conditions, and in Germany
the church always aimed to obstruct
the attempts of the working class to
attain a decent existence and free
dom and equality statement
which is merely a rehash of the lying
charges of DR.. Erdmann which Theo.
Brauer answered so decisively in his
pamphlet on the Christian trade
unions of Germany.
The important points to be en-
phasized in this regard are these:
In the first place, this lecture tour
of Legien's was organized under the
Joint auspices of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor and the Socialist
party, the former conducting the
Eastern tour, the latter the Western,
thereby in the popular mind connect
ing the two associations, whereas as
matter of fact not one third OF the
Socialist party membership are trade
unionists, and but a small number OF
trade unionists are Socialists. Legien
himself expresses the hope that the
trip and his report twill have the
effect of bringing the Socialist party
and the trade unions of the United
States closer together" Secondly,
Legien took advantage OF his position
even under the auspices of the A. +.
Of L. to falsely attack the church.
Thirdly, he was quite intent on
spreading the light of Socialist doc
trine. The international labor move
ment, as 1t has been called, ever
since the A. +. OF L. affiliated with
II, has proven above all nothing
more nor less than a vehicle for
Socialist propaganda In the latter
body. IT'S news letters violently and
falsely attack the Christian unions
: land from Legien's book we learn
that its head and principal spokes-
man attacked the faith OF those who
make up a not inconsiderable num-
ber OF the American trade unionists.
How long are American Catholic
workingmen going TO allow this
condition TO exist? To split the
American labor movement. as will
have to be done II this policy con-
tinues to grow as II has in the past,
would be a calamity-to the church
In this country as TO the unions
here. The fight against these things
: must be carried on within the labor
movement. The Socialists must not
: obtain control Of the A. r. Of l.. And
in order to prevent all these catas-
: trophies the American workingmen,
] whiIa working diliseptly with their