The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-12-11
SAMUEL GoMPERs AND VICTOR BERGER.


During the conventions Of the American Federation OF
Labor the Milwaukee Leader edited BY Victor q Berger
former Socialist congressman contained scurrlous edt
torial attacking the integrity of Samuel Gompers and
charging that Mr. Gompers betrayed organized labor
when he advised the Machnist other unions to be
careful and be influenced in promoting strikes at
the instgaon of of any Of the foreign
governments engaged In war. -. -. - -:
Mr.. Berger is decidedly proGerman in his SYM
pathes. Since Mr. Gompers issued his warning, the Ma
chniss union has succeeded in reducing the hours OF
labor and materially increasing the Of its members
in number Of plants busiy engaged in turning out
munitions of war for the Allies
The success of these unions prompted Mr. Berger to
question the integrity of Mr. Gompers, and until this
week he succeeded in leading large number of work
ngmen believe that Gompers betrayed them because
the fact that the President of the American Federation
of Labor, although of German parentage, born in
England and therefore had greater sympathy for
land than he had for labor. =
Mr.. Gompers charged in July last that emissares of
foreign governments had offered money prominent
labor leaders for the purpose of calling and financing
strikes in munition plants. He advised workngmen
be exceedingly careful to how they influenced
in the matter of strikes In the absence at the time
evidence to substantate Mr.: Gompers charge, Victor
Berger opportunity to attack the integrity of the
great leader of the American labor movement.
Now U. S. Attorney H. snowden Marshall with
statement declaring that he has Information which
d
Rintelen, held in British prison, used money
stir strikes in factories engaged manufacturing
munitions. Mr.. Marshall charges that the so-called
Labor National Peace Council financed by this
and that several subordinate labor leaders were
rupted but that the real labor leaders could
reached and they Immediately took prompt steps to check
the activities of the German representatives Some of
these labor leaders will be called before u s. grand
jury at Chicago testify knowledge of the
matter 49,:
Returning from San Francisco Mr. ,Gompers went to
Milwaukee last Sunday to Victor Berger sand to
exposehe real traitor to the working classes that city,
He refused to discuss the offer Of ENJOYS strikes
until after he shall testified before the
but he gave to the Milwaukee workingmen the Con
gressonal record of Mr. Berger and he made feel
ashamed for having been beguled by such a man to
represent them in Congress.
During his short period at Washington, Mr. Berger
voted to sustain the veto of former President Taft on
three important labor at time when
vote for labor needed. .'T -. =. - - 80.
Victor Berger sided with President Taft in the Imm
grafton bill proposed by organized labor, :'a@'' -"
He voted to support Mr. Taft when the president re-
fused to sign the bill exempting trade unions
antitrust law and to abrdge the power courts in
the matter of issuing injunctions labor strikes
He voted again-and this the most cruel blow to
labor OF ALTO sustain the veto Mr. on the Ap-
preparation BILL which contained provision denying to
the department of justice the right to use any of the
money of the United States prosecute members of
trade unions for alleged violation of the antitrust law
and particularly homes of the hatters at DAN
bury, Conn. .' :: -
When Mr.. Gompers charged Victor Berger with this
betrayal of labor in Milwaukee last Sunday evening the
only reply that Mr. Berger could was that he saw
IN these bills scheme for Democratic politicians
into power and get the labor is his own con-
fession and he put the interests of party above
welfare OF the working classes whom he pretended to
serve with such fealty: -. - "
Isn't it near time for the workingmen who have been
making balloon ascensions with Berger and his ik to
to earth and fight shoulder shoulder with
the men of labor who are trying build day by day
with such material as have in possession who
at least doing something more than shooting hot
=.