New-York tribune., 1918-02-26
Senator Arraigns Labor
Slackers and Profteer-
ing Contractors
Says Government
Encourages Graft
Democrats Reply, Defend
ing Workers, Charging
Partisanship

day by Senator McCumber. of North
Dakota, Republican, as typifyng the
spread of what he called Bolshevik
movement in this country. The Sena.
tor delivered a two-hour prepared
speech, declaring proGtecring was en-
couraged by government officials, charg
ing that labor unionsm "is Stacking ir
a most shameful and disgraceful man.
ner" in shipbuilding and urging enact
ment OF his bill to draft for industrial
or agricultural service men between
eighteen and sixty-two years of age
Republican Leader Gallinger, of New
Hampshire, followed with an attack on
"criminal waste and extravaganza" in
| government activities, for which he
said those in office would be held re-
sponsible.
Senator Hollis, Of New Hampshire,
Democrat, and Senator Phelan, of Cali
fornia, replied with vigorous defence
Of labor's record. The latter observed
that Republican "drive" in the COM
ing campaign was being announced.
McCumber Blames |. w. w.
Senator McCumber disclaimed parti-
sanship and said his criticisms OF la
Dor "slacking" were meant principally
for Industrial Workers of the World
members. In his address the North
Dakota Senator had bitterly assailed
the Bolshevih government of Russia
Tor "damnable treachery and blackest
treason" in deserving the Allies.
His bill for drafting men for indus
trial or agricultural service, he said,
dld not propose conscription of labor.
but merely mobilization of the ma
tlon,s physical strength, which would
reach "slackers and dlers' and mill
ions Of men who have never been en-
gagged IN any gainfu trade or occupa-
tion.'
Denouncing The Bolshevih surrender
to Germany, Senator McCumber said
that a "Bolshevik'' sentiment in
America was of no less danger to the
cause Of democracy than against au-
tocracy
Unless conditions change, the SEN
ator declared, only collapse Of the
central Powers can save the Allies
from defeat. The Senator began with
denunciation of the Bolshevik sur
render.
Damnable Treachery
Search the worlds history" de-
clared the Senator, "and nothing can
be found even to approach this most
damnable trcachery to the faithful and
bleeding Allies-this blackest treason
to country and national honor. For
this ignominious surrender under Boil
shevlk reign let every Russian patriot
tor thousand years wear branded on
ms check the blush of shame
w lth this spectacle of national i'm
potency and disgrace before you, and
enlightened by the appalling conditions
IN oar shipyards, is it not about time
we were turning our attention to the
Bolshevik doctrine Of those in our own
country who are paralyzing the arms
OF the government and impe erlling the
lives OF our soldiers in France?
50, too, we have seen the effect of
this Bolshcvik sentiment, more, still
more, always more regardless of ius-
tlce, regardless Of patriotic duty, in
the shameful delay in ship construc-
'lon, on which the very life of a great
world principle depends. and we are
tod that all munition plants. every line
on industry upon which the life of the
government depends, will soon be re-
duced to the same condition of i'm
potency as the shipbuilding programme
The time has arrived for the Ameri-
can people to accept this challenge
Strikes at Profiteers
while this Bolshevik cancer. which
is sapping our strength and jeopardiz-
ing our safety, is not confined to any
one class, it nevertheless manifests
itself in its most Malignant form in
supply profiteering and in labor prof
ltecring in our shipyards."
IN SuDD1V DrOfitoor;pr Co,o+o.
Cumber said he would name only one
shipyard, Hog Island. The foundation
of that yard, he said "is laid on
graft and the cost of construction. he
said, will be "three or four times the
governments original estimate" add
ing "this single hold-up of the govern
$50 100000"
Like conditions prevail" he contin-
ued, '.throughout the country wherever
speeding up production has become
necessary. Contracts of the most
atroclous character, always against the
government, have been O. K.'d by gov
ernment officials. The government pays
every dollar of expense for raw ma
terlals, and yet pays individuals cnor-
nous profits. Men who never saw 8
shipyard, men who had no capital, have
been given contracts to build ships.
and they in turn have contracted to
sublet those contracts to others. re-
tanning big commissions. Banks have
charged immense bonuses for securing
contracts for their customers, and all
THIS within the knowledge Of. or easily
ootalnable by. government officials"
Despite the fact that the nation
needs ships as never before, in order
TO transport troops and supplies
abroad, and Notwithstanding the pa
trlotic fervor of Mr.. Gompers," union
labor IN our shipyards els stacking in
most shameful and disgraceful man
ner, the Senator declared
Just how long the American people
VIII submit to being robbed, first by
material men, then by the laborcr, and
then to having both robberies encour
aged and acquiesced in by the govern
ment. the Lord only knows.
Officials to Blame
"'f tne country is being robbed il
IS the fault of the officials in charge
and not because of lack of power to
prevent it,"
Senator McCumber estimated there
We're 100000 men between the ages
OF eighteen and sixty-two in IRIS
country doing practically nothing. but
vet soldiers are compelled to die for
these men"
When we send men to France and
then allow those remaining at home
TO receive either enormous wares for
LABOR which they, do not perform or