Evening journal., 1919-09-23
The ISSUE
From The New York Tribune. }

slowly. as their way is. the American
people are beginning TO see the issue.
A twilight zone is clearing up. What
remains Is straight and vivid line.
On one side is a violent. intoxicated
minority. Under pretence Of advancing
me welfare of organized labor. 10 seeks
by revolutionary means to oYerturn
WHIST IS FOR the purpose. then, OF re-
cssiine the social order agrceably TO IFS
sppeiies. pet passions ANA phantasies.
ON the other side are all the rest
OF us.
The strike no longer represents a
failure in economic adjustment between
employe and employer. 10 has become
instead a sinister. artificial thing, a re-
source OF disorganization. means TO
further ends, an ugly pOrtent.
Take The steel workers. Never before
were they so well paid. both actually
and relatively Their wages have risen
faster than the cost of living, as simple
statistics prove. Their hours Of labor
are no longer than they were the con
diuOns under which they work are
rather better than worse, tending TO
Improve. not magcaliy, but steadily. /
Yet it Is proposed In the name Of these !
workers suddenly 10 paralyze Americas |
Industry az most critical time in our /
economic history.
For what?
Nominally. for better wages, for .
shorter hours and for ten or twelve .
other benefits. 4 great majority Of the 4
men suppose they strike for these .
lhings and for nothing else. But The
vanity Of ambition is hard 10 restrain. +
70 beirays the case.
Fitzpatrick, chairman ~ the Commit /
tee of Twenly-four. representing the .
twcnty-four separate American Fedora .
ton Of Labor unions participating gives .
The true reasons. lie says:"We are go .
ing 10 socialize the basic industries OF
lhe United STATES This Is the begin
ming Of the lght."
We are going TO soclalize the bacis in /
dustries.
70 shall not be left 10 public opinion. f.
n is not a political question. 10 is a /
thing 10 be accomplished by right Of I
The power Of destruction which twenty !
four trade unions have-Or think they /
have over The economic structure.
They cannot do it This is not Rus
sia. The American majority. vhen
pressed too far, Is the most ruthless
and resourceful majority i'm the world
10 will take care Of itself But 70 Is slow
10 take serious thought; n never takes
measures until something has happened /
io make iis blood run hot That is why
We are actually In danger Of coming 10
such struggle with the forces Of un-
restraint as VIII be devastating 10 pros
pcrity.
Conservative labor counsels are /
treated with increasing contempt The /
head OF The American Federation Of /
Labor is American and anti-BOlshevik; /
but the American Federation Of Labor /
is a divided household. Destructive /
elements are gaining sway Mr.. Comp |
ers apparently has not the courage 10 I
challenge those who believe In direct .
action for both economic and political 4
ends and are seeking 10 get cOutrol OF /
the labor movement
great schism seems inevitable and /
The sooner il somes The better Tor
meanwhile there is utter confusion.
The American Federation Of Labor
profess not 90 stand for turning The
police power into workers councils;
vet II does not denounce what took
place in Boston. n repudiates the
theory and supports the fact.
The American Federation OF Labor
processes not 20 stand for The social
ization Of basic industries: yet u does
not repudlate the statement that such .
is the ultimate purpose Of the steel
strike. Instead, IL supports the steel
strikers
The American Federation processes
not TO stand FOR The kind Of happy, ire