Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1919-11-17
The President and Mr.. eOmpers


There is nothing more transitory in this transit
tory world than political alignments. Factions and
men become bed fellows just for night and then
90 ter several ways is, of better for the
world that things in such state OF lux; otner
wise II would become inanimate
Three years ago it looked II a coalition was be-
ing formed by organized labor and the national demo-
cratic party Mr. Gompers to be regarded as
one of the special advisors of the president One de-
nand after another made by organized labor was ac-
coded TO by the administration. The powerful influ-
euce Of the president used to force through con-
gress legislation that labor demanded and which
could have been enacted only by most subservient
congress- for It class legislation
In return so far as it could be done, labor was
drawn into politics and made part OF the democratic
party something that the wisest and most farseeng
n, labor leaders had always warned against On the
other hand the democratic party appeared to have
staked its future organized labor
The first instalment of the debt of organized
labor was paid to the administration in the elections
Of 1915 The second paid TO the administration
and incidentally, to the whole country after we en-
tered the war. But all American citizens, farmers
capitalists non-union and professional men were
doing the same thing.
In the elections of 1918. though labor was sup
enthusiasm than ever at the special behest of the
president it was demonstrated that 1t was opposed
10 greater force than a national political party and
powerful labor organization-the great independent
,ot. Of the country which swung away from democ-
racy and organized labor.
The president himself perceived that the favorit-
ism shown organized labor was one of the causes OF
the democratic defeat; that the democratic party
could be reinstaed in the favor of the people il at
all only by extending to all the people the same con-
sidsration which had been given to small but well
organized part Of It. The republican party more pow
erfui than the democratic party and more skilfully
led had been smashed in 1910 and again In 1912 by
this same independent force which had overturned
democracy in 1918. This was force which would
not tolerate favoritism whether the favorite was
capital labor.
Thereafter the president began adroity to loosen
the bond by which he had bound himself to labor.
The first rift between him and Mr.. Gompers one
almost unnoticed occasioned by the agreement
at Paris on the labor provisions of the of
the League Of Nations Mr.. Gompers though regarded
tho presidents concurrence as surrender and not as
expressive Of his wishes or his Judgment.
Burleson too had ranked in the side of labor and
his retention after the of the president from
Paris the second time. after he had been especially
condemned by the American Federation of
Labor, was cause Of complaining Then
came the steel strike which had the earnest
support the federation. Though the strike not
condemned by the administration there had not been
given TO Il that cement which the federation
might have expected from ally Then, too the de-
mand Of the railway workers for further increase
Of wages brought only procrastinaton The activity
of the government in suppressing the Los Angeles
strike occasoned perceptbls widening of the breach
The coal strike ushered in government by injunc-
ton always hateful to organized labor in form more
hateful than any which had been presented That
seemed the last straw. but it not The last was
tho congratulation teegraphed by the president to
Governor Coolidge Of Massachusetts, his election
on an issue which the American Federation of Labor
had encouraged and had placed itself the oppos-
ing side-the federation had endorsed the strike Of
the Boston policemen. The president might we'll
have telegraphed Governor Coolidge his congratula-
tions having beaten Mr. Gompers.
Though the latter has not definitely broken with
the president, in statement the other day. con-
corning the coal strike Injunction he conveyed his
entire want Of sympathy with the democratic party
as It is represented in the national administration.
He plainly stated that he mot tied to any ad-
mlnistration."
That thinks the Galveston News, indicates that
Mr. Gompers will shortly give notice of the with
drawai of the favor which pc has bestowed upon the
administration and 1t adds: There are a great
many democrats who win probably think It unfor-
tunate that what he (Mr Gompers) threatens to do,
no ala not do a long time ago.
The News further says for the edification of
party men as well as organized labor:
II is at least questionable whether the support
which Mr. Gompers and the Federation Of Labor have
given to the Wilson administration has not been too
ostentatious to make It political asset in the pres
ent temper Of the country. Presumably organized
labor supported the candidacy of Mr. Long in the
recent gubernatoral contest in Massachusetts with
an approach to unanimity that has probably never
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