New-York tribune., 1919-11-09
Ole Hanson Attacks
Gonlpors for Stand
On Miners Strike
Former Mayor of Seattle
Says American Federation
of Labor Is Being turned
Over to Reds of Country

Ole Hansos', VINO as the former fight
ing Mayor of Seattle has established
Headquarters in New York and IS maxi
ing speaking tour Of the East in OPP
position to radical policies, broke a
long standing friendship with Samuel
Compers yesterday when ne ISSUED a
statement donouncing the A. +. of L..
president for the lAtter's stand on the
labor question.
Nj Hanson says that Mr.. Gompers
mas made Il complete change of his
policies in the last month or so, and
that his defense of the coal strike, its
leaders and its ans is sufficient to
brand him as untrue to the highest
American principles.
The statement, which was wired to
New York by Mr. Hanson from C.eye-
and, follows:
Il note that Samuel Gompers has
stated that Reds are nor influencing
the American Federation of Labor;
that talk too much; that know lit
Tie of labor conditions; that the coal
miners demands are conservative, that
unrest is necessary.
The Reds are influencing the Amer
ican Federation; there are nearly 300
strikes. and 80 per cent of those strikes
are laWess strikes. and called spite
Of the wishes OF Gonpers. The Reds
are influencing the Federation and ar
also apparently winning Mr. Gompers
away from his conservative stand Of
the past The Reds are Influencing the
Federation. Wha' is Foster but a
Red? What was found IN Gary. Ind
by General Wood? What circulars and
propaganda are being distl bueod in
he Federation halls
Question of Free Speech
"Gompcrs says l talk too much.
Probably am talking too much 10
suit the men who control the soviet
which is trying to run this country.
would rather talk too much and tel the
ruth than keep coward Y silence.
Gompers apparently believes in free
speech for himself only; but this is
America, Mr.. Gompers. and while YOU
have the right 70 talk al You W sin [
Will do the same, even thoulh you are
pres dent of the American Federation
Of Labor.
MIR. Gompers says l know little Of
labor conditions. Perhaps SO. but
have visited twcnty-odd states in the
last forty days. and everywhere | find
the rank and file Of the people sick and
fed ~ with your str kes MIR Gomuers.
They belicv- this country should be
run by the ma iority Of The people and
rot by minority OF aeitators.
You say the miners' demands arc
conservative. A six hour day md
fiveday week and Go per cent Increase
pay may look conservative t. YOU.
seeing your chance during he last
thirty days bus say TO you. Mr.. Com
pers, that the people Of this ceur-rv
VIII not allow YOU and the eoal mine
owners to settle this strike and pass
the cost OF the hoid-up ONO them
They believe this is q hold up: chat
THIS Is not slX-hour country. If the
coal miners can mine all the Goa we
need IN 5 x hours there Gro too many
coal miners. and onc-fourth Of them
should go at other work
Why Unrest Is Necessary
you say unrest is uecossar It
surely is if the labor aeitator an9
Iabor oXploiter are to continue 10 live
without working. no unrest mo lob.
New Mr.. Gompors you said a fey
days ago IN pub ned intcrv:ew that
you wou d cooperate with me in driv-
,ng out the Rods in your organization.
Now you say there are no hcds You
know there are Reds ard plenty of
hem. Yau know just WHIT they are
doing and trying 70 do. You know that
the American Federation Of Labor is
m danger right now of being turned
eek stock and barrel, over t. them.
Why camoudage? Why misreprcsentq
Why argue that Foster is not REDO
Why araue that the coal strike is no,
a Red strike? You know it is. Whv
try to defend The wrong?
Il say to you tina. defe1se Of the
Reds IN your organization VIII not
avail. The American Federation #
Labor must either drive OUT the Reds
or they Will he cleaned out bv the
American people,"