The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-04
SAYS PROHIBITION
AIDS RADICALISM
Gompers Sends Report of
Conditions in Michigan to
Senate Committee.
CHARGES UNREST TO DRYs
Labor Leader Declares Work
ers There Are Flocking to
I. w. w. In Shoals.
sp.c.nr psspatcA 70 Tnr Sos.

bpoCtOt
WASHINGTON, July s. Bolshevism
and all sorts Of radicalisms. ranging
from anarchy to harmless parlor social
ism, have made such strides In the State
Of Michigan since that state Joined the
dry column that the situation is sinister
and threatening to American institu-
lions, according to q special report hled
before the Senate Judiciary COMMITTEES
to-day by Samuel Gompers. president Of
the American Federation Of Labor.
The Gompers statement was called
forth by the declaration OF western
Representative that prohibition tended
to Industrial peace. Mr.. GomperB makes
a forceful reply, in which he declares
that absence OF beer among the work.
ingmen - not only responsible for much
Industrial unrest but 10 breeding dan
gerous and threatening radicalism. 1t
was based on o special Investigation In
the city OF Detroit. the first large city to
20 dry, and the State Of Michigan, where
there IL a great mining industry. While
the name Of the dry Representative ID
not given the statement Ia understood
to refer to Mr.. Cooper.
Puts Blame on Prohibitionists.
MT. tOmperS IN MS TtpOit ucSioico
vehernently that II the astounding
growth Of radicalism leads to serious re-
suits tie prohibitionists could not escape
responsibility. He prefaced his report
to the committee with the statement that
prior to May. 1918. when Michigan went
dry, efforts OF the Reds to organize
Detroit met with repeated failures In
spite Of the fact that large sums were
spent for propaganda. In fourteen
months since prohibition was enacted.
he says, "the alteration In Detroit con-
ditions has been amazing, not to say
sinister and threatening"
Briefly Mr.. Gomper's report states:
"Since prohibition. the House of the
MaAses, the home OF the radicals in De-
trott. has built UP a membership OF a.
SOC, with 10000 shareholders and a cap
ital investment In the building Of $751;
600. More than $4,000 has been spent
In Detroit alone in propaganda work
"The Labor Museum. another radical
organisation, has capital investments Of
SIS, 900 in its Detroit building. Since
prohibition the miners OF Michigan have
been turning toward the I. W. W. In
droves."
Mr.. Gomperss report contains a list
Of forty-eisht radical organizations in
Detroit OF every race and every cult, all
cal teachings Of Lenine and Trotsky.
The radical propaganda that 10 max
ing Roadway SO rapidly In Detroit" says
| the report, ''is spreading throughout the
| State of Michigan. In the upper penin-
| sula the copper miners are in open re-
| volt against the absence OF their ac-
| customed beer. which they regard as q
part Of their daily diet.
| Skilled Workers Leaving.
"since prohibition set In many Of the
most skillful and best paid miners
around Calumet have quit their Jobs
and gone elsewhere. In the lower penin-
sula, and particularly In the Saginaw
Valley, where the coal miners are num-
erous. the unrest over conditions IL par
tlcularly acute. The dissatisfied miners
are turning toward rad!calism In
shoals"
| Mr.. Gompers points out in his repor,
that the workingman not only resents
| being deprived of his beer by the upper
classes but his indignation blazes forth
at the Idea that those who have taken
away from him this harmless beverage
have their cellars stocked against all
| future needs
| The moving spirits in the Employers
Association are strong for prohibition
| IN pupnc' says the report, while pri'
vately they have carloads or tralnload.
of wet goods for their own Consumption
In their city and country homes At the
sale Of the late J. p. Morgans wine eel.
lar a prominent member OF the Detroi,
Employers Association purchased s4o,.
900 worth OF choice wines and whiskief
for home consumption. He has been one
of the foremost supporters of prohibition
for Michigan, loudly denouncing the
workingman who would squander a
nickel on a glass of beer and thereby
wreck his health and imperil his finan.
cial future.
| The report mentions a case in Detroi,
where a woman was arrested and held
over for trial for brewing beer in hei
own home. 1t quotes the Judge OF thu
court before whom she appeared as say.
ing that II this policy Is pursued $4,000
Detroiters will be brought into court