The Cordova daily times., 1919-09-12
COMPERS TEACHES AMERICANISM
 AS ANTIDOTE FOR BOLSHEVIKISM
BOlshevism.


 Americanism!-"th hope of the world"-pot Bolshevism-'the enemy of civilization.''
 This is the stand of Samuel Com pers, president of the American Fed eration of Labor, and the thousands upon thousands of loyal American men and women for whom he speaks. Loyalty to America, and to all the democratic and constructive princi- ples for which 1t stands-this is the duty, as MT. Gompers sees it, of all the people who live in this land.
 Right and justice and freedom for America and all Americans, these are the principles for which he stands, declares the federation leader. Mr. Gompers has very aptly de- fined what America is:
 America is not merely a name, a land, a country, a continent. America is a symbol It is an ideal, the hope of the world"
 America has no place for the per son who will not work, or fight, if need be, for it's institutions and ideals, says MT. Gompers. He says:
 "I do not know that I am entitled to very great credit because I am not a Bolshevik. With my understanding of American institutions and Ameri- can opportunities, I repeat that the man who would not be patriot in defense of the institutions of our country would be undeserving the privilege of living in this country" Freedom, too, has been defined by MT. Gompers:
 Freedom is not a condition. Free dom is the exercise, the functioning of freedom in the human family to make today a better day than yester- day, to make tomorrow's tomorrow each a better day than the one that has gone before. That evolutionary process of progress and improvement is the basis for the opportunity of freedom, justice and democracy"
 It is because he knows that Bolshe- vism is not the right road to travel, MT. Gompers says, that he does not join the movement. He says:
 BosheVsm Leads Nowhere
 If I thought that Bolshevism was the right road to go, that it meant freedom, justice and the principles of humane society and living condi- tiOns, 1 would join the BOlsheviki. It is because that I know the whole thing leads to nowhere, that it is destructive in it's efforts and in it's every activity, that it compels reac- tion and brings about a situation worse than the one it has undertaken to displace, that I oppose and fight it."
 The foundations of the American labor movement the ideals on which it is based and it's aims, are summed up in enc sentence by the labor eX- ecUtive:
 The American labor movement is founded upon the historic develop ment of conditions of industry and commerce in our country, based upon the ideas and ideals of American in- stitutiOns; it is a movement that is rational, orderly and yet insistent that the rights to which the workers are entitled shall be fully accorded" In another sentence MT. Gompers defines the labor movement, declaring that it's fruits are due to those WhO serve for the betterment of society and work for the betterment of peo- pies everywhere.
 I've believe in progress; we be- lieve that all the fruits and the re- suits of the genius of past ages and of today do not belong to any partic ular class, that they belong in truth as fair share and opportunity for fair share, to every man and woman who gives service to society and who aids civilization"
 Standards of life of the American working people must not be lowered, MT. Gompers declares. Workers must be given time for the improve ment of their minds, body and spirit, he says. The labor leader would