The sun., 1919-10-03
The Face Behind the wh,skers.

The Face Behind the Whiskers.
The moving spirit and chief organ
dzer of the attempt to establish for
the vast steel Industry a supergov-
eminent outside of itself and outside
of the Federal system was to have tes-
titled yesterday before the Senate
Labor Committee, but his appearance
was postponed. The questions asked
of Mr.. WILLIAM z. FOSTER and his
replies to his inquisitors are not
likely TO change in any respect
the impression caused by the discos-
ure of his earlier preachings, between
red covers, of the abhorrent doctrines
of Syndlcalism and sabotage. of revo-
luton in the industrial system by any
criminal means that seem expedient
TO the revolutionists, of the repudia-
tion of all obligations to law and mo-
rality, of incorporating enmity to
Government itself.
When Mr.. FOSTER of the red PAM
phlet was first exhibited to the coun-
try In his true personal aspect and in
his own seditious language he imme-
diately took refuge behind a statute
of limitations enacted solely by him.
self and for himself. He attempted
to dispose of his red programme of
robbery, of violence, Of murder, of
treason in the name of industrial rev.
olution in this convenient manner
"It's old stuff; 1t has whiskers on it.
haven't seen 1t for years" At the
same time the prime mover in the
steel strike intimated that he had in
press or in preparation new treat
Use which would more correctly rep
resent his present views Of the proper
attitude of organized labor toward
American industry under the Ameri-
can system and the laws of the United
States. A new pamphlet entitled
''Trade Unionism The Road to Free
dom, by WILLIAM Y. FOSTER" has
come into the possession of The SUN.
1t is published at fifteen cents a copy
by the international Trade Union
Educational League" at 6042 Eber-
bart avenue, Chicago, and the color
OF the cover has been changed from
red to white.
In our desire to be entirely fair to
this prophet of Industrial revolution
we have examined with care Mr..
FosTER's white pamphlet for evidence
of any change of heart, of spirit or of
ayowed convictions which may be put
TO his credit as an American and a
fellow citizen. We are sorry to say
that such evidence is lacking. There
is some change of tone in the verbal
expression of Mr.. Fosters senti-
fpents, but this superficial change
may be attributed with good reason
to natural prudence rather than to
moral or intellectual reform; to the
promptings of expediency in the pres
ent situation rather than to any less
audacious conception of his relation
to the laws of social order to which,
IN this republic of law. employers and
employees are alike responsible. There
is not word of reputation. There
IS not word of disavowal. The In
fammatory purpose is as manifest In
the white as In the red treatise. 1t
Is true that We have here from Mr..
FOSTER no further specific instruction
in the methods of violence, no fur
Their open declaration like that which
impelled him when in the whiskered
state to declare in the name of Syn
dicalism that the syndicnlist "knows
that the laws, as we'll as the current
code Of morals, are made by his NOR
tai enemies, and considers himself
about as much bound by them as a
householder would himself by regula-
tons regarding burglary adopted by
an association of housebreakers. ;"
Syndicalism is not even mentioned in
Mr.. WILLIAM n. FosTER's latest ut
terance; but behind the face shaver
for disguise are the same defiant, de-
structive, seditious thoughts and pur-
poses that have recently shocked the
country. law abiding labor along with
the rest. Hear the prophet now:
with its growing power Organized
Labor will go on winning greater and
greater concessions regardless of how
profound they may be. 1t is the
purest assumption to state that the
Trade Unions would balk at the over
throw Of the wages system. True.
the Trade Union Movement doesn't
generally propagate the idea that it
aims at the overthrow OF the wages
system. But this Is because Il has
mot yet become conscious Of its Jun