The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-27

souerhuon IL the Issue arises. Foster IL
nothing II not seif-possessed. He has
not receded an inch from. his radical
lines; he has not left Mr.. Gompers under
any Misrepresentation Neither does he
seek to have his radlcalsm excused. He
mas put his future as a federation leader
sQuarely up to Mr.. Gompers.
But the situation shapes up like this !:
Foster has raised his Bolshevist ban
ners and thousands of alien workmen
have rallied hereunder. He was en-
trusted with the work he Is now doing
by the American Federation of Labor.
Whether Mr.. Gompers knew of Fosters
I. w. W. affiliations before his member
ship in the A. F. Of L. is only con-
tecturable: But it is to be said for Mr..
Gompers that the latter did not know
all about Fosters Bolshevist programme
until few days ago.
Further. Foster has drawn upon him
self the concentrated fire of the con-
sentative element of the A. F. of L. Mr..
Gompers Ia himself a conservative. But
Mr. Gompers and his conservative lieu
tenants see more than Foster in the
steel strike. They look for the principle
OF collective bargaining to triumph in
such way that no trace of Bolshevism
may be seen in the victory. If this could
be brought about Foster could be rele-
gated to some berth where inaction
would render him harmless Or he
might resign from the federation and
once outside lose the prestige that is
more than half his battle.
Responsibility is Gompers's.
But the fact remains that Foster is
the radical leader of the steel strikers /:
that he has offered to quit IL Mr.. Com
to y III
Thus Foster and his Bolshevism are put
up squarely to Mr.. Gompers. And Mr..
Gompers finds that he cannot break
Foster without so Gripping the steel
strike that the strikers, left leaderless,
would be demoralzed and routed. Then.
too, Mr.. Gompers may not consider the
time proritious for an open fight with
the radical faction of the A. F. Of L.
an element never so active as now.
In other words-and to use the words
Of one of Fosters aids - Mr.. Gompers
dare not now leave the steel strikers
fiat without precipitating a fight with
in the federation. And this Is not to
be done on the eve of the capital and
labor conference in Washington next
month II the federation hopes to gain
any Of its points.
II any one fact is more definite than
another II is this:
Had the American workmen who
voted to strike known that the walkout
was to be converted into a demonstra-
ton of Bolsheyism they would never
have voted in favor Of 1t.
The Department of Justice Is in con-
troll u the radical element in this strike.
There can be no doubt of that. Foster
and each Of his radical aids are under
surveillance. Radical talk and Bolshe-
visit propaganda are being noted and run
down. Fosters disregard of discretion
in his utterances has not made his path
easier of travel. William ]. Flynn, chief
of the United States Secret Service. ad-
mits he is in Pittsburg to watch a Ger
tain element in the steel strike"
Foster is not going to resign of his
own volition. but the chances are that
Mr.. Gompers would like to read such
resignation.
WAsHINGroN, Sept. 26.--After hear
ing Samuel Gompers, president OF the
American Federation of Labor, for more
than three hours the Senate committee
investigating the steel strike to-day
abandoned It's plans to examine to-mor-
row William 2. Foster, secretary of the
steel workers committee, who has been
attacked. in the House OF Representa-
t.ves as a radical and an ]. w. w.
Chairman Kenyon (Iowa) announced
that the inquiry would not be resumed
until next Wednesday, when Judge
Ebert H. Gary, chairman of the board
of directors OF the United States Steel
Corporation. will be heard. He gave no
reason for not hearing Foster tomorrow.
but other members of the committee said
later that Foster would be called before
the committee at some future time.