Evening journal., 1919-09-27
foster NOT A RED,
GOMPERS INSISTS
Tells Senate Inquiry Steel
Strike Leader is Real Con-
structionist Now
Us RADICAL
ONLY IN HIS YOUTH

WASHINGTON. Sept 27.-Two pic
lures Of Willilm Z. Foster, secretary
Of the national committee for the or
sanization Of the steel industry, whose
preachings at one time on syndicalism
and anlliatlon with the /. W. W. have
been one Of the features Of the steel
strike We're drawn yesterday for the
United states senate.
samuel GOmpers. president OF the
American Federation OF Labor, testify
ing before The Senate committee on la
Dor, said, as had John Fitzpatrick be-
fore him, that the quotations made
from Fosters writings We're The
"phaniasies Of his brain" as an i'm
petuous youth and that no man had
lone more constructive work for labor
han Foster in the last four or five
iears.
Senator Pomerene, Of Ohio. in dis
'ussing Foster and his writings. said
God help labor wpm T. gets into
the clutches Of men 4 that kind and
urged the Senate and Tie Amor lean
people. 'when forming a determination
OF what should be done in the present
situation, TO bear in mind the type uf
eader the strikers have"
This man with his rccOrd-1f pos
Ing as "A Syndicalist and ]. W. w
which he has paraded before the world.
is put up as the friend OF labor" sid
senator POmerene. Senators. am
got Understanding the seriousness o.
political conditions, but with tbs feel
.ng Of unrest that prevails AMI with
men like Foster, who respect neither
the laws Of God nor man, TO lead the
movement In the interest Of labor.
shocks ones reason.
"hl that men OF that Kind can or
will do will be to ruin the cause OF the
american Federation Of Labor. The
majority OF the laboring men are law
abiding, but when they are controlled
by leaders OF this type what can YOU
expect but destruction Of property?
Life Itself 10 not safe.
"When ! recall that more than four
million persons In This country were
mObilized against the military auto
racy OF Germany, / am satisfied that
these same people will see that the au-
tocracy OF Foster and his crowd shall
ing men Of this country"
Mr.. Gompcrs' praise OF Foster was
mot advanced voluntarily. but as the
result OF a question by Senator Ken
yOn, chairman Of the committee. and he
prefaced his praise with the statement
That there was no necessity for any
ihlng but frankness.
rs IL true, as has been charged"
senator KenyOn asked that the
american Federation OF Labor Is not
squarely behind this strike. but that
radicals line William Z. Foster with
his views, men who support statements
like he has been quoted as having made.
radicals who are against the Constilu-
ti0n Of this country, are using this
srike as a means OF getting into The
american Federation Of Labor TO dis
rupt it?"
AS some one has said before me, oh.
that mine enemy would write a book.
replied Gompers. THAT is the sum and
substance Of The charge that has been
brought akainst Foster. The express
,i0ns that he set down in the pamphlet
that has been referred 10 so much We're
only the phantasies Of his brain as he
'ecOrded them in his youth
The views ne represented and the
course he took in The Zurish labor con-
ference. about 1910. when De claimed
TO be the delegate Of the ]. W. ".
anu attempted 10 prevent the seating
uf James Duncan. an officer Of the
american Federation OF Labor. made