The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-12-05
SHOULD LABOR OR
CAPITAL APPOINT
UNION OFFICERS?

1 L. w. Buck, Secretary OF the
Washington State Federation of La
Dor. in a statement issued Wednes-
day. charges that employers, in their
pretended discovery of "radicalism'
are really attempting to gain con-
troll of the unions and make them
ineffective in order that profits may
not be disturbed. Bucks statement
follows:
"The insistent demand from
our opponents that We purge our
selves of all radicals has reached
the point where it is time for us to
give it the consideration it merits
Want Unions Destroyed
Let us remember, however, that
this demand comes from those VINO
Insist on dealing with workers as in
dividuals. They would prefer TO
see organized labor destroyed, for
then the individual worker would
be at their mercy.
"If they cannot destroy organ
lied labor and it would seem that
they have at last so concluded, then
the next best move is to split it by
debarring from its ranks all on
whom they could fix the brand OF
radicalism.'
THE bosses believe that the class
of workers thus kicked out from
the American Federation of Labor,
will feel aggrieved at being so han
died, and will fight back by offer
ling their services as strikebreakers,
and in other ways aid them Cthe
employers in breaking down condi-
tions for all who labor, to the great
satisfaction and profit of special
privilege.
Who Designates Radicals
But what do they mean by rad
icals?' BY what method are we to
determine what constitutes a rad
: ical'? Are we who compose the
labor movement to determine this
question? If not, then who Will?
"These are questions that must be
answered before we can give serious
thought to kicking out anyone
"Our enemies have condemned
every man in the ranks who has eX-
hibited enough life to be active
They have placed the brand on
practically every officer in the la
Dor movement from am Gompers
down. and stretched their defini-
ton of radicals to include the
: whole of that group of members
S who show enough interest in their
J affairs to attend the meetings OF
their respective unions. All of these
must be 'purged' if we would satisfy
the employers.
even then our movement would
not De lllelI lued VI pSIlINtiOh'
reach this pinnacle in their esteem
we must permit them to determine
who should fill the various offices
and act on various committees. And
the rank and file must also agree to
transform the union into a mutual
admiration society.
Would Dodge Own Burden
eff, after this, We will give up a
part of the wages they allow us, to-
ward a fund to be used to care for
those whose health the inhuman in
dustrial conditions they will create
has broken, and bury those who are
killed while working for the boss
who is operating under the mis-
named American Plan we will
then have put the finishing touch
to the employers idea of industrial
heaven.
AS a matter of fact, the ques-
ton is not one of radicalism. The
question is, Who is going to choose
our officers, appoint our committees
and run the union? Are we to do
this, or are we to let our bosses do
it? That is the question, and every
man and woman in the ranks of
labor can rest assured that the boss
will be satisfied with nothing less.
1--WE are organized for the pur-