New-York tribune., 1919-01-14
Shall Labor Have a PARTY?


come about as the result of the forma-
ton here Of what has been christened
the New York Labor party. Similar
pa1ties' in other cities of the country
were simultaneously formed. Union labor
has been the moving power in every case,
but in taking this course it is acting in
direct opposition to the position Of
Samuel Gcmpers. president of the
American Federation of Labor, and
such other labor leaders as Frank Nor
rison, secretary Of the American FEEDER
alton Of Labor; Hugh Frayne, Eastern
representative Of the Federation and
labor member Of the War Industries
Board; James Lord. president of the
mining department of the Federation,
and others.
The New York convention, which was
attended by S84 delegates from labor or
CARNATIONS CT the greater city, went cn
record as believing that the time had
come when labor "must use both arms
political and economc-to protect its eX-
istence and bring about industrial de-
mocracy." The feat Of the English La
Dor party in polling two million and
half votes in the recent election and cb-
. tanning recognition in Parliament as the
"official opposition is source of in
spiration.
ct this very success Of English la
Dor was used by Mr.. Gompers as his
strongest argument againat the forma-
ton OF labor party in America. When
labor goes into politics, Nh Gompcrs
said. it becomes q "vote-catching ma
chine and forgets the cause Of labor
He admitted that cnce he was believer
in labor party, but declared ne was
cured by his participation in the Henry
George movement of 1883.
"The labor movement suffered" Mr..
Gompers said, "and | abandoned the
idea. Labor leaders paid more atten-
ton to vote getting than to winning
strikes CT obtaining wage increases"
Thomas J. Curtis, who presided at the
opening Of New Yor5's labor convention
aroused applause by declaring that:
"Never before has it been so nccas-
salY as to-day for labor to band together
in political life Those in power are de-
termined to crush labor at every oppor-
tunity."
This is directly opposed to the thesis
of Mr.. Gompers, who said few weeks
ago, when discussing the call for the la
Dor convention:
after all what counts in the world is
economic power, not political power
Witness the Socialists What stand have
they taken in the .1ooney case? How
have they solved the riddle Of freeing
him from jail? BY a general strike. if
you please; by use of economic power.'
a speaker at the NorkvlIc Casino
convention, in appealing for unity of la
Dor, said there must be labor party
which would embrace both unor~anizcd
and organized labor. Mr.. Gompers also
appealed for unity, but saw it made pos
sblc by this plan:
"Ncvcr in Americas history has there
4becn so great a necessity for unity of ac-
tion. American labor. without a political
party Of its o%n, has accomplished dur
has accomplished II labo~ goes into
politics it will have to get votes. and
labor will decline from a powerful eco
nome ua't to vote-catchinG machine"
Just before he sailed for Europe to at
tend the World Labor Conference at
Lausanne Nj. Gompcrs, tcstfyns be-
fore \ the Senate Committee en- Educa
complishcd what it had in America
"hecausc in tho labor movement in
America VIC have not zone after false
gods. In the labor movement in America
We have not allowed the political par
ucs. no matter how altruistic they NAV
proclaim Themselves to be- to domi-
nate or influence our movement. not
any Republican party, not any Demo
cratic part. not any Socialist party. or
any labor party. We have stood as a
movement of Americas workers. bcliev-
ing that under tho Institutions Of our
Republic VIC have the lawful right
to organize, to strive for a better life.
70 work out our own salvation 70 the last
opportunity, and that if this opnortuni,v
is gone VIC have the right to quit work
and try to impose justice into the CON
s'deratlo" OF tn" mind OF the cmployer'
The Re-. Richard Roberts. member
OF the British Labor party, explained to
the Yor'ville Casino meeting the work
ines Of the British party plan. whic,, he
cxtolled. This plan. according to Mr..
Gompcrs. consists Of "two and half
million labor men paying ducs into tho
Labor party and receiving nothing in
return except the brilliant leadership
in the political fcld"--of such Socialists
as Ramsay Macdonald.
Az meeting OF Mr.. Gompers and
t,,c other 1ahor IL dar, ,r>,.;1...,