The Washington times., 1919-11-09

overtone OF revolution in II, sits the
strongest figure in the American la
Dor movement, the dictator whose
power to dictate is rapidly waning.
Samuel Gompers Is now sixty-n
years of age. Vital and dominant to
a degree which amazes his confreres,
he is beginning to bow just a bit be-
meath the solid weight of his years
and also OF his troubles.
There never was a time when he
was so sorely troubled as just now.
He was swept into the maelstrom
OF the steel strike against his will.
He came into the mine strike almost
as an innocent bystander, powerless
to lift a finger to turn the leaders
from the goal on which they fixed
their vision. At heart he is conserva-
tive as ever. He does not like to
stake his carefully wrought work of
years on a single throw of the dice.
He knows the tactics which have en-
abled the American Federation of
Labor to rise to its present place Of
power. He believes they should be
continued.
New Forces Arise.
But new forces are at hand. new
passions are working out their will.
Within the past week blows have been
rained upon him without ceasing.
Attorney General Palmer, member
OF an Administration which he has
earnestly supported, has revived the
terrors Of government by Injunction"
-labor's chief bugaboo-against one
of the most powerful elements in
Gompers' organization.
Gompers' own efforts at compromise
and conciliation have been rejected
by the officials OF the United Mine
Workers. his counsels of conservatism
rebuffed.
The support Of public opinion, which
he has courted and won through care
ful leadership Of thirty years stand
ing, has slipped away from labor
Every day he sees anti-labor senti-
nent grow more violent, through
causes beyond his control.
The radicals in his own ranks are
swapping at him more boldly than
ever. eager to shear him OF power at
the first good chance .....
His good friend, Secretary of Labor
Wilson. fails TO win any support in
the Cabinet for new policy in the
miners strike.
Congress. turning aside momen-
tarily from anti-strike legislation,
receives a report from the Kenyon
committee advocating compulsory ar
bitration-another bugaboo of or
ganized labor.
Hero Twelve Months Ago.
II is this same Gompers who
twelve months ago, was the hero of
the allied nations for having kept
American labor sternly at its task
through the war. Labor won the
war" he was told by many a states
man on both sides OF the Atlantic.
II there Is any man in Washington
with reason to be filed with bitter
ness and wrath, II is ne. He has
played the game" for the Govern
ment and people Of the country, as
we'll rs he knew how He has
wagcd ceaseless war on the radicals,
the hot-heads in the labor movements
and delivered them to the tender mcr-
cies CT the Department OF Justice; he
went abroad and fought the defeatists
in labor ranks in France and Eng
land, administering his own brand of
rat-poison TO socialists and Bolshe-
visits; and now, at the end OF the
road, he finds the American public in
a wild rage at his own organization.
and the American Government, with
whom he thought he had some infu-
ence, stripping the United Mine Work
ers of the economic weapon which
has been labor's first line OF defense
since the days OF the Pharaohs.
Fate DoubIy Cruel.
To Mr. Gompers. it must seem
doubly cruel that he should be de- |
livered into the hands OF his enc /
mics at an hour when, he believes |
the Government should support him !
with all its strengthen these are |
critical days in the American labor !
movement, and IL craft unionIsm IL
broken down, then, as the "oId man" /
says, You will have new forces to
deal with, and you will not find them /
arguing and appealing to you"
He is left between two fires. 1t is !
incumbent upon him to make some |
quick decisive move. IL the power and !
vitality Of his leadership is to be !
retained.
Between now and next Tuesday, h4
may reach a plan with Secretary Of /
Labor Wilson which will be aCcep,-
able to the miners and the operators.
and avert the necessity of a "shuy ,
down" on the injunction order II |
he can show the country way out /
OF the dread prospect of protracte1 /
coal strike, he will be hailed as a .
Daniel come to judgment. and mucn |
Of his prestige will be restored.
If there is to be an era of indus |
trial warfare in the country. how
ever, the power of the old-line lead !
ers of the A. F. OF l.. will be strained |
to the breaking point, and perhaps |
be lost beyond recall.
Striking Unions Beyond Fold.
The two main strikes in the coun-
try today-the coal and steel strikes |
are in control OF unions which are
not of the craft structure. but are |
industrial unions. When the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor decided go |
unionize the steel industry, in 1917. |
1t adopted an entirely new policy. IT |
knew that no single union could stand |
alone against the power OF the great |
Therefore, the starting
point for the campaign was an ad
mission that only q movement as wide