Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-05-25

SCs Dul - TIC SACSuuSV CouiiSA vi
the federation was about to meet
he suggested the session be held in
Chicago. Debs appeared before the
executive council and explained the
cause of the strike and presented a
proposition which he asked Com
pers to submit to the Railway Man
ayers association. Gompers ex-
plains what followed:
"When the president of the A. R
U. submitted the proposition to pre-
sent to the railroad managers every
member of the executive council and
of the conference accepted it as a
declaration that the strike had failed
as it contained an offer for the
strikers to return to work uncon-
ditionally.' After a further confer
ence the executive council issued a
statement declaring it would be un-
wise to extend the strike any fur
Their and requested our fellow union
lists of other trades to return to
work."
This answers the charge so often
made by friends of Debs that no ef-
fort was made to save his organiza-
ton during the Pullman strike and
boycott. The fact that Debs had de-
cided to call off the strike before
asking Gompers' assistance was not
known generally at the time. 1t was
said that he called off the strike be-
cause the American Federation of
Labor would not approve of a gen.
eral strike in sympathy.
Attacks Socialist Propaganda.
Some idea of the bitter feeling be-
tween the trade unionists and social
lists is shown in this statement:
Socialist propaganda within the
trade-union movement has been per-
sistent but unavailing. Handicapped
by the charge of Karl Marx, their
patron saint, who declared in an
swer to Proudon that the socialists
were the worst enemies of the la
boring classes, they made no head
way. The most damaging charge
they have had to meet is that they
are seeking the disruption of the
American Federation of Labor. The
methods of the socialists bear out
these charges. They led in the Or
ganization of dual unions. In near
ly every convention of the A. F. of
L. they have supported some fantas-
tic idea meant to discredit the men
who seek to keep the labor move
ment progressing through its eco
nomic power. Their arguments
have been vilification, falsehood and
venom. They attacked individuals
to defame the labor movement. They
always are boring from within, do
ing something to prevent the organ
lied men and women of the land
from gaining better conditions.
While preaching solidarity they are
seeking stranglehold on trade
unionism that would bring its death.
The entire agitation of the socialists,
who as such are not recognized, has
been to make the American Fedora
ton of Labor tail to their political
kite. The socialist is class-con-
scious. While demanding that union
men vote for socialists the socialists
never will vote for trade unionist."
Politicians Frightened.
The campaign to defeat enemies
of labor and elect its friends after
the sensational presentation of the
bill of grievances to the president
and congress in 1906 is given in de-
tail. When the federation went into
both parties to carry out that policy
the politicians became alarmed.
They sought to make labor i'm
potent in politics by surreptitiously
encouraging indepedent labor
parties. This failed, as all union
men look with suspicion on such
movements. But the A. F. L. policy
declared in 1906 bore fruit, as every
grievance except one then presented
and many other have been remedied
by congress.
Labor secured trial by jury in
contempt cases and a new Magma
Charta, a declaration in law that
labor is not commodity or article
of commerce" No other country on
earth has such principle in its
statutes.
Influence Grew Rapidly.
Many important moves in the his
tory of the federation are said to
have added to its influence and
power. It's economic progress
broadened with the increasing obi
cations to its rapidly growing men,
bership. A few of the principles
fought for and the campaigns
launched are given in round robin,
as it is said to be difficult to tell
which proved the most influential in
lE'ID'n'nInIu'nInsHInIuInIN