Evening journal., 1920-02-27
GoupERs AN ISSUE.

IT HROUGH Its president the Hon Jonathan Bourne Jr'
the Republican Publicity Association has issued th'
following statement from Washington headquarters
samuel Gompers is making, if he has not already
made himself an issue In American politics When The
Railroad Broiherhoods went before Congress with the
threat that general railroad strike would be called un-
less a wage-lncresse law passed within certain
time Gompers stood squarey behind that program When
The steel strike called he stood squarcly behind tna
Ahen the coal strike was called he assured the strikers
that they would have hls support to the bitter end Now
be is organizing political campaign for the purpose OF
eeclng his friends defeating his enemies in the Con-
gressional and Senatorial elections Of 1920.
"Al this Mr.. Gompers has right to do, as an Amer
lean citizen but he can't do It without making Gomperan
dication an in the campaign Reduced TO simple
statement OF obvious facts the situation is this;
NIr Gompers processes TO speak for organized labor
'Professng to speak Tor organized labor. Mr. Gompers
supported the s.eel strike and the coal strike.
sProfessns to speak for organized labor, Mr. Gompers
undertakes to specify which candidates satisfactory
and which not
"vheiher Mr.. Gompers does or does not speak for
organized labor is matter Of dispute but the evidence
10 be against him. FOR large proportion Of the
workers the mills refused quit and The strike
failed, and overwhelming majority OF members OF labor
unions throughout the country, people who had TO- buy
coal. condemned The coal strike The preponde ance Of
evidence 10 be that Mr. Gompers speaks only FOR
radica elements In labor organizations and
mand the votes OF the thoughtful substantial ndepen
deni-hnkng adherents OF labor unions throughout the
country
The issue that Is presented is not therefore labor
unionism per So but dctatOn by radical labor leaders
There Is practically dissent the proposition that
there is esi neld for the labor union The great
majority o. labor union members are not only aw-abld
Ing citizens but they fair in their dealings with
their emrlo yers honest in the service they render and
lsefu members OF their eral communities They raise
families support them credlably. pay their debts.
tribute to the support schools and churches and
elected to positions Of trust and responsibility in their
home towns
"For such those. the radical labor leaders do
not speak Such do not approve the methods adopted
in securing passage OF the Adamson law They do not
approve the coal strike Mr. Gompers does not speak
for them these subjects and neither can he speak
Tor them when De proposes TO control lhe elections that
are 70 take place during the coming summer and fall
Election returns win show that his stamp Of approval
win be liability rather than an asset ina large majority
Of cases
"Neliher The country as a whole nor labor unonsm
al large in The country win accept Gomperian dlcatlon
os substitute Tor popular government in which the
general welfare rather than class Interest Is the end to
be promoted The substantial members Of labor unions
ask nothing Tor themselves that is inconsistent with gen.
eai welfare The radical labor leaders are seeking power
through appeal 70 class nierest-and they viii fan