The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-10-31
MIR. GOMPERS "APOLOGIZES"

2 In the issue OF the Washington
Post for August &c. 1920. containing
slhe analysis Of the public records of
Governor Cox and Senator Harding on
matters relating 10 labor and the COM
mon welfare appears an editorial
challenging the rights Of the commit
tee OF the American Federation OF
Labor to inform the membership Of
the Federation on these matters. This
editorial declares that President Comp
ers and his associates on this COM
m.ttco would be unable to sway
tho votes OF the workers" and charg-
ed that such an attempt to mold
opinion" and control votes" was an
insult to the workngman.
: This editorial drew a reply from
president Gompers, which the Wash
. several days later. The reply by
President Gompers follows:
From the Washington Post,
September 2. 1920
To the Editor of The Post: Your
editorial in The Washington Post of
August 80, under the title Telling
Labor What TO Think" was mighty
Interesting reading. and, as you in
tended, | feel very mucn rebuked by
il. And perhaps you would have me
pursue the course | have in this
political campaign.
How dare the organized wage work.
crs Of the United States have the
"temerity TO enter campaign of de-
feating the big interests which
seek to oppress the toilers?
How dare they look into the rec
ords and life work and characteris-
ties Of men who aspire to the high
est offices within the gift of the
people?
How dare they select a committee
to search the records and activities
of those who aspire to the positions
Of greatest influence and power in
the republic?
How dare they distinguish between
reactionary toryism and progressive
humanitarianism?
How dare they lay these facts bare
before the workers and citizenship
generally of our republic?
These prerogstives belong to the
corporations, big business" and their
apologists and defenders, such as The
Washington Post. The steel trust.
The railroads. the textiles. the princes
of finance and the associations of
corporate bodies must forsooth be ac-
corded exclusive right To advise They
must have the additional right to
cajole, to coerce. 60 raise slush funds
TO buy the highest offices in our
country.
The Washington Post, with the 9TH
or mouthpicces and apologists Of re-
action. has failed 10 comprehend eith-
er the industrial or the sociological
situation Of The peoples Of the world,
including the United States.
The organized labor movement OF
America has steadfastly stood for
progress, for reform as agains: vio-
lence and revolution, and the entire
course of the American Federation
OF Labor, industrially and politically,
- NNNfAi'N w AiAiA fNui Sc tNu tiON
only antagonize these both, but at
tcmpt to hold up to ridicule and con-
tempt the chosen representatives of
the men and womeTi OF labor who
dare have the temerity TO express
the practically unanimous expression
OF $4,000 wage-earners organized in
our federation. The Washington Post
would apparently prefer 10 invite and
encourage the discordant elements of
destruction rather than the construct
i've group who work for progress and
evolution.
VIII you do me the kindness TO
publish this apology 20 The Washing
ton Post In an early issue Of your
newspaper?
Respectfully yours,
SAMUEL GoMPERs. President.
American Federation Of Labor.
Washington. August 81.