The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-02-24
ORGANIZED LABOR
IN POLITICS

sincd that body has always been ac-
tive IN politics. and that hence thSre
viii be- no marked change In condi-
tions Another group denounces tho
movement ~ "a OF destructive revo-
luton: u brands Gompers and his fol-
lowers as b~olshcvlsts whose uyil pur-
pose Is n more rcprehcnsihlc be-
cause they disguise themselves ms hc-
lievcra ia democracy and American
ism.
both 81 thcfo concepts are prone
nus. The theory that the f~edcratlon's
political undertaking will have no in
nu"nce ia hasen upon e dcccptiyc cal
cuiation. II rs argued, for example.
that organizcd labor represents only
onc-HiXth OF thr voters Of tho country:
that, making deductions for the alien
'olcmcnt and Inevitable uttrition. the
labor vote probably would noun to
not more than onc-oiFhth OF the to-
tai. Measured as a. national unit. this
would appear almost negligible. II
~ obvious. nevertheless. that these
millions of voters. well organized. dis
ciplincd and Intensely loyal 10 their
cluss. would constitute. under sldllful
direction. "a baluf &C. OF power lice
tween the major political parties. and
as such would be- capable 81 cNertiug
potent Influence.
MI. Gompers and his licutcnants.
indeed, have maintained the old pol
Icy TO the extent that they have avoid
ed any attempt 10 create re- national
labor party. The program rs for La
Dor 20 compel individual candidates
To declare themselves on labor's spec
iuc demsnds, and then TO throw or
Eanlzod support 20 the side which
promises most. The official
ment make clear the methods to be
employed;
Wherever candidates for re-clcc-
uon ave beer friendly TO lahor's In
tsrcsts they should be loyuily sup
ported. Wherever candidates are
hostile ar %indinorcnt Go labor's inter
esrs. they should be defeated. aud the
nomination and election OF r ana
tried trauc unionists or Of assured
friends should be secured.
The American Federation Of Labor
announces be- determination 20 apply
every legitimate mcnna n an OF the
power at its command TO accomplish
the defeat of lahurs enemies who ass
Dire tu public office. whether they
be candidates for president, for CON
gTcss, for stats legislatures or any
other office.
The widespread idea We nave men
toned that the promoters Of TINS
NNNNH |"|L H."H HH
course. absurd. Mr. Gompers for
nearly forty years has stood like 81
rock against the efforts OF extreme
rndiCniism and socialism 10 obtain
control OF the American Federation
OF Labor. During the a he and his
associates, while supporting oven D
excessive demands OF organized labor,
were ardent champions Of n"ntiunnlism
aud loyalty. indeed. the utternuccs Of
fN. H..N.HH. FU.H. un.fHa NNNHnHNN md lmn
Hpiriugly patriotic az a time when tho
administrator in Washington was en-
Cuuurlug pugnsm % utlltuB WIN
pro-Gcrmanism md scdition. MI
Gompors himself went To Europe art
or the urmiaticc as a Spokesman FOR
A-moriCunism and democracy and
virtually broke with President VIII
son hy denomcing he b~olsheNlst IN
tcrnatioual conference at Brrne'
which Mr.. Wilson wanted him TO at
Tend. Tho Injustice and folly OF
charging him ur his organization with
having q %bolshuviat faint wcrc dem
onstratrd only a fortnight ago, when
be- wrote Iu the official organ OF the
federation concerning spNi"tism;
Tho ploa 20 withhold Judgment Is
"a last desperate attempt 10 win Ia
Nor from the American people Tor "a
system OF government which by thR
confession nt rs own adNochtes ana
defenders is foreign 20 every concept
OF the American republic. We Know
about Russia. We know about hoi-
sheviam. We know the piicous story
Of cruelty aud Intolerance, and We
know the autocratic concept p "a uh-
derteH the minority d~icthtorship.
which a hailed 10 tie world By its
dupes aud advocates I'd the most per-
feet state OF socieiy YET devised. we