The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1920-11-26
DRIVE TO GUST
LABOR RADICALS
Foster and Fitzpatrick Are Shift
ed in New Move to Win
Steel Workers.
SEE MENACE IN ALIENS.
A. r. of /. Officers Favor Check on
immigration as Jobs Get Scarcer-
Cooperation IN Effort to Relieve
Growing Unemployment.

Washington-Direct steps to elm
mate radiCalism from any control N
organized labor and to meet the men,
ace of increasing unemployment are
being taken by the American Fedora
ton of Labor through its executive
council In session here.
Already a decisive victory over radi-
cal elements within the organization
has been achieved at one point, and
the farreaching nature OF the con-
ferences of the council for week.
dealing with the economic problems,
appeared to foreshadow some action
looking to closer cooperation between
labor and capital to meet unemploy-
ment.
Conservative leaders In the fedora
ton have pounded away on the radical
question for sew raj months, Insisting
on more determined stand by the
controlling body, but rep orts of in
rreasing unemployment have now
brought that subject into position of
equal importance.
Although the leaders were reticent
has developed that certain men,
bers of the couHciI felt 1t should deal
emphatically with radicals attempting
TO bore from within. They believe
conservatism must characterize labor's
leadership.
This sentiment was based on two
premises-frst, that organized labor
cannot hope to exert great power In
ensuing years its foundations are
weakened by the permeation of certain
radical doctrines and, second, that the
next administrL ZION will be conserv-
alive. AS to the latter, It was said
In some quarter, labor could gain
little from the new congress unless
1t established conservative policies.
In the reorganization of the COM
mittee to uniolize the steel workers
the conservative element showed its
strength. II eliminated from the COM
mittee John ]. Fitzpatrick, chairman,
and William 2. Foster. secretary.
both of whom participated In the CT
rection of the stee! strike last winter,
around which clustered minated and
outspoken radio alism. They were y
placed respectively by M. F. Tighe,
recognized conservative In labor poll
cies, and J. G. Brown, also q conserv-
alive.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
federation, has declared against the
unrestricted admission of radicals
nd ho faHo
Is having no intercourse with radical
foreign labor groups. Federation lead
ers expect to go before congress COM
mittees at every opportunity to check
the rush of immigrants from radical
sections of Europe and Asia. In
creased restrictions will be urged.
immigration also has a bearing on
the question of unemployment, recog-
nized by labor 10 be increasing rapid
ly. The situation was characterized
by several labor officials as somewhat
alarming. Continued admission Of
immigrants, thousands of whom are
without skill or trade, W. regarded
as only adding fuel to the fire.
The department of labor made pub
lie statistics showing that In October
there were decreases In the number of
employees in ter Industrial plants as
compared with October year ago,
while only four plants had enlarged |
payrolls. Officials accepted the figures
as indicating the trend.
II was declare that the real reduc- !
lions in employees, particularly in the |
textile industry, had become of i'm
portance only his autumn and go7-
eminent report were said indicate |
further deere Uses.
There was no indication "a 10 labor's /
plans to reach common FrCunL with /
capital regarding adicals. 1t MAJ be,
however, that pressure will B. exerted |
by refusing sanction TO radicals strikes
unless grounds are Incorporating.
1t was regarded as certain that en-
ployees an employers would get to-
gether on specific problems.