Evening star., 1920-01-24
Accompaniment
H0NEyC0MbED BY
ANARCHY IS CLAIM
Representative Blanton Bit
terIy Assails Gompers in
Urging Anti -Sedition Law.

Enactment Of anti-sedition Iegis-
lation was urged before the House
rules committee today by Representa-
tives Blanton. democrat. TaXas. and
Davey. democrat. Ohio. The Texas
member vigorously attacked Presi-
dent Gompers OF the American FEEDER
alton of Labor for his opposition to
such legislation. and charged that the
Department OF Labor was honey
combed with anarchy"
Asserting that Mr.. Gompers had not
been patriotic during the war. Mr..
Blanton charged that when Provost
Marshal General Crowder issued his
work or fight order" the labor
leader openly opposed it. declaring
he would call revolution. Mr..
Elanton added that 5000 strikes oc-
CURED in this country during the war.
aand that at times President Wilson hac
to compel men to work
Takes Issue With Gomperx.
In taking issue with Mr.. Gompers
that the president ot the American
Federation of Labor mad been pa
triotic during the war, Mr. BlanIon
said:
'Tompers had laborers exempted If
they didn't want to go into the war
Congress passed Il bill drafting
eighteen -year-old boys, MIR. B!antpH
explained, adding. ''.I.000.G00 able
bodied men were not selected
The committee asked Gompers If
he wanted the provisions changed" :"
Blanton continued. "aud he hesitated
and hawed and gawked. until an at
torney pointed out force might be
construed to mean moral force. Com
pers then insinuated that the supreme
Court had purposely misconstrued
the statutes"
Mr.. Blanton then read Il telegram
from the editor of Texas paper
which read; ITO hell with anarchists
and their friends
They are my sentiments" he told
the committee.
Sees Opposition in Election.
While the people have been Sleep
ing on their rights, 100000 workers
have been electing governors and SEN
ators." Mr.. Blanton charged He said
Mr.. Gompers would oppose his re-elec-
ton because ne had attacked the
American Federation OF Labor
Congress must either pass a sedi-
tion law which would squelch anar-
chy or else bear the mark of having
bowed to Gompers. 1t is simply a
question of whether you want to be
Reelected" Mr.. Blanton continued
He SAID 80 per cent of the union men
are loyal American citizens. There
are many. how ever who would like to
see me blown up he said.
he said he hopeG the r.p1biican
would be victorious in the coming
election If il is impossible to obtain
democratic cabinet officer who
stands for Americanisr
The republicans viii win anyway"
Chairman Campbell interjected
Not II you vacillate On this bill,
Representative Blanton retorted The
people won't stand for YOU bowing TO
Gompers' will and his opposition
Mr.. Davy Criticisex A. r. Of l..
Representative Davey, who intro
duced Attorney General Paimer's
anti sedition bill last November. told
the committee he was friend of
labor until il joins hands with an
archy." s.-
MIR. Davey criticised the A F. of L.
for participation in the Boston police
strike. but said Mr.. Gompers was the
dominant influence which stood be-
tween organized labor and anarchy.
The anti-seditiOn bills will keep the
American Federation of Labor from
attempts of radicals TO bore from
Within for it would check the reds
activities, Mr.. Davey said.