New-York tribune., 1920-09-30
Radical Labor
Is Denounced
BY A. E. of L.
Reds i'm Europe Repudiated
and Revolutionary Meth
ods Opposed i'm a State
ment Signed by Gompers
Soviet Rule Is Attacked
British Workers Guided i'm
Action by Moscow, Is
Belief i'm This Country

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2e.-Repudi-
alton of the radical labor parties of
Europe and opposition to their revolu-
tionary methods by the American Fed
Grafton of Labor is announced in the
current issue of The American Fedora
zionist.
A" statement in the publication,
signed by Samuel Gompers, president,
and Matthew Wohl, vice-president, of
the American Federation of Labor, says
that the announced opposition Of the
British Labor party and of the Inter-
national Federation of Trade Unions
to war and their refusal to engage in
any war enterprise has put them in a
position of hostility to all governments
The American Federation, says the
statement, is not revolutionary and is
opposed to all forms Of revolutionary
violence. 1t charges that the attitude
of the British Labor party was inspired
by Moscow, and points out that the
American Federation is opposed to Civ
ing any sort of aid to the soviets. The
statement follows:
"The Amsterdam executive (refer-
ring to the international Federation
Of Trade Unions) has issued through
out the world and sent to the Amer-
can Federation of Labor for circulation
in this country a declaration calling
fol international revolutionary meas
ures by labor in aid of the Soviets in
their war against Poland.
Revolutionary Plan Revealed
The chairman of the British Labor
party, claiming to speak for the Brit
Ish trade union labor movement, has
sent cablegram along similar lines
and apparently calling for similar
action. The contents Of these messages
are thoroughly revolutionary and OBJ
vlously animated with the desire to use
extreme measures for strengthening
the hold of Soviet power in Russia and
enabling 1t to extend its influence and
tc dominate neighboring countries.
The American Federation of Labor
Is not revolutionary body and has
never had any affilation with any rcvo-
lutlonary body which would require it
to give serious consideration to rcvolu-
tlonary proposals Of any kind. While
recognizing the need of revolution
against autocratic governments, or
ganlzed labor in this country regards
the. American government as being
essentially democratic
The International Federation of
Trade Unions takes a position OF an
archlstic hostility to all governments
without discrimination
The British Labor party also turns
its back on the democratic Parlia-
mennt system which England has
evolved by seven centuries Of struggle.
General Strike Repudiated
Mass action by means OF = general
strike was repuiuated even By :, iargc
part of the extremists in this country
when it was advocated both by the In
ternational Federation of Trade Unions
and by the British Labor Party con-
ference.
There can be little doubt that the
whole movement was largely devised
at Moscow and originated at the con-
ference of the Third or Communist
lntcrnationalc few weeks previously
Lenlne had called for precisely this
action on the part of the labor or
ganizations in Western Europe. The
aggressive and violent character of
the Bolshevik regime is now due pri-
marily, not to the certainty of their
hold upon the Russian government or
upon the victories of the Red armies.
but upon the cooperation of European
labor.
'The organized labor movement of
this country does not regard the
Bolshcvists as being the Russian reyo-
luton.
"The American Federation of Labor
is utterly and wholly opposed to any
thing that approaches any form of as
slstance to soviets.
I'VE are living in the Republic of
the United States of America, coun-
try by no means perfect. in which all
TOO frequently injustice is done But
it is republic based upon the prin-
ciples of freedom justice and universal
suffrage. Our men and women are not
ilkcly to throw these rights and prin-
c'ples into the scrap heap for the die
tnatorship Of Moscows Lenine and
Y