South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-01-29
SAMUEL GOMPERS
CONDEMNS "REDS"
Says News From Authentic
Sources is All That's NeCeS-
Sary for Judgment.

By Associated Press:
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S.-Writing
in the current number Of the FEEDER
can Federation Of Labor, Samuel
Gompers condemns boIshevisrl
completely. finally. and for all
time"
The American labor leader de-
clares he doubts whether the prop
aganda which emanates from the
bOlshevist organization itself is more
effective than that conducted by
those who claim To be entirely de-
tached from Russian influence and
Russian payrolls." He says he doubts
whether publications issued by Rus
sian bolshevist agents have such an
effect in America as those which
like TO be known as journals Of
opinion such as The Nation, the
Dial, and the New Republic"
Mr.. GOmpers makes an extended
reference to the argument that the
American people know little about
what is going on in Russia and the
argument that it is unfair ana un-
wise 10 pass judgment
Authentic Sources.
1T is not necessary" says Mr..
Gompers, for Americans to know
at all times just what were the exact
conditions in Germany before pass
ing judgment on the form of govern
ment existing in Germany. 1t was
necessary only 10 know what was the
form of government and under what
rules it operated We do not have
10 wait for information about the
form Of government existing in what
IS called soviet Russia All the in
formation necessary TO the passing
of judgment on bolshevism and the
system of government and as a state
Of society, is at hand from sources
than are authentic. The plea Of
those misguided persons in America
who say Wait FOR facts before pass
ing judgment is nothing more than
an excuse which it is hoped viii
gain time for the Russian expert
ment and enable it TO spread TO 9TH
or countries"
Quoting from the new bolshev;st
constitution. Mr.. Gompers points
out that while the fifth pan-Russian
congress declares for a dictatorship
Of the proletariat and the poorest
peasantry a great portion OF tho
peasantry is disfranchised and the
largest bolshevist estimate OF the
proletariat calculates them as only
One-dfth OF the number OF the peas
ants. Even a fairly prosperous work
ing man by this calculation, NIr.
Gompers said is not a prOletarian.
Bolshevist statistics, he says. show
that the bolshevist minority does not
even represent the masses Of factory
workers in Moscow, the bolshevist
stronghold
NIasscd Terror.
Quoting from bOlshevist official
documents 20 show the extent Of
massed terror by the polshev1ki, Mr..
Gompers declared that the eco
nOmic condition in internal Russia
~ the present time has absolutely
nothing 10 do with the merits or de-
merits OF the bOlshevist philosophy
Of government and adds that i
should have no influence in deter
mining the Judgment OF any person
upon IL as such" He quotes as the
most direct information a despatch
from Russian trade unionists 10 ".
Appleton. president OF the Interna-
t.onal Federation OF Trade Unions,
which declares that bolshevIsts have
split up the reserve funds OF trade
unions. throttled the labor press.
killed labor organizations, split up
trade unions as a class. and put
down strikes by force Of arms and
plentiful executions.
I'm all concepts OF freedom within
the American nation says AR
Gompers. "one fundamental princi-
pie is that any involuntary servitude.
that is. compulsory labor, shall not
be forced upon the working people. %
he quotes the amendment 20 the fed
eraI constitution and adds:
Reverscs Concept.
That cOl.-~nt and ths spirit OF
rr-0N-rrrN-T~E.D nNg pa ENOTTF3