The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-06-15
COMPERS ENTERS
FOR LABOR FIGHT
PROMISES TO BE BITTEREsT
POLITICAL STRUGGLE UNION
ISM HAS EVER HAD.

CHICAGO, Ill.-Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Federation
of Labor, has entered the arena here
to battle for his organization IN
what promises to be the most bitter
political struggle which labor has
ever become involved in the United
States.
The grim old man, over 20 years
of age, hampered by fractional strife
within his official family, rejected by
dominant elements in both the re-
publican and democratic parties, be-
sieged by growing public resent
ment against the succession OF
strikes that are widely believed to be
responsible for the increase in the
cost of living, is on his way here
from Montreal, where he opened the
federation convention, to put up a.
last ditch fight for the right of or
ganized labor to strike at any time
and under any circumstances at the
bidding of organized labor leaders,
unhampered by any federal restraint.
Bad Political Position.
/ The old labor warriors political
strategic position was never worse.
The necessity for maintaining con-
troll of the federation has forced
upon Mr. Gompers more or less rad
ical action that he probably would
not otherwise have taken. Since the
war, when he was regarded as an
administration pet and one of the
men in closest personal touch and
sympathy with President Wilson, Mr..
Gompers has been forced to the
championship of policies that have
alienated him from the controlling
factions in both parties.
Not a candidate nor potential
plank in the platform of either party
but is more or less inimical to Com
pers in his stand on the inalienable
right of labor in any industry to
strike at any time without govern
mental let or hindrance.
4 1t is believed in political circles in
both parties that the popular tide has
set strong against Gompers ON that
question and politics rides always on
the popular tide. Gompers has re-
fused to indorse a separate labor
party. The republican party well
comes him as an enemy, believing
that his enmity will be reflected by
friendship from the vote. The demo-
cratic party is on record with the in
junction proceedings that first forced
the old federation leader into APP
proximate political outlawry Where
can Gompers go? Being welcomed
as an enemy of both parties, to
whom can he appeal?
Hopes to Weld Influence.
He arrived here in the attempt to
WELD influence with a party whose
record he has bitterly denounced.
The republican party is going to the
people on that record. He will go
from here to San Francisco to at
tempt to WELD influence with a party
that he has denounced and which has
denounced him; a party that well
comes him as an enemy. He arrived
here and will go to San Francisco
breathing no soft breath of compro-
mise. rendering no olive branch to
any who disagree with him on the
fundamental principle for the pres
ervation of which he is willing to
defy the government of the United
States.
He comes breathing defiance and
fight to the last ditch in the spirit in
which he upheld the ceal miners as
against the government last winter.
It is difficult to. see aught before him
/ but defeat at either convention