Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-11-18
ORGANIZED LABOR
TO GUST RADICALS
American Federation Plans Di-
rect ActiOn-AlsO Takes Steps
to Meet the Menace of Increas-
ing Unemployment

Washington. Nov. II. tBy the Asso-
ciated Press)-Direct steps to eliminate
radicalisin from any control In orsa.i2ed
labor end to meet the monaco &C in
cieasing Unemployment arc being tall en-
oy the American Federation Of Labor
throGsh Ito executive council in sessioa
here.
Already a decisive victory over radic al
elements within. the Organization has
LeEn achieved at one point. and he fat
reaching na:urs of the conferences Of
tho council for week past. dealing
with economic problems, appeared to-
TO closer cooperation between labor and
capital 20 meet Unemployment
Conservative leaders in the federation
hav9 pounded a@sy Oh the radical quos-
tion Cor several months, insisting on a
more determined stand by the controlling z
body, but reports of Increasing unem-
oioyment have now brought that subject
into position OF eoua; Importance.
NEED OF CONSERVATISM
Although leaders wece reticert to-day.
1t developed that ther. was a feeling
among certain members Of the council
that it should deal cnphatcally with the
attempts of radicals TO bore from with
in. They were said to feel that conser-
vatism must characterize labor's leader
! ship.
| This sentiment was based on two
| premises, first that organized labor can
! not hope to exert great power in ensuing
! years If its foundations are weakened
! by the permeation of certain radical doc
trines. and second. that the next ad-
ministration will be conservative. AS
to the latter it was said in some quarters
labor could gain little from the new
! Congress unless it established policies OF
> a conservative nature
DROP FITZPATRICK AND FOSTER
In the reorganization of the commit.
| tee to unonize the steel workers, the
| conservative element showed its strength
| 1t eliminated from the committee Johr
j. Fitzpatrick, chairman, and William
H. Foster, secretary, both of whom par
t!cipated in the direction of the stee
strike last winter around which clustered
intimated and outspoken radicaism
Fitzpatrick was replaced by NJ. F.. Tighe
a recognized conservative in labor poll
Giles. and Foster gave place to ], G
Brown, also II known conservative.
President Gompers Of the federation
has declared against the unrestricted ad
mission of radicals from Europe on sew
tTdl OCCdSlOnS ana tNe leueTdtlOn ltSel
Is having no intercourse with foreign
groups of a radical turn. Federation lead
ers expect to go before congressional
comm tees at every opportunity to checl
the rush of immigrants from radical sec
tions of Europe and Asia. Increased re
strctions will be urged, II was said
THE IMMIGRATION MENACE
Immigration also has bearing on tn,
question of unemployment recognized b.
the labor men to be increasing at a rapit
rate. The situation was characterized b!
several labor officials to-day as some
what alarming and they felt that the ad
minstraton should take steps to dea
with it. Continued admission of imml
grants, thousands of whom are withou
skill or trade, was regarded as only addin,
fuel to the fire in the face of an alread.
rtenacing condition.
The department of labor made publ
to-day statistics showing that durin'
October there We're decreases In the mum
Der Of employees in ten industrial plant
ns COMPARED with October year ago
, while only four plants had enlarged pay
rolls. Although the number of reporting
, conce-ns wns small officials accepted tn
figures AZ indicating the trend.
Ii was declared that the real reduc
tons In employees. raiticuiarly in the tex
, ito industry had become of importanc
. oely this fan and reports obtained b.
, various p~anchrs Of the government wer
snid to in !,rate further decreases Il
scorrs Of plants.