The Washington times., 1921-06-07
.GOMPERS TURNED
LABOR down, SAYS
D. c. IRISH LEADER
Edward Mitchell Demands De-
feat of Federation Head as
VioIator of Trust.

Samuel Gompers. president OF The
American Federation OF Labor, vio-
lated the trust imposed In him by the
workingmen OF the country and
should be eliminated from the dircc-
torsbip of organized labor.
This is the statement made today
by r. Edward Mitchell. president Of
the Padriac M. Pearse Branch, Sons
of Irish Freedom, member OF the
local bar and president of tse Harding
Democratic Club.
BETRAYED TRUST. HE SAYS.
Gompers' attempt to lead the labor
movement in she last campaign on the
side of the Democrats and the Leagre
of Nations was a betrayal of trust
Mr.. Mitchell says. because the very
cause he asked them to support was In
direct opposition to the principles OF
labor, inasmuch as the affairs of la
Dor, to a certain extent would go be-
fore an international court manipu-
lated by foreign bankers and domi-
mated by Great Britain, as the voting
of the Versailles treaty shows.
"Gompers, like all Englishmen,"
says Mr.. Mitchell, "is opposed TO
our ideals of liberty. Ever since
1875 England has been trying TO
entanglements that would prove to
the benefit of the British only.
II have no quarrel with Gompers.
but i do have a quarrel with any
one who would involve the United
States in foreign entanglements.
Gompers, in opposing the freedom
of Ireland, after the convention on
two separate occasions has indorsed
the movement is not mt TO lead the
American Federation of Labor IL
Gompers is not an enemy or Ireland,
he at least is a strong friend OF
England, who has been the enemy
and oppressor of Ireland Tor CEN
turtles.
"The freedom of ireland and the
freedom OF the working classes is
built upon the same principle and
there can be no exceptions to prin-
ciple.
GOMPERs ENGLISH BORN.
1t seems to me that this great Ia
Dor organization should be led by q
man 100 per cent American and such
a man should not want to see the
liberties of this glorious country con-
taminated by affiliation with any i'm
perialistic nation such as Great Brit
ain. Mr.. Gompers. English born, as
|
to the ideals OF his native country
when he refuses to recognize the
right of any subject peoples to throw
| of the yoke and become as American
as we.
The American workingman has
achieved his rightful place in the de-
yelopment of our great country
through his adherence TO American
principle and tradition and he has
| fought a good fight against oppres-
SION. and so long as he keeps the well
spring of our liberty safe from pol
luton, his position can be wen as
sured. To bring this about, the
vorkingman must realize that he
owes duties to the Government. His
| paramount Suty is TO preserve our
| nationality free from corrupted en-
tanglements. This duty can best be
| preserved under a leadership that is
| absolutely divorced from all idea oS
association with a nation whose char
| scteristics are the. exact opposite OF
America.
He is hyphenate, IL in a con-
test. though waged beyond our
shores. a people aspire for freedom,
| and he sides with the oppressor.
Notwithstanding the large number of
! influential Americans in the labor
movement OF Irish birth or ancestry.
| whose loyalty to America has con-
tributed so much to the luster of
American history, and notwithstand-
ing the fact that the American Fed
Grafton of Labor has, on two separ-
| ate occasions, directed active support
OF the struggle of the Irish peopl"
| for freedom, and by vote urged th
| officials to help out, Gompers has
failed to execute the will of the con-
ventions as it's executive.
DEMANDS GOMPERs' REMOVAL
I'm a democracy when the voice Q {
the majority is unheeded by the eX
ecutive, IL is their right to vote for
a change in leadership.
II have no right to speak to labor
as a member of its organization. Self
! determination is their right, and
should not be interferred with, but l
have a right to speak to the fellow
citizens of my country whatever their
calling, in the freedom of all nations.
| submit that a movement OF this kind
should be led by man who will not
only yield full allegiance to our flag,
but so love our ideals that he will
have them extended throughout the
world"