The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-03-26
GOMPERs ON HEARST.

~~A1A4 LAW Wv 333a<21k04.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, does
not propose to permit William Ran
dolph Hearst to wreck the American
labor movement without publicly an
nouncing that he is prepared to give
him battle.
In the current issue of 'American
Federationist Mr.. Gompers pays his
respects to Mr.. Hearst and reveals his
general attitude towards the labor
movement, and he does it in the fol-
lowing characteristic manner:
"From young boyhood the writer
has endeavored to obtain the fullest
information on any subject, particu
larly those affecting the rights and
interests of the working people and
the people generally. He has read the
newspapers and the magazines repre-
senting all points of view whether fav.
orable or antagonistic. His observa.
tions, both in articles and editorials
or in oral expressions, have shown to
all the diversity of the course in read
ing. In recent years, however, he has
declined to purchase any Of the Hearst
publications, and has read only such
portions Of them as have been brought
to his attention.
"Opinion, point of view, is the right
Of all men and must be respected and
safeguarded; but when publication or
series Of publications such as
Hearst's, are bent upon controlling ill.,
stitutions, movements and men, or if
unable to control them, to destroy
them, that is a matter not of express
sion and point: of view, but utter per-
versity.
"For years Hearst personally, polit.
ically and through his newspapers has
undertaken to control the labor move.
ment and those who speak for it. When
Hearst aspired to the presidency Of
the United States he had his represent
tative meet and confer with the presi-
dent Of the American Federation Of
Labor with a view of claiming him to
his presidential chariot. This he de-
clined. When Hearst was acndidats
for governor of New York, the same
process was tried, with the same result.
''When it has dawned upon him that
the people declined to follow the for.
tunes or misfortunes of Hearst's politi-
cal aspirations, he has by every con-
ceivable means endeavored to under
mine their influence and destroy them.
$50 he has begun a repetition
through his newspapers, of the Sian.
derous and contemplate attacks upon
the character and work of the pres;-
dent of the American Federation of
Labor and his associates. His real en-
nifty is not necessarily against those
officers of the labor movement, but the
hope OF minimizing or eliminating the
American Federation of Labor itself.
And what has Hearst done for
labor that places him in the position
OF the guardian and mentor Of the
American labor movements
When he was a member Of congress
he attended not more than two meet
lngs of the Committee on Labor of
which he was a member, absenting
himself from all its other sessions dur.
ing the period Of his term of office,
two years. In the strike of the print
ing pressmen Of Chicago he was the
most relentless antagonist of all the
publishers in that city. In the Boston
newsboys' strike for better considera-
ton and treatment at the hands OF
Hearst's Boston paper, he significantly
appealed to the president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor for support;
and he finally beat the boys into SUBJ
mission. The strike Of the newsboys
Of New York was practically repeti-
tion of the same situation.
"1n the mechanical department of
his newspapers, requiring expert skill
he has operated ''union shop,'' and
this evidently for his own financial
advantage. In. all else, he has assumed,
the position that all who are employed
by him owe him not only industrial
service but political subserviency: That
he has not received the latter to the
extent that he desired is due to no
failure on his part to demand it.
"1n view OF. all the utterances and
the attitude of William Randolph
Hearst and his newspapers, we deem
it duty to labor as we'll as to the
public generally to make this brief
reference to Mr.. Hearst's effort to
dominate Or destroy the American labor
movement and those who have beer