The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-06-03
POLITICS NATL.
LAID TO GOMPERS,
SAYSP. J. RYAN
CONTINUED from First PsSe.)

the distribution of the badges; Mr..
Gompers knew OF my activities in
the interest OF self determination,
and did not approve them. He sue
cceded In having the league of ma
lions Endorsed by wrapping II up
taking his cue from President VIII
son, with respect to the Versailles
treaty and the league OF nations. In
the executive councils report. 1t Is
traditional that this report Is usually
Endorsed. However. clause was in
serted in the report to protect the
action OF the previous day in regard
to the stand taken upon the Irish
Republic.
But tho third and last was the
chief reason for Mr.. Gompers' de-
termination to put me out of the
labor movement. When Mr.. Com
pers attempted to deliver the labor
vote for the Democratic party. in
common with many OF my associates
OF the labor movement i resented II
as an interference with the personal
and political liberty OF the members
OF the movement, and made my posi-
ton plain in an interview to tho
newspapers, which was published at
the time.
I'm that interview. I said that
Gompers could not deliver the labor
vote to Cox. and that any attempt
on his part would meet with failure.
GoMPERs INCENsED.
MY conduct in Issuing this inter
view so incensed the president of the
American Federation of Labor that
he prepared a six-page letter de-
nouncing my conduct. He sent for
the executive committee of the Plate
Printers Union, read the letter to
the committee, and / was hailed be-
fore that organization and charged
with making statements prejudicial
to the best interests OF the union
81 was finally suspended from the
organization. with the qualification
that / could attend the meetings in
the future, but would be deprived OF
a voice and a vote-although 1 have
been attached to the labor movement
all my life,
mo difference OF opinion with Mr..
Gompers, however, can ALLEVIATE my
friendship for the rank and file of
that great movement and its aims
and objects to amelIorate the condl-"
ton OF the working man and the
good of our republic.
ANY departure from the original
principles of organized labor to keep
itself aloof from politics will sound
its death-knell, but there are men
who stand guard and will not fail
to protect the movement from disln-
tegration.
There are many leaders in the la
Dor movement who share my views.
albeit they have not spoken out Many
OF them will be in the convention, and
some will disagree with me. But they
will have to admit that II the move
l. 20
and moral force, ii. must rid !tselt OF
personal ambition, politicians and
politics.
There Is no place in that move
ment for any one who does not sub
scribe TO the principle that the Amer
lean labor movement must rest upon
its American Foundation for the pro-
lection OF the American workmen in
America against intarnationulism and
for nationalism. when we depart
from those principles We can say with
the great poet a long farewell to ali
our greatness.
ACTIVE oFFICE-HoLDER.
Ryan has been identified with the
labor movement for the past thirty
five years, and has held the follow
ing offices:
Editor OF The Plate Printer. the Of
hcial organ OF the International steel
and Copper Plate Printers of North
America
Delegate to the Central Labor I'm
ion of Washington.
Representative OF the Central Labor
Union in the Washington Chamber Of
Commerce.
Delegate to the Maryland state and
District of Columbia Federation OF
Labor from the Plate Printers I'M
icn.
Delegate to conventions OF the
American Federation OF Labor from
the Maryland State and District OF
Columbia Federation Of Labor.
A reference TO the declaration in
the suit hled by Ryan against Comp
ers shows that the suit is based upon