Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-11
Tuesday, January II, 1921.
American and International
Labor

arranged n discussion of outstanding
industrial problems for its annual
meeting next month. In a circular
letter sent out Chairman Easley of
the executive committee says:
Many things have happened dur
ing the past year to encourage those
who have resisted the shallow senti-
Inentalism that is clamoring for the
establishment Of new social order
and the scrapping of everything that
is. There is the Socialist Party men
ace that was laid on the shelf IN the
November elections. Instead OF Debs
doubling his vote, it was the electo-
rate that doubled, leaving Debs tied
10 the U912) post. Also it was heart
ening to all friends of orderly prog
ress to see the so-called Farmer and
Labor Party peter out" so complete
ly. Then there were the failure of
the Reds to capture the great rail-
way labor organizations through out
law strikes directed from Moscow;
the failure of the Bolshevists to cap
ture the Offices of the United Mine
Workers of America in the recent
election of that organization; the
clear-cut position taken by the Amer
lean Federation of Labor against the
recognition of that impossible thing
called Soviet Russia: and the house
cleaning by the A. T. of l.. affiliated
organizations, in which the |. w W.,
one Big Union and other Bolshevist
agents We're summarily elected from
all conventions
But we are not yet out of the
woods" adds Mr.. Easley. Nor does
lie have to go far for the evidence, the
agltators have not ceased clamoring,
the radical leaders of Europe recog-
nilins that their own success depends
still preaching and plotting to spread
The influence of the International
Federation OF Trade Unions in this
country and destroy the American
Federation of Labor. Their repre-.
slntatives in this country, largely
made up of bolshevists, recently
PASSED resolutions urging class DOM
1nation that the workers unite by
Industries that they prevent the pro-
duction of war material and as a
substitute for government this inter-
national federation must, of it's own
accord and within its own ranks find
the power to preserve the world from
terror and annihilation'.
In other words transfer the present
leign Of Russia to the entire world.
Nor is this to be wondered at; it is
rare to find one inefficient at picking
up chips who doesn't feel fully com
retent to conduct numbering oper-
alton, and the fellow who doesn't
know a squash from watermelon
can tell others all about agriculture
Thanks be. there are Il few American
working people from Missouri left.
They are pretty we'll convinced by
this time. that the success of
tho rule in Russia cannot hope
TO long continue unless it NAV
fiEe othel peoples to rob-it has
hied Russia nearly white already and
hasn't been able to restore what il
has bled. Samuel Gompers and Ma
thew Woll make reply and express
the sentiments of what we are glad to
believe is the large majority of Amer
lean labor:
The American Federation of La
Dor is not revolutionary body and
has never had any utilization with any
revolutionary body which would re-
qulre 1T to give serious consideration
10 revolutionary proposals of any
Kind 1t has never considered or
compromised with any revolutionary
movement to upset our institutions
by violence. The appeal of the In
ternational Federation of Trade
Unions and of the Council of Action
are appeals to revolutionary violence
Inc International Federation of
Trades Unions declares very clearly
mat 1t must of it's own accord and
WITHIN Its own ranks find the power
to preserve the world from terror and
anarchy. The world is not threat
cned With terror and anarchy unless
IT be from the Soviets, for the aid of
which these manifestos are issued. II
the world is to be preserved from this
or any other danger it must be by the
action OF democratic governments
chosen by the people,"
1t is not the genuine workingman
who is TO be feared rather those who
are making fat and easy living at
working the workers They. Joined
by some faddists, some who never
have been able to attract attention or
satve t'teir inordinate vanity by any
reputable act, arc resorting to every
"Npedient, except that of telling the
truth. They are sufficiently intelli-
gent to realize that first they must
preach discomfort The last thing
they wish to see is men doing an
l'onoss days work and receiving an
Honest days pay They wish to over
turn, undermine. blow up, absolutely
destroy the conditions under which
This country has achieved it's Won
dcrfui prestige. Does the American
woik:ngnlan wish 10 have Russians,