The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-03-28
GOMPERS SCORES
LABOR LEADER WHO
WOULD AID SOVIET
DenounceS as Unpatriotic
Americans Those Who Criti-
else Him for Refusal to In
dorSe Red Government
BY Associated Press

BY Associated Press
Washington, March 27.-Samuel
Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor, today denounced
as ''unpstriotic Americans" those
labor leaders who have severely criti-
cized his refusal to indorse the Rus
sian soviet government or to urge its
recognition by the United States.
Flat refusal to recede in the slight
est from his position was expressed by
MIR. Gompers in 2,5O0-word letter TO
the Central Trades union of Kalama-
zoo, Mich; Phoenix. Ariz.; Larimie,
Wyo.. and other similar labor organi-
cations which had adopted resolutions
condemning the present administration
of the federation because of its Rus
sian stand as subseryient to capital
and against the best interests of the
workers. The action of these bodies,
the letter said, apparently was based
on conclusions drawn from utter mis-
Information of the ue situation in
Russia
In the many years 1 have been an
official of the American Federation of
Labor" the letter said. mo document
las been received by me containing
more misinformation or conclusions
based upon such a lack of knowledge
II is true that l have read much of
the propaganda that is being circu-
lated throughout the United States in
favor or the bolshevik government of
Russia and it is true that the letter
Qdnnfad Nv h., l. Ia M.
labor council gives voice to that
. propaganda.
PAST UNDERTAKING
lin these days 1t is past UNDER
standing how American citizens
can bring themselves to aid and
comfort propaganda that has for
its purpose the destruction of the
trnde labor movement in America
and the overthrow of our republic.D
The letter quoted from numerous Of
11clal announcements of the Russian
government as to the necessity for
naturalization of labor, in order that
masses of labor should be moved
about, ordered and sent from place to
place in the same manner as soldiers >,
and commented on measures which
Irotzky had taken to force the return
TO work OF railroad and bank EMPLOYEES
VINO had voluntarily quit their po-
sitions
Does the Kalamazoo Trades and
Labor council support this programme
Tor the united States?@ Mr.. Gompers
INJURED.
The federation president declare 4
tnat the communist party in Russia
Inc real rulers of that country--num :
cered less than 100 members,
PRODUCES PROOF
ms was SHOWN, he said. by the fac.
mat WINE each members of the party
was emitted to an allowance of two
POUNDS or bread day, less than 10. 900
APPLICATIONS for that allowance were
made to the food commissarie.
assertion of the Kalamazoo central
pody that unemployment in America
would be relieved by lifting the en-
pargo on Russia, Mr.. Gompers denied
on the grounds that there is no s1,ch
embargo and if there were, il Womb
lations.
1t may be news to- you that the
greatest amount of Amer ican manufac-
tured articles sent to Russia, outside
munitions, was in 1913" he wrote,
O00"
Trade relations with Russia were
formally resumed in July, 1920, the le1-
ter continued, with the removal of the
embargo, and today there is no Oh
stacle in the way of the Russian PEG
pit dealing with the United States as
"a as the latter is concerned"
Millions of dollars are known to
nave been sent from Russia to the
United States to pay those who circu-
late bolshevik propaganda" Mr.. Com
pers said. If those who have con-
sciously or unconsciously aided in the
circulation have failed to be reward
&C. they have missed great oppor-
tlnity for gain. for their services have
cen we'll worth financial recognition
b. Lenine and Trotzky
When the people of Russia elect a
representative government, the Amer. .
CA Federation of Labor VIII he the
llrst 70 demand its recognition"
It Is understood that about 60 CEN
trai labor organizations and iadiyidu II
locals have gone on record in more o.
tess heated terms in Opposing M.
Comper's anti-Russian policy. A.
neadquarters small Importance was at
tached to this opposition which was
oeciared 10 represent only a small per-
centage of the entire membership Of
tia federation