Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-05-02
Labor Leader Foster
Replies to GOInpers
Resents Insinuation That Mil
lions of Dollars Are Being
Spent For BoIshsvik Propa-
ganda.

Chicago, May 1 1By the A. P)-
Charges that the American Federation
of Labor under the president of Samuel
= 6ompers has come to standstfn .spolitj-
cally for the industrially and philosophi-I
caily were made today by William q.
roster, secretary treasurer of the Trade
Union Educational League today, eoun-
terdng Mr.. Gompers' charges made yes.
terday that under Fosters direction a po-
htical machine was being buEt with boil
shevik funds to undermine American la
Dor.
Mr.. Foster said the charge made by
Mr.. Gompers was ridiculous" and that
Mr.. Gompers was suffering from an an
ti-Russia complex
Mr.. Foster also denied that he was
working against the interests Of labor
and declared that the books of the Trade
Union Educational League was open for
the inspection of any auditors Mr.. Com
pers might select.
Talking glibly Of many millions of
dollars being spent for bolshevik propa-
ganda in the United States" Mr.. Foster
said, 'Mr. Gompers takes occasion to
link my name with this mysterious fund,
Indirectly indeed, but none the less effec-
lively. Therefore I demand that Mr.
Gompers make good on his i9sinuations.
Either he must prove his statements
and innuendos or stand convicted of flag
rantAy urfair propaganda. AS far as the
books OF our organization are concerned
I stand ready to submit them to any
reputable auditing company, who will be
given every opportunity to examine into
our sources of revenue
'Mr. Gompers' charge abomt my build
ing a great secret machine to undermine
the American Federation of Labor move
| nent. is ridiculous The fact is that the
! Trade Union Educational league, the
body which Mr.. Gompers has in mind
| operates In broad daylight. Its plan o,
organization was announced publicly sew
eral months ago throughout the laboi
press of the country. 1t is purely an ed
ucational organization. designed Il
strengthen the trade unions and to Civ,
them more militant philosophy. Instead
of such a movement being new thinI
for me. have been working condsantl.
along these lines for the past ten years
During the packing house and the stee
industry movements. I had exactly til
/ same thing in mind as have now
namely, the Strengthening Of the infuenc
| of progressive and radical elements in tn
trade union movement Mr.. Gompers
alarm comes at a rather late date.
'7he explanation of Mr.. Gomper:
broadside. Is that he suffers from an an
ti-Russian complex. With most of tn
leading politicians and industrialists G
Europe convinced that trade and diplc
matte relations must be established wit
Russia. he still clings to the policy c
the Gordon Sanitaire.' Where Russi
is concerned he IS more heaFtless and re
dictionary than the employing class them
i &
Another factor making for Mr.. Con
!. pers' statement Is that he fears ne'
spirit Of progress now taking shar
l among the rank and file of the trad
unions all over the country. Under h
t leadership the trade union movement hs
: come to a stands1i1l politically. 1ndusrria
/ ly and philosophically. The Trade Unio
l Educational league is working to brea
: this deadlock and to give the movemeI
q the impetus to progress which it no
stands SO sadly in need of, hence NJ
Gompers violent opposition. He hop'
j to break it's influence by waving tt
h bloody shirt"