Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1922-06-16
FEDERATED PRESS
is DISCREDITED BY
MATTHEW WOLL

By International Labor News Service.
Cincinnati, o., June 12.--President
Matthew Vol, of the International
Labor Press of America, in his open
ing address and report TO the annual
convention of that organization here,
gave to the delegates an account of
the work and character of the FEEDER
ated Press, an organization purport-
ing and claiming to serve the labor
press.
The International Labor Press of
America is an organization of trade
union publications and is the owner
of the International Labor News
Service.
Concerning the Federated Press
President Woll said:
"There has been in existence for
the past three years an organization
known as The Federated Press. | say
without hesitation, and as a caution
to all the trade union press of Ameri-
ca, that the Federated Press constant
~ serves as a channel for the dissent
ination of harmful propaganda and
that the service of the Federated
Press has been constantly and per-
sistently engaged in subtle CAM
paign of undermining and discredit-
ing the trade union movement. 1t can
be regarded only as an agency of the
enemy. If at times il Is subtle, that
is only added reason for vigilance"
Il call upon the labor press of
America in general, and the lnterna-
tional Labor Press of America as an
organization in particular, to declare
it unequivocal opposition to the Fed
Grated Press, and, to do all that may
be done and be done within proper
limitations to warn all against the
most insiduous and harmful propa-
ganda of the Federated Press. The
function of the trade union press of
America is to strengthen and build
up the trade union movement. 1t is
part of that function to warn
against anything calculated to weaken
the trade union movement, or to cast
unjust suspicion upon its leaders.
This issue Is one of great Importance.
1t can by no possibility be evaded."
"The Federated Press has constant
ly appealed to trade unions for finan-
cial support and to invest it's funds
in bonds of The Federated Press. In
that manner this organization has as
sumed bonded Indebtedness of no
small proportion. | am advised that
internal dissension developed with the
past year regarding the management
of this service and particularly be-
cause of am apparent failure to pro-
vide a reserve fund for the payment
of bonds issued when the date of
maturity is at hand. Ii does seem
that those who have invested their
monies in these bonds should be adj
vised of the true state Of affairs with
in the Federated Press and that the
entire labor movement should be
familiar with the workings of serv-
ice that looks to labor for support
and that purports to record events in
the interest of labor"
examination of Federated Press
reports and of the Federated Press
bulletin show clearly how consistent
ly and destructive policy of the Fed
Grated Press is followed out"
''The attitude of the Federated
Press has been to favor every move
ment antagonistic to the American
Federation of Labor and to give pre-
ference in its reports to those persons,
agencies, or movements which either
criticize the American Federation of
Labor or which seek to oppose it on
| the industrial field or the political
field. The Federated Press is past
master of an art long known in the
offices of special privilege newspapers
--the art of coloring news. By the
use of this art it is possible to fur
Their a certain "policy" and to create
a certain impression which may at
times be exactly contrary to the facts.
Not only does the Federated Press
pursue an anita. F. of L. policy in
the news reports served to its clients
but it also follyows that policy in the
Federated Press bulletin which is dis
tributed to its organizations of sup
porters in various communities. The
Federated Press is thus not only at
least sympathetic toward a social
philosophy with which the American
labor movement can have no sympa-
thy but it is opposed to the American
Federation of Labor, its principles
and policies in every phase of indus
trial and political activity"
81 am informed already that num-
Der of labor papers have discontinued
the Federated Press service, finding
the International Labor News Service
superior in quality and, what is far
more important, accurate as to facts
and faithful in its support of the
American Federation of Labor"
81 leave the issue with the conven-
ton, having no doubt as to the out
rouna uroa bawavar that vnur