The New York herald., 1922-04-30

speeches President Gompers has COM
planned OF court decisions unfayorablc
to organized labor, employers throughout
the country are conducting q campaign
to re-establish the open shop In every
community, in Kansas the Industrial
Court has gained ground and wages are
falling throughout the United States,
the federation's boast that it maintained
a high standard of pay.
The present status OF organized labor
Is due entirely to the attitude within
its ranks of some radical leaders, ac-
cordng to members OF the conservative
group. They complain that had the
rank and file of labor followed the
Gompers leadership completely within
the last two years all would have been
stronger and larger than ever.
Membership Falling Off.
1t is matter of record that at the
Denver convention Secretary Morrison
made a report showing that the total
paid up membership had declined.
The radical leaders claim that the
"standpat" policies of the conservatives
have weakened the prestige of the move
ment Theirs Is a militant policy. Thus
far the conservative element, headed by
Gompers has maintained control Of
the situation, which, however, has not
been as firm as desired.
The fight to unseat Gompers at the
Denver convention was a manifestation
of the struggle between the conservative
and radical forces. The victory of
Gompers strengthened the conservative
group, its members contend No opposi-
tion will be ventured at the Cincinnati
tat Ian
radicals are now whipped and the COM
servatives are free to go ahead and
make policies without regard to them.
This claim is put forth to inspire con-
f1dence. and Gompers and his lieuten-
ants, keeping their ears to the ground
for the first whisper Of opposition, de-
clare that neither Lewis nor any one
else will dare to oppose the candidacy
of the labor veteran for reelection as
president Of the federation.
At the same time some predict tn 1T
Gompers will now voluntarily retire.
having this view on the belief that hav-
ing defeated Lewis and the radicals at
the last convention, retirement can be
effected gracefully.
Mr. Gompers, remaining absolutely
quiet. gives no indication whatever as to
what he plans to do. but some of his
friends says he aspires to "d!c in
harness."
No matter what Gompers does. 1t is
certain that he has q standing in the
labor movement that inspires general
good will from nearly all, even his
enemies. At the Montreal convention
in 1920 tho convention fought him on
the issue of public ownership OF rail-
roads and then raised his salary. Mr..
Gompers declined to accept the salary
increase. The same delegates who had
opposed him In a policy then voted to
increase the salary over Mr.. Gompcrs's
protest.
CoaI Strike n Factor.
The attitude of the Gompers group
will be revealed to the Cincinnati con-
vention in the repor. OF the executive
council. which will be prepared largely
at the meeting on May 10. This report,
an annual affair. will be history of
the movement Its defeats and victories.
since the Denver convention.
Among the questions which probably
will be discussed in the report will be
the Kansas Industrial Court, court de-
cisions adverse TO labor, bonus legisla-
ton. the railroad situation. compulsory