Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-25
Tuesday. April IS. 1922.
POT CALLING THE KETTLE
BLACK

An unnecessary amount OF calling
the ketl. black by the smutty pot
illustrates a condition that Is chronic
at all times, but which in these days
is especially noticeable.
Elementary rights won by CEN
turlcs OF sacrifice have been invaded
by postwar reaction" say the social
lists in the program of their conven-
ton at Cleveland. The system of
shameless profteering continues I'M
ubatcd," they say Are they speaking
81 their utopian Russia or of the
United States? Organizers of the
trade unions have been moobed and
driven out Of some communities" is
another charge they make.
They appear TO be very much at
home in New York City. but there is
"a growing tendency there to ask
them a few pertinent questions.
Probably the socialists will denounce
this as species of reaction" In
view Of the collision between the
unions and the contractors to rob
people, facts revealed by the Lock-
wood investigating committee. the
asking OF these questions would seem
10 be very mild hammered sort of
defense.
The committee had Mr.. Gompers
before II. When he was asked what
he thought of n proposition to have
laws "to halt the abuse of power by
labor unions. by holding union men,
hers responsible. as individuals, for
losses sustained to contractors
through these abuses" the veteran
leader half rose from his scat and
replied: II should not only object;
] should protest such action"
And when they asked him what
nc would propose as an alternative
he replied: Patience, while organ
lied labor excrts to correct abuses
within the organization" He did not
TX any limit n that patience but
considering the cxtortions that have
been going on for several years he
apparently would have it indefinite.
80 tho shameless profitecring is to
continue undated" while the social
ists rave about IT and Gompers dis
misses u with dcprecatory wave of
his hand and advises patience and
tho victims mcclly lie down and put
up their feet TO he tied.
some ~ the victims do not take
kindly 10 this patient role. The
Committee had the audacity to ask
Gompcrs questions for three hours,
nlling in with reading from the tcs-
timouy 1t has collected.
MIR. Gompors said he had not
known that. aa rccitod by Mr.. Inter
uINer. the briCklaNers on six such
buildings in Brooklyn struck at the
lunch hour last Monday for an in
crease from $40 to Sl2 per day, and
got ". lie also was not aware, he
said. that similar strike order un-
dor like circumstances occurred in
New York yesterday. where the
wofkmcu cNacted promises of s13
per day before returning TO the job.
He did not know he declared, that
plumbers unions Of New York had
been closed 20 candidates. except
hrothers and sons Of members. since
1920: that plumbers refused to in
stall certain modern fixtures because
they required fewer labor-ho than
other kinds that one union had COM
PEELED On employer 10 pay his men
several hours overtime because they
waited 10 minutes after the whistle
for their vC"Elv wages; that plas-
tercrs' unions forbade the use of
moulds for interior decorations in
any building than the one for which
designed. Ia order that the mould
makers NJ ..-- steadily en-
ploNed. t'... --e.e tl1n ZOE mantels
intended lY, installation in New
York hotUl were destroyed because
they contained percentage of c.
ment. ana the plastercrs refused to
install them, that an imitation mar
HE wall. in the same hotel, was de-
stroycd because il did not meet with
the approval Of a union delegate and
his executive committee; that GER
tain unions had rule that when
only ono man was required for the
Job he should receive foreman's
wages. OF 10. Z contractors from 9TH
er cities. On jobs IL New York. were
required 20 pay The union scale pre-
Vailing IN their resident city, II it was
higher than the scale here.
Mr., Compcrs apparently hadn't
heard about this. which he had to
admit waS "uniustifiable." but he
would oppose II only with "patience."
Meanwhile the socialists in conven-
ton VIII have much to say about
down-trodden labor. Who will say
. word for the ultimate" consumer
Who pays the rent, or Ia everyone of
That Ink trodden so deeply in the
mud they can't make their voices
heard.