Evening journal., 1922-08-08
GoMEpERs, RApIcALIsM

i CyAMUEL. GoMPERS, well-known personally or by
- reputation to thousands of Delawareans, has made
a great puslic display OF revokng the charter OF
bookkee pers' union the ground that
II radical The Republican Publicity Assoca-
tion thinks it is appropriate therefore, to look back
over the record and OF the incidents
which indicate OF radicalism of Mr. Com
pers himself.
The association. through its president Hon. Jonathan
Bourne Jr, says
I'm 1911 william r. Foster in a letter published in
an organ of the w. w, urged that organization to
adopt and practice the principles OF revolutionary
unlonism which means: To put machinery on strike
by disabling II; to cut railroad wires put cement in
switches; run locomotives into turn table pits; put
emery dust in machinery bearings, etc When the at
tenon OF Gompers called the fact that Foster
had been aHliaed with the W. W., Gompers admitted
that afation. insisted that Foster had reformed
When leading and managing the steel strike
he had the full backing Of Gompers only within the
last year did the radicasm OF Foster become public
that Gompers found 1t convenient to sever his re-
lations with the I. w. W. leader.
In 1919 when the organized police force Of the city
OF Boston went on strike left the city at the mercy
Of the lawess that strike had the moral support OF
Mr. Gompers and when Governor Coolidge refused to
restore the striking policemen to their positions and
the Democratic candidate for promised to or
der their restoration the influence OF Mr. Gompers was
the support OF the Democratic candidate ana
against Mr.. Coolidge
In 1918 following the signing OF the armistce, Mr.
Gompers declared that organized labor will resist to
the uttermos any attempt reduce wartime wages or
iengthen hours of labor Just what Mr.. Gompers had
in mind when he the phrase resist to the utter
most Il would be impossible assert. But there can
be no doubt whatever Interpretation would be put
upon It by all that people who believe in the
use OF physical for the settlement of disputes
who heIleve in the methods advocated by Foster,
and who perpetrate such ourages the massacre at
Herrin Illinois The American farmer was compelled
IN take a reduction from wartime prices American
businessmen took their incident TO the passing OF
wartime conditions yet Mr. Gompers with measure OF
radicasm which It would difficult to surpass urged
that organized labor resist the uttermost any at
tempt to reduce wages.
when the United states Senate passed a bill pro-
vding for the adjudication OF disputes on rail-
against conspiraces to interrupt interstate commerce
but expressly reserved every individual his right to
oult Mr. Gompers declared that II that measure be-
came law organized labor would ignore and defy H.
Asserting the right labor union to quit he has
never conceded the right OF other men to work.
If It was proper for Mr. Gompers to recall the char
ter Of the bookkeepers union account OF radcasm
what action should taken in order to curtail the
power OF Mr.. Gompers himself"
We feel sure that most fairminded Delawareans will
be Interested in statement OF fact and regard
rs pertinent at this question which Mr. Bourne
asks with respect to Gompers.