New-York tribune., 1922-06-05
conveuiion Confrontcdb by
Problem of Communism
In Ranks and wage-Cut.
ting Movement Outside
Radicals Boring
Into Organization
Goal Strike and Railroad
situation Unsettling Fac
TORS, Aiding Union Foes
pv Gilman Parker

V,rt Monday, a. tlneinn@''' '"e 0'
- workers OF the United States
- ,r,in cone before the country in
a., yearly business meeting, the
s..,,..,,ord snnusl convention Of the
,r,ri,.s FEDERATION Of Labor
In, number Of respects It we'll be
-. nos. inportsn, convention in the
,iaory Of tn. federation. During no
,,,,iou, year, IS ,fs lsbOring man sees
#. hss organized labor been so be'et by
Il. .,,mies with the forces Of organ
,,,5 esni.al united IS never before 70
.-iyr, The movement through almost
,,,,v conceivable means Of pressure
.,or si,sou. end a strong consolids-
"a, Of radcalism surging 10 seize con-
,-.l through the diplomacy Of boring
from within
m the one hand, N, convention will
+, h,lS in the midst Of national coal
,.-is, regarded by number Of labor
'..ser As a Showdown" in the con-
se, between organized employers and
errsrized workers, and amid threats
II another and even more serious
c-ke being made by some OF the rail
wd workers Of the country. On the
,ker. there appear William y. Foster
rd the other extremists OF mis- ilk. de-
trmined. with the backing Of Chicago
,-d the Northwest, 20 wage battle for
~ cause Of communism on the hoor
@. the convention.
Need Code Of Ethics
These matters arc, Of course, vital 70
me labor movement and its future and
VIII be accorded priority action at the
conventions hands. But in the opinion
q numerous persons who wish the
Increment well, they are no more i'm
.oitsr, than the supplying of what has
b.en one OF its most urgent needs for
considerable time, which, briefly -
ttdt o. ethics and the power 10 en-
frst
Ihbisnot written as piece OF labor
biting, inasmuch ar the writing IS set
down by one long since convinced that
'htre is no more dangerous citizen e1-
ilnt than the professional union bus
ter Nor is II written without due con-
sidera,ion OF the fact that American
trades unionism has its hands full, and
A little BIT more. in it's present Sight "a
preserve the structure IL has so lsbori'
ously built Up since the inception o.
he movement. What chiefly has i'm
'e'lcd the making Of the criticism is
'slief that the following are facts snc
Ici mere opinions:
l. Tho first great drive Of the anti
ron forces 10 crush the movemen
as failed. Evidence; The collapse o.
'ismpts 20 force incorporation o
slons, the establishment OF industria
urts. and similar measures designed
, bring the movement under a stroni
.iiroct control OF its adversaries.
2. The field showdown between the tv'
dss, II the coal strike can be terme'
reh. seems 70 be moving slowly bu
srely toward the cause Of the miners
Rising prices indicate tina
spletioa Of reserve coal stocks u
ringing the latter nearer the DANCE
-ark and forcing Of government inter
tnt!on than the operators will admit
there have been no breaks
? The miners ranks. their morale Il
Iood and they have obtained substsn
sl gains in the non-unior fields.
Wage Cutting Halted
g. The employers wage-cutting cam
paign, 20 described, has been halted
Evidence: Such conservative en-
poyefs organizations as the National
Industrial Conference Board report a
serious shortage Of skilled workers in
many sections Of the country, with
wages tending 20 rise in some in
Nancss and a growing shortage OF
unssllled labor in a number Of districts.
l. The organized labor movement
never held a stronger position in the
1000 will and fair-minded judgment
o. ihe American people than 1t does
b-asy, despite efforts made 10 place
y n false light. Evidence; A better
sicersianding OF what is best in the
royement on the part Of numerous
public opinion-forming influences for
n'fy regarded by the movement as
iN overfriendly, and a growing de-
ne Of those influences 70 dig deeply
10 . lsbor's problems and present the
With these facts in mind, the ques-
.o, ., naturally resolves as 70 what
.sAily progressive steps the labor
s'o'ement can take to help itself, aside
''m It's mapping out Of battle cam
lconilnuoc On psss three