The Connecticut labor news., 1922-06-23
WOLL WARNS LABOR OF COUNTRY
 AGAINST MSIDIOUS PROPAGANDA
 SPREAD BY THE FEDERATED PRESS
News Association, Pos ing as Organ of Or ganized Labor, Really a Foe, Declares Pres ident of InternatiOn- al.
By International Labor News Service.

By International Labor News Service
 Cincinnati, O., June 23.-President Matthew Woll, of the International Labor Press of America, in his opening address and report to the annual convert tion of that organization here, gave to the delegates an account of the work and character of the Federated Press, an or gan1zatlon purportlng 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 Presi- dent Woll said:
 There has been in existence for the past three years an organization known as the Federated Press. I say without hesitation, and as a caution to all the trade union press of America, that the Federated Press constantly serves as a channel for the dissemination of harmful propaganda and that the service of the Federated Press has been constantly and consistently engaged Tn a subtle campaign of undermining and discrediting the trade un1on movement. It can be regarded only as an agency of the enemy. If at times it is subtle that is only added reason for vigilance
 Call upOll lIlS LdDOI press OI EA1ne1- ica in general, and the International La bor Press of America as an organization in particular, to declare its unequivoca1 opposition to the Federated Press, and to do all that may be done and be done within proper limitations to warn all against the most insiduous and harmful propaganda of the Federated Press. The function of the trade union press of America IS to strengthen and build up the trade union movement. It Is a part of that function to warn against any thing calculated to weaken the trade union movement, or to cast unjust sus- picion upon its leaders. This issue IS one of great importance. It can by no possibility be evaded.
 'The Federated Press has constantly appealed to trade unions for financial support and to invest its funds in bonds of the Federated Press In that manner this organization has assumed a bonded indebtedness of no small proportion. 1 am advised that internal dissension de- veloped within the past year regarding the management of this service and par ticularly because of an apparent failure to provide a reserve fund for the pay mcnt of bonds issued when the date of maturity IS at hand. It does seem that those who have invested their money in these bonds should be advised of the true state of affairs within the Feeder ated Press and that the entire Labor movement should be familiar with the workings of a service that looks to La bor for support and that purports to record events in the interest of Labor.
 Examination of Federated Press re- ports and of the Federated Press bull letin show clearly how consistently and destructive policy of the Federated Press is followed out.
 "The attitude of the Federated Press has been to favor every movement an tagonistic to the American Federation of Labor and to give preference in its re- ports to those persons, agencies, or move ments which either cr1ticise the Amer ican Federation of Labor or which seek to oppose 1t 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 further cer- tain policy and to create a certain inn pression which may at times be exactly contrary to the facts Not only does the Federated Press pursue an antiA. F. of L. policy Tn the news reports served to its clients but 1t also follows that policy in the Federated Press bulletin which is
  porters in various communities The Federated Press is thus not only at least sympathetic toward a social philosophy with which the American labor move ment can have no sympathy but It IS opposed to the American Federation of Labor its principles and policies in every phase of industrial and political activ- ity.
 "I am informed already that number of labor papers have discontinued the Federated Press service, finding the In- ternational Labor News Service super for in quality and, what Is far more inn portant, accurate as to facts and faith full in its support of the American Fed eration of Labor.
 II leave the issue with the convention. having no doubt as to the outcome. 1 urge however, that your action be of the most vigorous character, emphasizing once more that the slightest degree of compromise IS tantamount to surrender on our part"