Evening star., 1923-10-17
A. E. of L. Lauded by Press
For Blows at Radicalism

f That the American Federation of La
bor IN it's Portland convention ''nlade
history" is conceded by editors who
have discussed its proceedings. It's ac-
tion in expeuing communists. voting
down the one big union proposal. de-
cfaring labor wants no third party"
and in opposing child labor are "head-
lights on the road to sanity it is de-
clared. and throughout the entire pro-
ceedings editors see note of Ameri-
canism that is helpful
Recalling that the attempt to form
labor party in this country 'is not new,"
The Star pointed out that mo effort has
been made to check the activities of the
politically inclined In taking part in the
political battles OF the country through
the regular party organlzationS. Ihe
action in Portland is a healthful Sign"
1t is unjust. however" as the New
York Times sees 1t, to '1ook at the fed
erations course as merely polite and
clever and the result of experience. The
economic power of organized labor
would be destroyed by its injection into
politics. The almost pitiable feebleness
Of the separatists in the convention is
additional proof. il any was needed. OF
the wisdom and patriotism OF the fed
Grafton. It's leaders are among the
shrewdest managers OF politicians and
their views are often wise and states
manlike, however much we may regret
some of their proposals" Amp!ifying
this declaration the Chicago Daily News
recalls "it is no new experience Tor
Samuel Gompers and his supporters to
combat and defeat radicalisT1- The ma
iority OF the delegates who attend these
annual conventions are moderate and
1evel-hsaded and undoubtedly they truly
represent the rank and file of the or
gauized labor movement"
"'Playing down the radical ele-
ment has been the keynote of the
convention the Newark Evening
News insists, and sit is healthy sign
Of the times Like it or not, sporadic
radicalism. in one form or another,
has played too large role in organ
ICED labor since the war. Recogni-
ton of this ugly fact undoubtedly is
back of the vigor with which the
miners union lately hurried to the
country, through the press, with an
attack upon radicalism. 1t was
echoed in the report of the executive
committee of the federation, and has
been harped upon in various keys
during the proceedings Labor's best
course is to face itself in the mirror
Of the present and profit by the re-
fiection-of its faults as well as it's
virtues" 1t is, however, the opinion
Of the New. York Post that "rejec-
ton of the labor party Idea was due
not so much to conservatism as to
realism" while the Chattanooga
Times feels Intelligent labor leaders
are quite as wise to the imPossibility
the farm leaders" So far as the
Reading Tribune is concerned, it sees
little excuse for the cry against radi-
calism". by either Solicitor General
the federation, although ''all of this
chatter makes good reading to the
man who fears for his safety. 1t
arouses some apxieties in gullibie
public But it does not do any more
than make the gooseffesh rise. The
shouts against the reds may, elevate
the men behind the labor movement
temporarily, but they will eventually
, work TO their discredit when the peo-
pie understand that it has been a cry
Of wolf
| "There are those within the ranks
Of organized labor who consider Mr.
Gompers and his followers as being
too conservative, even non-progres-
sive," the FL Paso Herald points out,
"and there have been desertions to
the i. w. w. by these dissatisfied ele-
uents But Mr.. Gompers is backed
by a. substantial and numerically
large element of sane and conServa-
tive workers, men and women who
desire that the federation shall con-
tinue along the lines Of its original
| purpose for the betterment of the
| economic condition of labor and a
correspondingly better contribution
| to the Improvement of industry"
y x X X
AS for the declaration against child
| labor, the Cincinnati Enquirer won
| ders why it is that each Congress
holds men who do not dare enact q
! national law that would make for the