San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-29
Describes Trip to Russia
and Michigan Com
munist Meeting.
TELLS OF RADICALISM
Says Workers in U. S. Not
Immune to Anti-capi-
talistic Ideas.

81. JOstihi- liitil., tACl -Vs-NA IL
liam z. Foster, charged with criminal
syndicalism, took the stand in his
own defense this morning TO describe
his work as seeretary-treasurer Of the
Trades Union Educational League.
Foster testified he had been a mem
Der of the l. W. W., Seanen's Union,
Garments Union and other Organiza-
tions. He quit the i. W. W., be said.
because | no longer agreed with it,
policies and program"
Are you q member of any politi-
cal party?" Frank Z. Walsh, Fosters
attorney, asked.
Il am not
"Were you a member of the Com
munist party in August, 1927"
Il was not.
"Were you ever a member of the
Workers Party"
81 was not"
The prosecution introduced last
week a QUESTIONABLE alleged TO have
been filled out by Foster at the Com
munist convention last year and
which stated he was a Communist
party member.
Describes Trip to Russia.
Foster described a trip to Russia
in 1921, on which he attended the
third congress of the Communist In
ternationale at Moscow as a visitor.
He said he represented The Ma
tion," New York publication, and
the Federated Press on his Russian
trip.
Mr.. Walsh asked the witness TO re-
peat the substance of the speech he
delivered at the Michigan convention,
and Foster began, with the prosecu-
ton checking him from the transcript
Of the convention stenographer'
notes.
Foster said he pointed out to the
convention that the Socialist party
had failed TO concentrate on trade
union work. and as a result, had col
lapsed in the first test. Therefore. he
said. he was glad to see the Com
munist party was preparing to build
on trade union foundation.
He told the convention. he said,
that there had been too much talk in
the radical movement in this country
and not enough practical leadership.
The leaders. he said. should be prac-
teal workers, because union mem
bers will follow good worker" The
workers in this country, he said. do
not think much of radical ideas" but
if the leader is good worker they
will follow him.
Speaks on American Radiealism.
There seems 10 be an idea prevalent
in this country, Foster said, he told
the convention. that Americans are
immune to radical ideas. He dis
puted that belief and said the highly
developed capitalism in America in it,
self helped create receptive and
militant unionism.
He cited the Chicago Federation of
Labor as one of the most progressive
labor organizations in the country, it
having endorsed the labor party and
adopted resolutions in favor of gen.
eral amnesty and similar subjects.
Foster said he told the convention
of seven-weeks' speaking trip he
had made through the West during
the shipments strike. He told the
convention. he said. that. at virtual
~ every stop on his SOOO-mlle trip
the stations were plastered with in
junction notices. He described, he
said, armed guards at Deer Lodge,
Mont. Milford. Utah, and other
places and that the men were indis-
nant over the treatment they were
getting. He described a meeting att
Chicago at which one speaker said =
They would have TO go down and
clean out the scabs."
Turned Over TO Sheriff.
Foster described his expulsion from
Colorado last summer by order OF the
state adjutant general. Colorado Of
ficials, he said. took him TO Cheyenne,
Wyo.. and turned him over TO = sner-
iff. who finally deposited him on the
Nebraska state line.
Il also told the convention about
the power of the Gompers machine.
Foster continued There is an opin-
ion in some circles that the Gompers
machine is very strong. ! told them
this is not true. and the machine is
strong only because the progressives
and radicals in the unions are not or
ganized. | told them there are hun
dreds of thousands Of strategic of
fees in the unions going begging be-
cause we have no one prepared 10