The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-09-16
CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR
PAST AND PRESENT.

| ing the first labor radio broadcasting
station in the country, despite the poll
cies which are now dominating and
naturally will be voiced over the radio,
shows what organized labor can do.
Wide Influence.
THE influence of the Chicago Fedora
4 ton of Labor has extended far and
wide, undoubtedly due to the progress
i've policies pursued in the past. The
rank and file trade union members, the
local unions in the whole of the mid
die west, chatting under reactionary
autocracy OF the late Samuel Gompers.
his administration and In many In
stances the executives of the interna-
tional unions, found encouragement in
the rebel note sounded in those days
by the Chicago Federation of Labor.
HOWEVER, when in 1923 the ma
IL tional labor party movement was
pushed ahead to accomplish a nation
ally unified party for the coming pres
idential elections, but too rapid for its
slow development amongst the broad
masses of workers, the Chicago Fed
GRAFTON of Labor succumbed to the
pressure of Samuel Gompers. The
labor party organized by them had
become part of this movement. The
change following the surrender be-
came rapid and complete. The Chi
cago Federation Of Labor now adheres
to the reactionary political policy of
support Of candidates amongst repub-
licans and democrats. The labor party
is tabooed.
THE Chicago Federation Of Labor
went on record to support Frank
l.. Smith, chairman Of the Illinois com
MERGE commission, for candidate for
senator of Illinois, whose election was
secured thru the immense slush funds
made available by the utilities corpo-
rations, who depend on this commerce
commission for favors-favors detri-
mental to the interests Of the rank and
file workers. The Chicago Federation
Of Labor has completely renounced its
support for amalgamation of the trade
unions.
No Organizing Effort.
IT'S path entirely away from pro-
L gressive policies is particularly ex-
pressed In the attitude of the fedora
ton leadership towards the existing
drives to organize the unorganized
workers. The present prosperity Pc
riod should be the real opportunity for
organization. The federation leader
ship at the present gives no initiative
whatever. In Chicago two organiza-
ton drives are being carried on, on a
local scale, that of the machinists' and
Of the International Ladies' Garment
Workers unions. The latter have met
nothing but expressed hostility from
the federation leadership because the
International Ladies' Garment Work
ers are pursuing militant methods of
organization. A number OF shops
have already been signed up and
healthy change taken place since the
downward trend following its strike in
1925, when left wingers were expelled
from the union by the reactionaries
~i1o were then in control,
NTHEN members of the Ladies' Gar
w ment Workers Union, mostly
mothers leaving their children behind,
were thrown into jail to serve the
terms Of defying the Sullivan strike
injunction, the Chicago Federation of
Labor leadership failed utterly to
measure up to any past record. Never
did it attempt even to put into effect
the American Federation of Labor dec
laration to completely disregard in
functions and openly defy such usurpa-
ton OF power during the strike. And
when the victims landed in Jail the
federation policy became the one of
silence publicly and backdoor dicker-
ing with capitalist politicians.
A T the time when mass demonstra-
"A lions were necessary to arouse the
workers to recognize the dangers of
the injunction weapon and to help de-
feat it, this leadership turned it's back
upon the prisoners and contented
themselves with a formal plea for a
pardon from Governor Small. wher,
he, as could be expected, failed to ac.s
they got busy excusing him, and to
further cement their present alliance
with the particular corrupt set Of poll
ticians of the republican party headed
by Governor Small.
Future events will undoubtedly fur
Their test the leadership OF the Chi
cago Federation of Labor and surely
they will ultimately help strengthen
the ranks Of the militants.