Evening star., 1926-09-29
LABOR UNIONS HIT.
RADICAL GROUPS
Determined Fight Being
Waged by A. F. of l.. Against
Communist PropagandistS.
HY JAMES NJ. LYNCH.

special Dispatch to The star.
DETROIT, Mich. September %
AS leaders of the general labor move
ment and officials of the international
unions gather here for conferences
preliminary to the American Fedora
ton of Labor convention, which opens
next week. II grows more and more
apparent that a determined fight viii
be waged this year to prevent misrep-
resentation O? the movement by radi-
cal propagandists.
Members OF neariy all large unions
have been extensively circularized by
radical groups and a comprehensive
campaign IS being carried forward TO
inject issues intended to nave a dis
ruptive effect on the present OrganlZa'
ton OF the general movement. Among
the active foes of trade unionism is
the Trade Union Educational League,
with headuuarters in Chicago.
The American labor movement IS
in n crisis" asserts a program of
proposals for the a. r. OF L., issued
by this agency. Everywhere the EN-
ployers are attacking the workers
conditions Of labor and standards of
living and trying to destroy trade
unions"
And again;
The trade unions, weakened by
craft divisions and top-heavy with an
official bureaucracy which refuses to
fight employers. have retreated almost
everywhere under the employers
attacks"
Claims Union Members.
In terms that at one point express
deep concern over the welfare of
trade unionism and at another frank
ly propose destruction of the entire
system in favor Of the lone big
union," this program purports to rep
resent views of a considerable group
within the regular labor movement.
Thus does this kind Of propaganda
give concern to leaders of the A. F.
OF l..
The Importance OF radical attacks
upon American labor organizations
should not be overestimated. The
fact is the communists will have few,
If any. SympathiZers in the forthcOm-
ing convention. The trade union
movement is soundly grounded upon
the policy of purely economic union
ism. But this the general public does
not thoroughly Understandable least
leaders fear that is the case.
Sinister motives are seen by the
league in the investment of American
wealth abroad ''in imperialstic Ven
lures to get super profits" 1t is not
easy to see the connection between
that attack and the leagues further
proposal that the A. T.. of l. should
demand of the United States Gov
ernment that 1t recognize the Soviet
Union (he Russian government and
establish full diplomatic and COM
mercial relations with that country"
Bases Plea on Europe Report.
Practically all trade unions of Eu-
rope have sent delegations to investi
gate conditions of labor in Russia,
the :proeram" sets forth, and the A.
L. Cf l.. is urged to accept the Soviet
invitati ton to send an official delega-
tion for an officially conducted tour of
Russia In order that capitalistic re-
ports of disorder and Suffering% there
may be refuted.
Citing the great advances made in
production by Improvement of ma
chinery and increasing efficiency of
workmanship, the league declares that
labor has failed thus far to win a
fair share of the nations increased
prosperity. In this the program"
is in line with the declared wage
policy of the a. +. of L.. but in the
same paragraph the proposal is made
that "all wage movements should be
conducted Jointly by related trades.
Attempts to cut wages must be re-
sisted by militant strike policy"
This is the subtle approach Of the gen
eral strike advocate, the syndicalist
and the communist. Throw 'em into
strikes and they'll listen to prophets
of communism. Bring on disorder
and we will reshape the future ac-
cording to some plan that may occur
to us during the excitement!
The new wage policy" of the
A. +. Of j., adopted last year at the
Atlantic City convention, which de-
clared for increasing the buying
power of the workers wages In pace
for a gradual reduction in working
hours SO as to extend employment
to all hands. Is condemned by the
radical spokesmen as too conserva-
tive.
Other League Proposals Outlined.
Other proposals made by the Trade
Union Educational League publicity
material include:
Establishment Of a Labor party.
Naturalization of all large scale
industry, such as mines, railroads,
great manufacturers and fooddistrib-
uting agencies, and the establishment
of workers control"
Placing cost of unemployment on
employers by legislation requiring
payment of trade union
wages to all unemployed.
Reduction of the Army and Navy
and a fight against militarism and
Higher surtaxes on the incomes
of great corporations and multi-mil-
lionaires.
Relief for farmers through adop-
ton of the principle Of the McNary-
Haugen bill and the appropriation
oP half billion dollars TO establish