Evening star., 1926-10-01

Two elements enter into this feeling
of confidence over the future. Will
which nearly all leaders seem imbued
One IS the great prosperity of the
Country as evidenced in production
records and business receipts and the
other is the favora bic suppression made
by the present administration Of the
A. F. of h.. which is so strongly en-
trenched politically az to make con
tinuanCc of present policies almost
certain.
Two Years Under New Regime.
1t is two years since the death OF
Samuel GOmpers left affairs Of the
general labor movement in new
hands For nearly 80 Years prior Il
that time. the veteran leader had hello
practically undisputed sway over the
broader policies Of American labor
with tho exception of the year lN91
when he was defeated for the presl
dency by John Mcbride Of the United
Mine Workers Daring the GomperS
regime the philosophy of purely eco
nomiC trade uuiOnISm. divorced iron
partisan politics and all doctrines OF
revolutionary reform. was evolved
and adhered to.
While the followers of Gompers
were strongly in the majority at the
time Of his death and no radical couI
ever AT any time appeared likely
there was nevertheless a feeling ol
insecurity in some quarters over the
future of the movement. SO eX
pansive and forceful had been the
character Of Gompers that no other
man In the movement had attained
any measure of general leadership
Trade leaders there We're in great
numbers. many of them men of un-
usual capahilitX and fine records, but
none accustomed to speak for all
labor. That privilege had been the
sole property of President Gompers.
The election of William Green of
the United Mine Workers as the vet
Grams successor was, generally ap.
proved throughout the movement. hut
Mr.. Green came under close and crit
teal observation III the succeeding
months. The last year has left no
doubt as To his qualities of leadership.
Green Wins Confidence
Progressive. but self contained. Mr..
Green has been slow to enunciat q
policies, but decisive and uneQuivoCal
IN his utteranCeS when ready to offer
them. He is a stunCh adherent of
the American ideal of In hOr organiZa-
ton and a foe of all those who would
inject eXtraneous issues into the labor
program. His handling of questions
raised by the British general strike
ana Of the Mexican political situation
nave won the confidence of official Is
III all international unions.
Contrasts drawn by some OBJ
servers. between the dry and con-
serVatiVe methods of American labor
statesmen and the apparently more
hfiiIlant literary and Oratorial efforts
OF 8rltlSh In Dor leaders arise from a
mlSconception of the organization
and purposes of the American fed
Grafton
In the first place. the American
F"derdtlOn of Labor is not a direct
iHE force, hut guiding ana advisory
BODY. Actually il derives its au-
nofitH from It's member bodies. not
ne members from it, While some
o. me international unions hold Ger
thcates of utilization" from the
American Federation of Labor. and
some do not, all of them are an
tonomouS bodies ONLY State and
local declarations fall under direct
jurisdiction OF the American Fedora
toh or Labor. In case Of diSnlltes
I"NoIFlhE two OF more unions. the
RECREATION can offer its services in
inediatlon, but 1t cannot Interfere in
'he internal affairs of any trade.
Nouthpiece for Labor.
As president of the federation. Mr..
''i~eh lS the chief adviser in all labor
"lsputeS and the muuthpieCe for the
Eeheral movement. This form of
central Organization seems better
suited TO the American temperament
man the more autocratir control OK.
er'ised by parent bodies i'm Europe
NO man. IN my opinion, has ever ha 4
better understanding of the obli-
CATIONS and limitations OF his ottire
than President Green.
W hen the sentiment Of the labor
movement on any issue appears 70
nave crYstallized President Green
speaks. but not before. To ,leyiate
nom that course too sharply might
mean misfortune for the general
movement rs well as for its leader.
snip. Preservation of advantages
gained and careful progress are his
primary aims
Recent reports of the United States
Department of Commerce and of the
Federal Reserve Board. containing
estimates of the startling prosperity
of the United states. have added
greatly TO the confidence with which
International union leaders view the
future. Great advancement in the
standard of living for all Americans
is seen In the increa sed productivity
of industry. In a country which has
Increased its production by 40 per
cent in % years while the working
population has increased only 65 per
cent, II would seem that conditions
Justify hope for better treatment for
all producers.
Leaders Inspired With Hope.
The United States. with it's total