The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-05-14

bonus systems granted to skilled mechanics in indus
tries especially favored by imperialist prosperity.
To put such a policy on the organized work
inside of the A. f. of L. was possible by the
suppression, persecution and expulsion of progress
sive opponents. Thus we had the continual war
inside the A. +. of L., in which the A. f. of L.
bureaucracy had the whole support of the employ
ers the capitalist press and their government war
which could be carried thru by arbitrary rule and
the abolition OF democracy inside the unions. The
effect Of this policy upon the unions prevented their
growth and reduced the A. +. of l. membership far
below the pre-war figure, present estimates being
about 21s million against million when the
u. S. entered the war.
1t is the first time in the history Of the American
labor movement that prosperity period is passing
by without tremendous growth in membership or
ganiZation drives to organize the unorganized and
big forward movements in general. The fact that
in the midst of such prosperity there could even
be tremendous loss in membership shows that the
A L. of l. is rapidly deterioratng under the present
leadership, that the policies of this leadership are
dramatically opposed TO the very evolution Of CAPT
talist production and industry and that if continued
along these lines it may succumb to the fate that
befel two great labor declarations prior to the adj
vent Of the A. f. of L. in the United States. The
capitalists of the IT, S. have learned something since
the days Of the National Labor Union and the
Knights Of Labor. They have learned how to use
advantageously degenerated labor bureaucracy to
obtain control over the very unions the workers
Dullu TO ueIenQ themselves Ine1f explorers,
and the bosses having the eountrys means and re-
sources more under command than ever may decide
to maintain a degenerated A. +. of L. as a shield
and strike-breaking agency against the growth of
revolutionary unionism. These are the prospects the
workers faced with the eve of this new open
shop drive.
That such a drive is coming there is no doubt in
my mind. The Dawes plan has put in its work.
American capital invested in the weakened capitalist
empires Of Europe has re-establisbed their produc-
tion and hence their competitive power the world
market With the standard of living of millions of
European workers reduced far below pre-war re-
established European industry, largely under Amer
lean control is now competing with American in
dustry controlled by the interests, and this
powerful club of European competition Amer
lean capital is about to again to drive the stan
cards of the American workers further down. Lower
wages. logger hours, more child labor more women
in industry into territories with cheaper labor power
which is indusfializing the agricultural of the
south, and west, more speed, more efficiency
more labor saving machinery, double up, this
has been going on at a rapid pace since the war;
Put European capitalism has had restoration for
the time being. preearious one, it is true, but
there it is and the same drive has 10 be doubled
up American production has to be restabilized on
~ lower level of prices and at the expense Of the
workers; otherwise there will be tremendous crash
Hence the new drive against labor
What role the A. r. of L. bureaucracy viii play
in this, can be easily by anyone who wants
to see it. The A. #. of L. bureaucracy has so heavily
invested in capitalist industry directly and indirectly
that its interests nextrcably interviewer in the