FIGHTING FOR THE MASSES

The ever-thoughtful Mr. Gompers has been spurred to further efforts to keep America from the rocks. This time the irritant is William Randolph Hearst who, it seems, has been conducting an insidious campaign for the recognition of Soviet Russia. And, according to Mr. Gompers "Hearst knows that American labor, the American people, and the American Government want nothing to do with the bloody ministers of Moscow".

True in a measure, no doubt; but note Mr. Gomper's method of attack. "Here is Hearst,' he writes, "with the colossal effrontery that 'international bankers' are responsible for the opposition of the United States to Soviet Russia. What better camouflage or smoke-screen for the operations of those international bankers and concession hunters to secure recognition? What more effective appeal to the American masses who have no love for high finance?"

Always aware of the strength of such an appeal, Mr. Gompers uses it himself. If Hearst first blinds the American masses with the red flag of "big money" and then feeds them Soviet propaganda, is Gompers justified in playing upon the very same prejudice to rouse these masses against "bloody Moscow"? Big business, charges the President of the American Federation of Labor, has been using Mr. Hearst as a willing tool to reopen relations with Russia.

It is rather strange that these two enemies in print should both use the same spring-board, one to leap into the "bloody arms" of Moscow, and the other to leap as far as possible from that very danger. There is much aversion to official recognition of the yet unstable Russian government, but it is unfortunate that he can find no belter support for this position than that which Mr. Hears; uses class prejudice.