The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-10
ORGANIZED LABOR.
Samuel Gompcrs' Plea for the
NOrkingman.
an Immense Assemblage Greets MINISTRIES
and Boycotting Upheld-Judge Sawyer
Severely Criticized,

:. Not often has tie hall OF Metropolitan
Temple contained so large an audience as
that assembled last evening to listen TO
- Samuel GomDeTS, President of the Amer-
can Federation Of Labor. Not only was
every seat occupied, but there was hardly
a loot of unoccupied space in the large audi
forum.
Alfred Fuhrman President of the FEEDER
ated Trades. officiaied as Chairman, and on
the platform, as Vice-PresidentS OF the
meeting, were the Presidents Of the various
labor unions. In the audience were dele
gates from The seveniy-five labor organ
izations in the city, but few of these at
tended in bodies.
There Nere many workingmen present
unc0nnectei WIKI any union, a sprinking
of business and professional men, and
large number Of ladies in the gallery. 1t
. was. however, pre-emnently gathering Of
- ..wGrk iu.men come together to listen to the
words OF q workinsman
:. II had been arranged that at intervals
!; during The evening members Of lron-mold-
-efs Union, No. l6i, the Coast Stamen 5
. 3. Union, Core-ni skers' Union, AMI the girls
p: oil tie ohoe-htters' Union should march into
! -. tie hall, and as they did so they were re-
=: c.lYed with cheers. There were about SEQ
j =. girls from the Shoe-ftters' Union present,
:; anu they occupied the front row of seats,
al so occupying places on the platform.
:. INTRODUCING THE SPEAKER.
=. Alfred Thurman, in presenting the guest
of the evening, whom he styled che Prcsi-
: delt Of tile bone and sinew Of the country"
=. expressed his qualification at the maguifi-
= cent demonstration, and referred TO the
-: work accomplished by ;he Council of Fed
:. Grated Trades in educating and assisting
the Vorkiugmen TO the goal Of cooperation,
= g" which is nearer daily
H SPOKE OF the strike of the iron-mod-
ers aHd COre-makerS, who had been I'M
Justly Treated, and declared that the Union
+ >. Iron Works would be unable TO continue its
-. unjust treatment in defiance of public
sentiment much longer. With few re-
. marks on the certainty Of the ultimate
= triumph If the labor unions, the Chairman
introduced Samuel GOmpers, the speaker of
tre evening.
-: Mr.. GumYerS was received with prolonged
applause and hearty cheers again and again
. renewed. He was leased TO know that the
Vast aS>emO.aGe before him was but a 1.-THE
al The great labor movement in this grand
:g1uutry. Many people who sympathiZe
with the troubles OF the tOIlers, and who
approve other examinations, tail To follow
=. ~ logical sequence the evils from which the
NOTTINGHAM suffers through tie lack OF
o. proper organization.
r.- 1t is str-nge how many view c0ncentra-
tiGn OF business and wealth with equanm-
lily; but whose antagOnlSm Is aroused at The
organ ZltlOn OF labor. Action IN concert Is
D.: tie order Of Natures law Reference WAS
- made TO the organ ZatiOu In the ANIMAL
. mineral and vegetable kingdoms, and fol-
loving this up TO the higher development Of
the human race, he instauced the Organlla-
tons OF business and capital for the de-
Tense and protection of their interests, de-
liyerHs an eloquent plea in behalfot the
Industrial unions.
TIRE ACTTATOR's POSITION
The labor agitator occupies peculiar po-
stion in modern society. Many people men
tally cOnSgn him to a warmer cline than
-. mat Of California: but he has a great work
40 perform. The speaker disliked to be
awakened by the alarm of the dre-6ells, but
he preferred being thus disturbed 10 being
lroasted alive his bed. The labor agitator
is tie IRE alarm, and gives warning that
there IS something radically wrong with the
social ANA economic system.
Labor unions are charged with breeding
discomfort. To this, said Mr.. Gompers,
- we plead guilty. The unions are uudoubt-
:. edIy guilty Of melting discomfort against
:. cuUup.l Ion aud the destruction Of the basic
'.- principle Of The republic. In tie country
=. where there is cOntentnent there also is
lttUGrZY, SeIfuOm ana tyranny. Where dis
content prevails freedom, honor and man
hood exit. Discomfort IS an evidence Of
=. progress. e0ntentment Of stagEatlOn and
. = stagnat.On Of decay.
To the charge dissatisfaction. the unions
= also plead guilty. Is members are not sat-
isled. ami the better their position the
greater. their dissatisfaction. The measure
-.ui persons wants indicates the social and
ecaLduIe position IN which he IS placed.
= Z he organization Of wage-wolkers contains
% within Itself the concentrated demands OF
- rs members. II Will he wise for employers
10 listen calmly to the voice OF organized
labor, and agree to meet for the discussion
&C. OF differences.
~ some peIsistently turn their backs on the
- unions. Suppose the capitalists crush the
H.T1r rraVfF
VIII their beds be Of roses? Ii they do they
" will have to face an unauthorized irrespon-
sible. guerrilla warfare, which will make
then lives and possessions perfect hell
AS REGARDS STRIKES.
Labor organizations, continued Mr..
Gompefs, are charged with melting strikes.
The council does not advocate but de-
pTeCatcs strikes II must be paTdOned, how
ever, if it declines to denOunee strikes.
Employers don't CcnUUnce lOcE-Cuts, SO why
should the labOrer 90 out of the way to de-
nounce strikes, which are the modern in
dustTal warfare.
\ perfect organization aud a weIl-flIed
treasury viii operate to prevent strikes, for
-. when employers perceive the possession Of
these equipments they VIII hesitate about
forcing a strike; they will rather say,
what are your demands? We will try to
meet them" The speaker then referred to
tie n'oideTs' strike, which he hoped to
aniicab'y adjust. The twelve-monthS'
strike lad been warning to the employer,
saw. Some one is likely to be hurt, and the
b4zz-Saw is unlikely to be injured.
Arbitration was indOrsed but not when
the lion and tie lamb lie down together, for
in SUCH cases, on the following morning, the
lion Is apt to wake up on the outside OF the
lamb. The latter has not the ghost OF
change. The parties must meet as if they
are both lions OF lambs, otherwise the aTb-
.. trati0B VIII be a signal failure
The speaker next referred to his visit TO
. Chinatown on Sunday night. describing the
90 horrors Of Dante's Inferno" which were
more inviting to him than the hovel of a
tniuaman. The perpetuaGOD of the present
:. disgraceful Chinese quarter lie denounced
As blot upon civilization.
CHINESE AND CHEAP LABOR.
The stencil from its filth almost reached
Mob Hi, few blocks above Chinatown,
but a wealthy resident considered it healthier
TO reside cut o. the city. Referring TO the
Chinese question Mr.. Gompers said that
California is on the edge Of a volcano, which
VIII enEulf all the sWells if they are not
careful The main idea seems to be to pro-
cure cheap labor. 20 matter at what cost to
the iaborlng people, and referring to Judge
sawyer u the United States Circuit Court
the SPEAKER said:
When 4 villain allows his judicial ermine
70 be besnllrched by violation Of the laws
as this man does tine wuTkiugmen Of this
country will at least take care that his
memory is kept green. The richer he
grows the more Of a Sycophant he becomes"
Inc speaker also devoted some time to the
advocacy OF The e,ght-hOur labor law and to
woman suffrage. The sbortar the hours of
= the tUier the greater would be his remunera-
ton. A man who works only eight hours
cannot afford to accept small wages, while a
mar Who tolls for thirteen or fourteen hours
has fewer necessities aud receives smaller
wages 10 satisfy his simpler wants.
The remarks of the speaker we're next
devoted to a defense of b0ycotting, which he
said is practiced by all to a greater or less
extent, and organized labor has, he main
famed. tie same right as the individual TO
say what and where it would purchase
THE OCTOPUS OF CAPITAL
In conclusion, Mr.. GomDers said "Aris-
irn 20 puOrmouS DroDortions nf iniouitv