The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-03-04
MIR. GOMPERS TALKS
A Powerful Address That Was
Well Received.
THE EIGHT HOUR CHAMPION
A Royal Banquet Follows at the Templeton-
An Ovation From the Friends
Of Labor.

The mass meeting which convened at
Clayton hall last evening was perhaps the
greatest demonstration ever witnessed in
this city
There have been great str eet professions
and noisy demonstrations in this city, but
the meeting of last night was mighty by
reason of its high appeal to rational intelli-
gence of thinking men 10 a cause that is
broad as humanity and universal as is the
struggle between freedom and oppression.
The object OF the meeting was to accord
to the organizer and president of the trades
union reception worthy the champion CT
the eight-hour movement on behalf of the
laboringmen of Salt Lake city.
Governor Thomas presided at the meet
ing, and there were also present on the
platform President Sleater, of the local
trades unions: Joe Tapley, marshal OF the
day; Colonel Lett and o. ]. Hollis ter.
Governor Thomas, in introducing Presi-
dent Samuel Gompers, paid mice compll-
ment to the patriotism OF the laboring men,
which sentiment was the cause of consid-
cradle applause.
a1lST acknowledging buO
which the governor gave, President Com
pers said he would proceed to discuss
LABoR's RIGHTS AND LABoR's WRONGS.
There is no question but that there are
many honest people whose sympathies are
with the laborers, but too many who sym
pathize with the working people in trouble
will not see and extend their sympathies
through and to organization. That much
abused organization known as trades unions
10 the natural outgrowth of the economic
conditions. 1t is just as natural for them
20 exist and continue in their work as it is
for the rose to grow and bloom in the sun.
1t is perfectly natural for the people to or
ganize, for We find it in all classes and
orders of thu human family ana in the
lower forms of life. Where there
is greatest concentration there the best
results are obtained. We see the
beasts Of the field going in herds, the birds
of the air in focks. to protect themselves.
We find the railroad trusts, the bankers
associations, the stock exchanges, and you
may run the gamut clear through and you
will find the wealth organized. You find
organizations among the professions. You
have your chambers of commerce, boards OF
trade. There is the sugar trust, the coffee
trust the beer trust and the whisky trust.
Can you blame US when we, from boy
hood, aye, from infancy, follow the exam
pie of these men who have had SO much the
advantage Of US in education, and organize?
If IL is necessary to those men who own
great wealth, how much greater is the need
for you, who own nothing, to organize?
There are some people who make peculiar
statements with regard to labor organiZa-
ton. They say that we are breeding dis
content into the minds of the wage workers
with their lot, which, as some say with in
Justice to God, that He has ordained they
should occupy.
You can Judge of the condition of men by
what they want Ask the man who is
walking on the street without shelter what
ne wants more, and if he doesn't say a
drink more, he'll probably say ne wants a
square meal more. Ask the man who earns
81 day what he wants, and he wants %
cents mere. Ask the man who has $500, 000
and he will say $780, 900 more and then he
will be a millionaire, and ask the man who
has S100,000,000 what he wants more, and
he will say oh, l want millions more. He
wants the earth. Applause. The wage
workers OF the world have begun to study
the economical conditions of the world
They are going to be larger sharers in the
products of their labor, and # l read the
signs of the times Alright, | think they are
going to succeed. In this world of ours
there are certain self-evident truths
Water runs down hill. Of course, human
ingenuity may compel it to run up hill, but
as general thing water runs down
hill. The sun does shine, and SO with
the labor movement. 1t is based on
the justice Of people, and the objections
that can be launched against it. The labor
movement will live. Would you have US en-
JOY that contentment which the oppressor of
the people always declared discontentment?
Would you have US to enjoy peace like
that which reigned at Warsaw No. We
do breed discomfort. / don't want to be
awakened from my sleep by fire BELLS but
l would rather be awakened than be roasted
alive. You show me a country where the
people are contented and will show you a
nation of serfs Discomfort is an indication
of progress. Discomfort shows that the
people are aware that there are those
who would rob them and teaches that it
will be dangerous FOR them to continue it.
The only peace is the fruit of discomfort
The organizations Of labor stand as the har-
blnger OF peace, of social progress.
Such discomfort we preach and instill
ana praise to all the powers on high. The
seed is taking root and you see 1t every
where, end it is honored by the presence of
the governor, the mayor and other distin-
guished men to hear cigarmaker talk la
Dor. Applause.
STRIKES NOT INCREASING.
The charge that is made against us is
that we are continually increasing the num-
Der. To this charge / plead not guilty
To this plead that not only is it not true.
but the very reverse is true. Look to any
of the various branches of industry and
when they are not organized you will find
the greatest number of strikes and when
they are well organized the strikes are few.
1t is not fact that working people are
compelled to strike when their rights are
invaded. We don't denounce strikes. l
have heard that there was an organization
which declared that they would never
strike under any provocation.
If a conflict should arise which required
strike we won't back out. We have not
enlisted FOR month or year; we have en-
listed for the war. Applause We saw
to the working people of all classes,
organize, organize; and when you do, don't
say that you do want to strike or that you
won't strike, but prepare yourself for a
strike. Applause. If you are prepared
you won't have to strike. A judicious en-
ployer will think twice before he provokes
his employees to strike when he knows they
are prepared and ready for strike The
man or woman who does not respect him
self or herself will not receive the respect
of others; and the wageworkers who are
not organized show, so far as their condi-
ton is concerned, that they don't respect
themselves.
LABOR WITHOUT BRAINS.
will tell you story. don't want YOU
to take offense. There was a union OF
butchers They put labels on the meat.
This piece of meat was dressed by union
man. A woman wanted nice sleeps
head for her husbands dinner. The butcher
cut of piece OF lamb, and she noticed 2
label which said: This sheep was dressed
by union men," She refused to take it,
saying that she wanted non union sheep S
head. he took his cleaver, scooped out the
brains and, handing it to her, said: Here.
madame is non-union sleeps head. u
Laughter and applause. Now, / don't
wish anyone to be offended. This is only a