The record-union., 1891-03-17

throughout the country. But it behooved
| laborers to take more interest in their
welfare and see that they were more
closely united and one in sympathy. He
believed the trades unions had never done
| anything that was wrong, so far as the
interests of the Government We're con-
| cerned.
| ASSEMBLYMAN DoTY'S SPEECH.
Assemblyman Gillis Doty was called
| upon to address the asSemblage until the
arrival Of Mr.. Gompers, and he delivered
an enthusiastic address. He claimed to
stand before the auditors as representa-
tive of the workingmen. He never knew
what 1t was to be anything else, and he
| felt an interest in all matters involving
the cause Of labor. He believed there
was bond of sympathy and of mutual
interest existing between the, farmer
and mechanics, which tended to bring
them together. They believed in econo-
my i'll labor, in life, in politics, in legis-
lation and in all that makes the American
nation a great people. 1t was ofttimes, in
his estimation, more of an honor to be a
| sturdy workingman than member OF
| the Legislature.
| Mr.. Gompers arrived about o'clock,
| and he was greeted with prolonged cheer
| ing as he made his appearance on the
stage. He is short of stature, heavy set,
sharp featured and dark complexioned.
|
that excited the closest attention OF the
auditors, and their enthusiasm was shown
by applause at intervals throughout the
discourse.
The speaker first explained the cause Of
his delay by stating that he was com
PEELED to remain in San Francisco to at
| tend to certain business in reference tc
the Iron Molders' strike. He believed
| the initiative had been taken which would
end the difficulty. In arbitrating he had
tried all in his power to settle the dispute
resting his claims on justice, aod he
thought that if the other side manifested
the consideration, there would be a speedy
end to the difficulty.
| MIR. aoMPERs ON LABOR.
In coming to his main subject, the
speaker said that there were too many O.
| the class Of laborers who understood
what labor suffered, but notwithstanding
their sympathy, they did not have enough
energy to jat least attempt to right what
they considered was wrong. Labor
should organize and make its demands
1t should at least be entitled to as much 6
right to band together as Bank Associa.
tiors, Boards of Trade, Stock Exchanges
and all commercial trnsts.
Mr.. Gompers then resorted to bit o.
sarcasm, directed toward the legal profes.
sion. He said that the men of the law
who, as general rule, used their voices
to proclaim against labor, were them.
selves banded together for their own pro.
lection. They cry out and charge the
unions with. refusing to allow boys te
learn trades, and at the same time they
require young man to go through {
certain course OF study before he car
practice in the higher courts. A mar
possessed of great ability as an orator
could not say a word in defense of 9
prisoner, if he did not possess license
hniv Il
| Interfere. 1t was as much an honor to be
a good, stanch working-man as gooC
lawyer, and when the profession finds il
necessary to protect themselves, how
much more urgent is it for wage-worke ers
who control nothing but their powers o
labor, to unite in common protection
The fish of the sea and birds of the all
band together, and there are no creatures
on earth so utterly defenseless as the
wage-workers who are not organized.
NOT DISCONNECTED.
1.-THE charge is made" said the speaker
that we are discOntented with the Gov.
ernment, but honest people know that i,
| IS not the Government we are unsatisfieC
with, but robbery, corruption and con-
dition of affairs that is undermining and
sapping the existence of the country
which we love so much. We seek tC
dwell where liberty prevails and where
freedom and progress is the order of the
! day. Again, we are accused as being dis.
turbers and promoting discomfort among
the people, but we can rest easy when we
reflect that it is that discomfort which
makes people nobler. happier, ,truer and
more independent. We are dissatisfied
because we know that wealth is the
creation of labor, and we ough,
| to have larger share of the
product of our toll. We shall keep de-
manding more and more until we receive
the full benefit of our labor, and until
that Biblical sentence is fulfilled, 'Those
who do not work neither shall they eat.
What we ask is that the men of wealth
made rich by the toll of laborers, shal
not object when we ask for a few cents
more per day. And they will not refuse
if labor is organized properly. An unfair
employer will think and hesitate before
provoking strike, if he knows that his
men are equipped to hold out in case O.
necessity.
PROPER STRIKES.
| 'Let me say that while 1 always en-.
! deavor to bring strikes to close, mus
| be excused from denouncing strikes.
will not follow in that hypocritical cry
| Damn all strikes will reserve to my
self always the, right to strike-not be
cause want to do so, but because I dc
not want the other side to strike. If the
wage-workers don't strike the employers
will do it all themselves, and never tire
of it.
''As regards arbitration, I favor it, but
not all kinds. / do not believe in thai
kind where the lion and lamb are put to-
gether. They lie down together
| and in a short time the lion is or
the outside of the lamb. Ifa man presents
a pistol to my head and demands my
money 1 don't think there is room fol
arbitration, but if I saw his movement
and / had a weapon guess we could talk
matters over. But to be sincere and
earnest in arbitration you must organize
and be in position to infiict as much in
jury on your opponent as he can upon
you. You touch the vital spot of the
corporation when you hurt its bank ac-
count. Place yourself in a position Of
aggressiveness as well as defense Until
you do so, you will be but the victims OF
your own folly"
| EIGHT-HoUR LAW.
In regard to the eight-hour law, the
| speaker said there was no question which
would SO much improve the condition o
the people as that of reducing the hours
of daily labor. No question could hur,
SO few and benefit so many as that of the
eight-hour law. 1t was the first condition
necessary to the improvement and culti-
walton of the public. The wage-workers
| OF the world should rise and demand the
enforcement of the law. 1t commerce
depended on long hours and cheap labor
then China ought to stand at the head ol
civilization.
Mr.. Gompers asked his auditors to re-