Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-14
THE LABOR QUESTION.
SAMUEL GOMPERs'S ADDRESS TO
THE LOCAL TRADES UNIONS
A Rousing Meeting at Turner Aall-The
Present Situatlon-Benefts Accruing
to Organization.

to Organization.
One OF the largest labor demonstra-
| tions that has been held in this city for
some time past was that at Turn Verein
hall on Thursday evening last, under
the auspices of the local trades unions,
in honor of Samuel Gompers the presi-
dent OF the American Federation of La
Dor.
The meeting was called to order by
Chase A. Codori, shortly after o'clock,
and the proceedings commenced with a
short but stirring address on the bene-
fits of organization by M. McGlynn,
which was received with enthusiastic
cheers.
The distinguished guest OF the even
ing was then introduced, and addressed
the meeting in remarkably eloquent
and entertaining manner, in speech of
almost two hours duration, which was
| listened to with marked attention, and
evidently met with the approval of his
audience.
The following extracts are taken from
Mr.. Gompers' address:
at is indeed great pleasure l have
in meeting representatives of the wage
workers OF your city. This is the first
time | have been on this coast. l have
long desired to meet our friends here, to
express the ideas that underlie the
labor movement of this entire country.
There are large number of people who
sympathize with the aspirations of
labor; numbers of intelligent people
have no word of condemnation for the
various trusts, and save all their venom,
or curses mount to their lips, when they
speak of the organization of labor.
eve find that birds in the air fly high
high in t1ocks; beasts of the field travel
in herds; fishes swim in shoals, to pro-
tect their lives. We find that all who
oppose the poor organize to protect their
interests. LII it is true that men who
own millions find it to their advantage
to concentrate, how much more essential
is it for you to organize and defend your
selves. l know, as our friend said, that
the labor agitator is peculiar creature,
the product OF the nineteenth century;
but he has not green eyes, cloven hoofs
nor horns.
well intentioned people wish the
labor agitator would go to a much
warmer climate, but he doesn't feel in
clined to go there. He comes to his
fellow workers from the east, west. north
and south; to bring glad tidings OF hope
and to encourage them with one small
word, organization His friends and
foes are fast learning the power OF organ
ization. Let US hope the lessons they
have been learning for two years will
not be lost upon them.
The labor agitator acts upon human
society as did the old time fire bell. l
prefer to be aroused from my slumbers
at night. rather than be roasted in my
sleep. The labor agitator appeals in the
name OF Justice and humanity to call at
tention to the wrongs that exist, and in
sist upon righting them.
''In the industries least organized
they are most frequently compelled to
strike. Why should it not be SO? Cor
porations will think twice, or dozen
times, before provoking their work peo-
| pie to strike if they know their work
men are we'll organized. We are speak
| ing of rational men. As matter of
| fact there are sometimes instances
where man may be as nearly insane as
is possible for the editor of scab paper
to be. The time will soon come when
our provoked workingmen and women
| in Los Angeles will show this hero of
battles with his pen that it is to his ad-
vantage to pay fair wages and give
reasonable treatment to union printers.
APPLAUSE sincerely hope our friend
will soon see the folly OF his ways.
"We are opposed to strikes, but don't
denounce them. The better we prepare
for strikes the less occasion will we have
to indulge in them. | remember that
an organization which denounced strikes
had most colossal failures. We have
enlisted for the war. So long as there
is wrong to be righted we are in the
contest while life remains.
81 am sometimes asked about arbitra-
| ton. l am in favor of it, but not of all
kinds OF arbitration. Ii lion and
lamb lie down together. the lion wakes
up next morning on the outside of the
| lamb. | want two lions to arbitrate
with each other, or two lambs with
each other. ii man presents a re-
volver to my head there is no chance
for arbitration, unless have presented
a revolver at the same time. England
don't arbitrate with the Zulus, or with
Zanzibar, but she will arbitrate with
America. Arbitration doesn't help. un-
less you are III pOsltlOn 10 ENFORCE your
demands.
"Those who work the longest get the
least. The man who works eight hours
or less can't afford to work as cheap as
those who work twelve or fourteen
hours. The latter do not want good
clothes, and have no time to wear them.
People are paid about the sum they con-
sent to live upon. Those who work
eight hours a day eat better food and
have better houses. 3 We have been
obliged 70 inscribe on our banners,
Eight hours for work, eight hours for
rest, and eight hours for what we will"
The speaker referred to the victory won
by the carpenters last year, and asked
the labor organizations to assist in the
approaching struggle in behalf of the
miners. He denied that shorter hours
will lead to drunkenness among the
workmen.