The morning call., 1891-03-07
AT TIE FEDERATION.
The Distinguished Guest Warmly
Received.

pprS all long the line he found awaiting him
at the Council Of Federated Trades. His
arrival was Just before the usual hour for
commencing business, so after short ordeal
of al!-round Misunderstanding and other evil
denceS of kindly greeting the council was
called to order and the plan for the evening
announced by the President.
1T gives me the greatest pleasure" said
Mr.. Thurman, ITO announce the safe ar
rival IN our midst of the long-loOked-for and
auXiouSly awaited leader Of the American
wage worker, the Honorable Samuel Com
pers, President Of the American Federation
Of Labor, and the first representative Of the
national body to visit this Coast. 1 am sure
l voice the sentiment Of this council and
every labor organization on this Coast in
saying to Mr.. GamperS that he is a thousand
times welcome, that we have waited long
and auXiDusly TOT his coming, and that we
have the utmost faith in the inmeasurable
benefits that Will result from his visit. l am
confident that every la Dor organization aud
every tailoring man will strive to do all that
can be done to make his stay in our midst
as enjoyable to him and beneficial to our
selves as it is possible. / now take great
pleasure in introducing Mr.. Gompers who
will entertain you IN his own best and
chosen way"
GREETED WITH APPLAUSE.
As Mr.. GompeTs stepped forward to ac-
knowledge his greeting the Council arose
and gave one tremendous burst OF applause.
1t was half minute or more before he
could be heard.
81 am free to say" said he, THAT l have
long desired to visit this Cuast and grasp
you all by the hand You may have wished
to meet a representative OF the nations
Wage-worker So far as | am concerned
tho faaliuCr hem a b11udapf u al
1t has long been my desire to visit this
Coast, TO familiariZe myself with its inter
eSts, and do all IN my power to unite the
mighty interests Of the East and the West.
The lOng-Wished-fOr time has come. l am
here. There Is much to do. l only hope |
may be instrumental in bringing about
much, II not all, of the good that is SO de
sired. With your ala may succeed.
" We have common polIty, common
purpose and q common humanity to strug-
gle for. We have one grand common cause,
and no imaginary geographical line divides
US. We are in one sense simply organized
business men, asking of the world the sim
pie rights OF our heritage. Re are not Strug-
CLING to overthrow, but to preserve and pro-
tect. IL may be q hard struggle, but we
must not weaken. Wgmust push manfully
onward, forward firm in our cause, till that
happy deliverance when mans inhumauity
to man shall cease"
BANDED FOR sELF-PRoTECTION.
The best answer, he said, that can be made
to the narrowHeSs and se!fShness often at
tTibuted TO trades organization is their grand
cause. They are banded together for self
protection and to strengthen the great work
OF humanity. There is no atom of selfish
ness or naTrowness in the wage-wOrker's
cause. Humanity is his watchWord. Live
and let live his motto.
Il think / shall be welcome here" he con-
tinued, land / feel that you have deter
mined to make 1t pleasant for me. / hope
to that same extent my presence shall be
fruitful of good. | am here for the good l
can do. | have come here not on pleas
ure trip but 10 work. | am here not to aid
any particular division, but TO cement your
interest and your ties. We want TO bind
together all our interests in grand and
common cause; we are trying not to tear
down but to level up. We have demands
that We wish to urge; they are just and con-
sentative demands, and they are demands
that we have a right to make"
Mr.. GomperS expressed the desire that at
the mass-meeting on Monday all classes
outskirts of the labor world to know more
about the purposes of the mighty labor
movement. Too many feel that the labor
ing man has no cause. This class he is par
ticularly anxious should attend. Let the
doctors come" said he; let the LAWYERS
come; let the merchants and capitalists
cOme-let them all come; they are the ones
who know least how much the wage worker
has at heart"
THOSE OUTSIDE THE CAMP.
When they can better know the laboring
mans cause they will better understand
how to accord him his rights, and do it with
greater willingness OF heart. 1t is not the
church member and the acknowledged
Christian that the evangelist seeks to con-
MI Gompers expresses the same idea He
is anxious 10 talk to those avOwedly outside |
the camp, and says he will be es specially
glad to answer all questions from all sour es.
The speaker was obliged to be briefer
than he otherwise would, he said, because
he had been called upon on the event of
their anniversary to speak to the coast sea-
men, the poor devils who go down to the
sea-" He hoped he could give them few
words of God speed, for they are in need of
it. ''But they are coming out of the dark
ness into the light. They are now COM
mem0rating the sixth anniversary If what
will prove the greatest epoch of their exist
ence. They are true, brave sons of toll. |
am glad of this chance to be with them and
give them all the courage 10 my power"
In view of the coast seamen's celebration,
the council decided to transact no business,
but to adjourn and join in the demonstra-
ton. The usual business meeting will take
place Tonight