St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-31
President Gompers' Address.


Harris theater was we'll filled with
representative laboring men and citi-
zenS to hear the address of Samuel
Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor. About thirty gen
tlemen occupied seats on the stage,
and number of ladies enjoyed seats in
boxes. Mayor Smith wrote letter to
President Ryder. of the st. Paul Trades
and Labor Assembly, regretting his ina
bility to be present owing to Illness
the past two weeks. Hon. Albert
Schetfer also sent regrets and said that
sickness alone prevented his being pres
ent. President Ryder introduced the
distinguished labor representative with
we'll timed remarks. Mr.. GomperS was
given hearty reception as he arose to
speak.
He began with reference to the interest
shown in labor organizations. He spoke of
the discussion of labor questions by all
classes of people, the sympathy shown by
friends and the imprecatons hsaped up
against organized labor by some classes of
employers He said that the modern labor
agitator is the target of their imprecations,
and that he is one of that class of agitators
However much he disliSed to be aroused
from his slumbers by
A Cry of Fire,
yet he preferred it to being burned in his
couch. What the man who gave that alarm
is to the slumbering man such is the labor
agitator to the country, and he would
not be diverted from his purpose by
the 1mprecations of the employer as
long as the wage Garner has a wrong
to be righted. If the employers pushed their
opposition too far the time would come
when the labor would be constrained to cry
out to them: where you go we cannot go;
where you lodge we cannot lodge; your God
shall not be our God He justified agitation
of labor problems ON the ground that it ar
CUES the progress of the government, and
added: SHOW me country where there is
contentment and will show you country of
slavery. Show me country where there is
discomfort and viii show you prosperous
country. Peace reigned in Warsaw but it
was peace forced at the point of the bayo-
net" He argued that since laborers are the
producers of wealth they have the right to
insist on
Larger Share
in its distribution OF their product They
should continue to ask for more in a pro-
gressive ratio until they get the full value of
labor Said he: IF read the signs Alright
the time is approaching when the laborers
will get more. The social condition must be
improved and is improving, and the labor
er's wages should be measured by the social
position he fils' He illustrated the plopo-
sition by saying that man who earns dol
lar wants ten cents more. Those who now
I cdIli LuOKt NstAb luCESdS6.
The professional man wants his salary in
creased: the man of moderate wealth wants
it doubled, and the millionaire wants all he
can get. even to the whole of the earth
He urged organization of laborers, and said
it is necessary to place them in position to
demand their rights from the combinations
of capital. A body Of workingmen might
appeal in vain to employers if not organized,
but delegation from a labor organization
would have its demands granted Whilst
not i'll favor Of strikes, he favored being
Ready for Strike,
as nothing is so potent 10 prevent it as being
ready for it when necessary. He favored
arbitration but he did not want TO arbitrate
with the highwayman when he was I'M
armed; but give him gun and put him on
equal footing with the highwayman and he
was ready to talk the matter over. There
could be no arbitration between q lion and a
lamb. but there might be arbitration between