Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-03-13
WILL THEY EVER THINK.

An Entertaining Essay from the Pen OF
samuel Gompers. President of the Fed
Grafton.
viii the working people ever learn?
isa question often asked by men VINO
have given the labor question some
thought, and after expanding their
zeal and enthusiasm for time become
.disgusted with the whole business
and 20 the even tenor OF their way
thoroughly satisfied that the working
people will not learn.
The truth Of the matter Is that the
would-be teachers have more To learn
from the masses Of labor than TO teach
them.
As soon as some professors or other
well-meaning persons learn for the first
time that there is such thing as lao
or question, aud are converted 10 ltS
Justice, aud then decide to advocate It's
claims, the common mistake made IS 10
assume an air Of superior knowledge.
They urge the workers to give up the
organizations which have brought them
ali advantages and improvement, which
have defended them against unjust ex-
actions. and ask them to adopt some
crazy panacea which will be "cureail'
FOR their economic and social ills. They
do not argue with the wage workers,
tney talk down 20 them and want TO
instruct and teach them.
Our well-meanIng friends forget that
the working people are confronted with
and surrounded by the actual conditions
and environments OF the factory, the
-. f,.a "a n
20 theOrize. They must act, and act
Quickly, with the facts that meet them
in their everyday struggle, and defend
their position and themselves upon the
particular field upon which they are at
tackled. and seek advantages in the same
time which so other times are utilized
against them.
Wages, hours Of labor, shop, factory
0r mine rules and other conditions OF
labor enter more deeply and directly
.nto the everyday life of the toilers and
are frequently more tyranical than any
OF the laws enacted at the FEDERAL or
State capitals. To secure higher wages,
less hours Of druggery or burdenSome
toll, steadier employment, more leisure,
fairer "ruleS" aud better treatment
while az work is the first duty Of the
working people, and our friends who
believe that they can be diverted from
the consideration OF these questions TO
follow their lead into the heIdS or
speculative thought will always ind
themselves much disappointed, dis
couraced and will frequently be heard
% declare lit is no use wasting time on
the working people, for they will not
learn" They have learned, do learn
and will learn, but they will do 80 as In
the past. in their own way, by their
own experience and vOitiOn.
VIII any observer deny that the toll
ers have come 10 be looked upon with
greater degree of respect than they
were few years ago2 The demands OF
labor have passed the ordeal OF ridicule
and contempt and have entered the
arena of discussion. Is this the result
OF the teacher" Is it not, rather, the
struggles of the workers 10 compel un-
willing and unfair employers TO cOncede
them better conditions.
have no desire 10 underestimate the
value of education and culture and its
influences upon the improvement in So
cial conditions. We welcome the good
men and true who have given their NOR
al support 20 the efforts of the toilerS,
but I venture To suggest the thought
that the organizations OF labor, in their
everyday agitation and struggles, have
done more 10 diSenthraIl the professors
and teachers from antiQuated super
Stitions aud precOuceived notions of alb
>tract and concrete rights and justice OF
the masses than they In turn have aided
either In teaching" the workers or in
helping them 20 secure improved con-
ditionS.
In seeking % improve our condition
rs wage workers by the methods al
uded 10 hope that the raider will not
infer that we eSchew the maintenance
OF our rights as citizenS-in other
words, politically. Gu the contrary, !
maintain that with every betterment in
our economic condition, with every
hour reduced I'm our daily toll (tAe mil
lion hours OF golden opportunities
dailyl, the tOierS become more pc
tent factor in public affairs, and are
more thoroughly aroused 10 the intense
necessity OF achieving every right to
which we are entitled and the abolition
of every wrong committed against the
weakest of our class
Yes. the working people are learning.
They are learning the history Of the
struggles OF their toretatherS, as well
as the wrongs endured to-day. They
are learning that the only hope for the
protection OF themselves, their children
or uoSterity from the ravishing and de-
vouring greed of the day is by and
through organization. They are learn
ing. not only of the past and the pres
ent. but, taking them as the guide for
the future, are inspired with enthuSi-
ssm. and in distinct notes shout:
SWING Inward. O gates OF the Future,
SWING outward. ye doors OF the Past,
For IN, soul Of the people Is moving,
Andrsing from sluMbSr 81 last.
-rba black forms ~ night are retreating,
Tho white peaks have slgnaled the day,
ANA freedom her long roll Is beating,
WRAnd calling our sons 20 the fray.
SAN'I GOMPEBS,
pre,'t American Federation Of Labor.