New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-04
LABOR DAY md LEADERS.

Labor Day would De worse than lost To 'he
wageearncrs, whose resources are too mario"
at best. If It's opportunities for thought ana ell
cation should be- employed only 10 strengthen
mistaken ideas President Gompers OF the
American Federation Of Labor: General Master
Workman Sovereign, Of the knights Of Labor,
and his predecessor, Mr.. Powderly. contribute
70 THE Ncw-York Herald" their conception di
the day and its lessons, and the opportunity
WAC q rare one TO direct the thoughts or the
loboripg millions wisely. II can hardly BE- SAID
that the best possible use was made OF The OPP
nortunity. Mr. Gompers and Mr.. Sovereign de-
vote mos, of their space TO justification Of strikes
and recommendation Of labor organizations ana
what these leaders disclose Of the spirit which
prevails In their organizations goes far 10 'A
plain many disasters Of the year Mr.. Powderiy
rises above the notion that organization Is the
one thing needful, and discusses the National
forces which have SO greatly affected me 'oh
d,t,on Of labor this year, and In taking this
broader and wiser view perhaps explains WHY
ne is no longer at the head OF the knights OF
Labor.
Mr. Gompers urges that the recent railway
strike was broken by the President OF TIE
United States la conjunction WIN F'ne'"'
"iudges and railway kings and submits 'ha'
the President should have FUSED his great once
"for an amicablc adjustment OF the coh'ro
"yersy" But the truth Is that the STRIKE i'seii
by violent resistance 10 laws and disregard oi
public and private rights, forced the fresid'i'
first Of all TO restore peace ana the supreme!
Of law. and the instant that was done me sTihe
ceased 10 exist. showing that. outside Of iawiesS
methods, II had no real strength Mr. Eolhpers
WIS altogether more wise when he fliseu 10
enlist his organization In the struggle man ne
now Is in representing IT as pcacetul pro'eS'
OF labor against injustice. Labor Day cannot
help the working people toward higher mhn-
hood and better condition, II II does not tearh
first Of all that the laws must be oDeyed ana
upheld.
Mr.. Sovereign urges that the growth OF the
Knights Of Labor and the American halfway
Union has been phenomenal and that "organiZa-
"tiops Of class have served their purpose II
"they ever had any except to serve as inethods
",o enrich the crafty" At the same Time he
notes Il marked increase In the number OF the
upemployed, but says he docs not know how
"much Influence the tariff has had, or the de-
"tails of the causes" Organization which Offers
TO labor no better enlightenment or guidance
than this viii scarcely bring millennium For
Mr. Soyereign's fling at organizations OI cinss,
In effect at the rival organization which Mr..
Gompers directs, exhibits more anxiety to make
his own organization profitable than to use 1t
wisely for the education Of the millions. The
fatal defect of nearly every organization IL just
this. that II Is organization OF class against
other workers aud for the express purpose OF
securing advantages against others. In order to
draw in as many paying members as possible 1t
ignores questions Of National policy which affect
the welfare Of all labor, and cducntcs men to
the false idea that such questions have little or
nothing to do with the condition OF the workers.
Mr.. Powderly grasps with much vigor one
| National question. urging that the repeal OF the
Silver act has brought no benefit to the working
| people or to business. and that the Presidents
| denunciation Of trusts and mOnopolies contrasts
strangely with his close intimacy with Mr. Bene
diet Of the Chicago Gas Trust When the Pres
| ident suffered the Sugar and Whiskcy bill to
| become a law for tho Nation he did Indeed
justify the question which Mr.. POwderly asks
England was In doubt while this Congress sat
| '1ike coroner on the prosperity OF the Nation
she Is no longer In doubt. When her strikes