Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-14
THE REPUBLICS SAVIOR, Said Samuel GomperS. Is Organ
 ized Labor. THOROUGH, ABLE DISCUSSION 0fthe Labor Question Heard by a Large Audi ence at Erswe's Hall Last Nigqt
 Mayor VanHoose Introduces
 the Speaker
THOROUGH, ABLE DISCUSSION

About 300 men assembled in Erswell
 hall last night to listen to an address
 by Hon. Samuel Gompers, ex-president
 of the American Federation of Labor, on
 the subject, Organized Labor, the Re
 public's Savior" All trades were repre-
 sented in the gathering. and few mer-
 chants and professional men were mo-
 ticed.
 The crowd began gathering as early
 as 7:30 o'clock, and came in by twos,
 fours and dozens, and when the speaker
 arrived a large and representative gath
 ering greeted him.
 At S:15 o'clock Mayor J. H. VanIIoose
 arose and said:
 Fellow Citizens of Birmingham: When
 1 was asked today as mayor if l would
 come and introduce the honored speaker
 I had to stop and think how l could do
 so. But as I have on other occasions in
 troduced statesmen, preachers and other
 speakers, l determined to avail myself
 of this honor. The speaker is better
 known to you than to me, because he
 has been better tested by you. I wanted
 to have the pleasure of shaking hands
 with him and also facing you and shak-
 ing hands with you, because if there is
 any one thing I have an admiration for
 it is an honest hard working man who
 earns his money by the sweat of his
 brow Clothes don't make q man. A
 man with hard hands and greasy over
 alls is true man, and you'll find the
 warmest hearts under these clothes
 As mayor I should feel honored in greet
 ing you and him. I have profound re-
 spect for. organized labor. Why should
 not every man seek out the best inter-
 ests for himself and his fellows
 l am glad to see you here tonight
 Burning to MT. Gompers), because when
 ever you do anything unworthy you are
 unfit to be here. If you do anything un-
 worthy you must rewrite your history,
 for your reputation stands out for it. self
 As mayor I welcome you, and trust you will do honor and credit to your self.
 Mr Gompers then arose and was greeted with cheers. He said: MT. Mayor and Fellow Workingmen: I would indeed be less than human, less than susceptible to honor were I unmndful of the cordial and grateful greeting accorded me by you this even- ing. This is the second time I have been here. About two and half years ago I spent two weeks at the Federation of Labor meeting. Then, as now, the opportunity of facing you workingmen was afforded me. Since that time, 1893, the workingmen of America have under gone an tera. An attempt has been
 made to force them down. I feel, my friends, that we are in the throes of great conVulsion in our country There
  glance except the United States; there
 is no spot on earth for which I have even faint love other than the United States; there is no form of government under the canopy of heaven l feel my fealty to other than the United States; no flag except the stars and stripes, and avowing to you in the very beginning my devotion to this country and patriot ism to the government 1 want to warn you of dangers staring us in the face. It is because of my intense love and devotion to the institutions of my coun- try that I believe it is my duty to call your attention the dangers besetting us and to see that you will look to the protection of the government. Near on to 2000 years ago Rome had achieved the greatest success in refine | ment culture and wealth. The people became divided into patricians and plebians This did not take place at downfall. Some imagine Rome was de- once. It was gradual Then came her stroyed in night, but this was not so.
 The curse or canker had been eating at the core of the Roman government 200 years ere it's overthrow came. 1 ask you, my friends and fellow citi- ZenS, and particularly you, my fellow workingmen, to think whether there arc not now influences at work which bear semblance to things existing in Rome. You will notice that there are passed by
 the congress and the state legislatures bills granting franchises to few people here, charters to corporations there, while at the same time the rights of the people are. being trampled under foot. Congress a few years ago passed law known as the antitrust law. It was in tended to prevent monopolies on neces- saries of life. Though standing in the statute books we have seen corporations robbing the people of their just dues such as the leather, beef, oil, clothing, and I understand since I left home, milk trust. One might as well stand on the highway and say Money or life" as to allow these to carry on their nefarious practices. Only few years ago congress passed the interstate com merce law. That law was to protect the people against the railroads. Do you know of any time when this has bene- fited the people? That law, intended to protect the people, was turned by the courts against them.
 You know the position I occupy in reference to the American Railway
 union strike. l insisted that the courts could not tissue omnibus injunctions pro- hibitng men from standing out for their rights.
 There-is Q sunbeam of hope that the
 workingmen of this country will be pro-
 tected-a hope that legislation will be en-
 acted to protect our women and children. During the closing hours of the legisla-
 ture of your state a law on your statute books known as the ten-hour law
 was repealed on the plea that it