New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-29

The man who was being warmly welcomed was
Samuel Gompers the labor leader. Not only m.m-
bers OF his own family. out also representatives
from various labor organizations were on mana 10
meet him. and his welcome was a warm one
With Mr. Gompers when he stepped on the boat
WAS y j. Mcclure vce~president Of the American
Federation of Labor Mr.. Gompers and Mr.. MCGUIRE
went abroad primarily to attend the Trades-union
Congress in Cardiff Wales. Since the adjournment
OF the congress they had been travelling over
Europe studying labor conditions. They made an
extensive tour OF the leading manufacturing cities
OF Great Britain and the Continent. They visited
Paris Bremen. Cologne. Antwerp, Amsterdam. Dub
lin, Liverpool. Manchester, Leeds and other great
manufacturing places. Mr.. Gompers accumulated
much data concerning labor conditions abroad. and
his deductions OF interest to the great world OF
labor. When he had released himself from his
friends he stopped for a few moments to tell the
reporters some of his experiences He said:
I'VE had a pleasant trip over and back and did a
good deal OF travelling while there. l only
speak in general way about what l saw and
heard. as have not the figures at hand to go
into technical comparisons. or course went to
the Trades-unlon Congress at Cardiff as that was
our objective point We met there many OF the
great labor leaders OF the world and were able.
through conversation with them. to compare our
own labor conditions with those In other parts Of
the word.
Il think on the whole. summing up what we
heard. that the American labor organizations are
not far behind. II at all. their English brethren.
The English labor organizations are perhaps better
equipped and systematized than these In our coun-
try BY this do not mean that they nc
complish more, but that they more smoothly
and with less friction than labor organizations.
This IL perhaps due to the fact that their trades
unions are older and In the hands OF trained men.
The labor unions have history. and history begets
pride and when organization has pride In itself
II IL sure get along Some great writer has said
that when anything gets a history. when 1t
fer to past achievements with pride. when II has
loyal followers who look TO the past and recall
memories. then that organization Ia builded upon
a rock and Is safe That Is the way the English
labor organizations are equipped. They point
back to a high record. and man Is willing TO
see that record tamished its fame dmmed.
With this pride they cannot but be a success
A LABOR LEADERS OPINION.
Take English wages they run. and In proper
ton they are probably little less than the Ameri-
can standard but not much less In ofYseting this
the cost Of everything Is somewhat cheaper. This
eaualizes matters. and II asked for a direct
opinion should say that. taking oil things into &C
count the English laborers condition IL slightly
better than that OF the American workingman. But
the whole explanation OF this In that their unions
are older more compact have had moro experience
and are less subject to trying ordeals. 0ivo u
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