The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-10-30

More Good than a Man who Depends
Through the Advocacy of socialistic
TheorIes-He Thinks that What the
Laborins Man Wants First Is an In
crease in Wages.
New York. Oct. $50 far as the
wishes of a million organized wage
earners have anything TO do with the
matter Samuel Gompers will resume
his official leadership of the vast Amer
tcan Federation of Labor this winter
The general convention Of that body
meets in New York on December II
next. 1t Wiz comprise a little over 300
delegates A pom OF them Shows that
forty more than a majority favor the
return of Gompers to power. He was
defeated by Mcbride year ago large
ly through what is termed luke.
And yet, back of all this, is a vivid ser
les of intrigues and counter intrigues.
Gompers Is the only American labor
leader to survive a setback. HIS restor-
alton to power VIII mean "a final depart
IIre from the old chaotic conditions
For Gompers IS really a wonderful man.
His rise has been so gradual and ms
amazing influence has been exerted 50
Fnpalpaibly that few nave understood
how u1lornen tous, industrialiy, the man S
career is and must be. For Samuel
C,orper4s is at the threshold OF what
seems destined to be a wonderful career.
The whole country has heard Of the
man. but few know him. There is no
rvrCitechnfc feature in his record. He
has never turned the nation upside
down by ordering some huge strike or
other He never makes inffdmatory Ut
tesr,amceS But he found labor union
weak and insignificant and built ii up
tosa membership of over million, with
thousands of dollars at his disposal and
branches in every part of the land. In
the midst OF his activeness he was re-
moved. Then America made him del
sgate 10 the greatest international iaioor
congress that has ever assembled, and
i'm that congress he was easily first. In
England he attracted marked attention
He went everywhere. and in such labor
renters as Birmingham, Manchester,
Glasgow. crowds focked to hear him.
And today the organization which re-
fused him a reelection only one year
ago is preparing to restore nm TO
power.
Samuel GompeTs is a small, dark man.
He is decfdeIy below medium height.
He has thick, curly hair, slightly gray
Ing. He wears a noustache ana Is very
FOfeSdeTIy in appearance. He Is nelFher
stout nor tllin-rat t.her the former, II
anything. He is quiet and silent, rarely
flashing into brilliant utterance. In
deed. he seems to be very cautious in
all Unings. He was born in England
half a century ago, and is of Jewish ex-
traction. He first entered the labor
movement through the cigaImakers'
unions and rose rapidly. He is a calm,
safe and steady man. He dishkes What
he calls ''faG6" He never takes up So
ciaIistic schemes, and the socialists ana
anarchists hetEy oppose him. Indeed,
It is owing to a coordination of socialists
that he was defeated for reelection
Il don't think any man can compare
American and European conditions,
he said, when he was asked about the
outlook for labor in the two continents,
without being impressed with the SUI
perioyfty Of the workingmen's lot in
this country There is really no COM
ryarison between the two. In Europe,
especially in London, the workroomSs lie
in the most awful Sums / myself have
seen things in the London slums cal
culated to horribly the most caflous OBJ
server. The degradation is so fearful
that we wonder there is no social revo-
tuition Immediately. l am no longer sur
prised that socialism is so strong in
Europe. over here the toilers are IN a
very bad way. I am not saying their
lot is a happy one among ourselves.
Far from tf7at. But Of the two Ameni-
can evil is infinitely the least"
But it is not inevitable that this
suffering should exist?''
Inevitable under our present system.
yes. Inevitable under equitable social
conditions. no. I don't care how much
wealth there is, and how few to snare
Il. there viii be suffering If its distri-
bullion be inequitable. The question of
the distribution of wealth is, in my
opinion, the key to The situation. There
1t is where so many sincere friends of
mankind, | think, miss the point. We
hear nFuoh about plenty for everyone in
The future and how that result can be
brought about. But there is plenty for
everyone now if everyone could get his
share But if the socialists occasionally
overlook point. SO do their opponents.
For Instance the anti-socialistS write
tOrg articles to demonstrate what they
are pleased to term the fallicies of So
-ialSm. Very good. Now what does
the socialist do? Simply points out the
tact upon which his argument is based
that fact being the great privation
and misery of the working classes.
There is no getting over that fact. and
that fact counts in favor Of the socialist
every time. You may contest the
theory of socialism all you please. but
YOU cannot contest the fact Of human
misery whfcel gives the movement all
its strength. But take away that mis-
cry and you take away the strength of
socialism"
The next question put to Mr.. Comp
Frs had reference to the immediate fu-
ture of labor.
1T is my belief" said he. that the
workingrnan is tired of mere rhetoric
and theory. He is weary of connecting
himself with movements that mean long
agitation and a remote amelioration OF
his condition. II is an old complaint
that most social reforms will not come
10 pass until we are all dead. We want
10 do something mere and now. That
something, TO appeal very strongly.
should take the form Of an increase of
wsges That IS my philosophy for the
present. Increase the wcrkinSman's
purchasing power.
How about the money question? Do
the workers favor silver or gold?'
4 don't see that that question means
anything. Understand me, ! am not
hedging. But ] have no authority 10
speak for the woIkirgman on that point
As / told YOU before, the workingman
wants more purchasing power. His
wages that viii buy a lot OF the things
he needs. Whether those wages be gold
or silver or paper is another question
and a question for each man to settle
as he thinks best. But there must be
something wrong with a social system