The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-23
MIR. GOMrEHs on THE LABORiNG

MIR. GOMpEHs on THE LABORiNG
MEN.
A delegation from the National Coun-
Gil OF the American Federation Of Labor
called on Speaker Reed on Wednesday
last and presented a memorial President
Gompers was the spokesman, and, ac-
cordlng to the newspaper reports, called
the attention Of Mr.. Reed TO the oppo-
sition that the Federation was compelled
to meet in pursuing its policy of modera-
ton and cancellation TO secure its ends
from large and, he feared growing por-
ton of workingmen. This class. he said.
asserted that the only way for the work
ing man TO obtain what he believes 10 DO
his rights was TO seize them by brute
force. The Federation has no sympathy
with that belief but. he continued
whenever he was compelled to report
that the work Of a decade has been swept
aside by the stroke Of pen, the decision
Of a court, or that Congress has come
and gone without enactng a single law
for the benefit Of the laboring man. we
put a club in their hands to break US
down"
In order TO prevent these alleged violent
workingmen from risi g up, Mr.. Gompers
proposed the enactment of the following
measures:
l. Amendment to the Federal eight
hour law. so as 10 secure its practical en-
forcement on all public works by or for
the United States government. whether
done by contract sub-contract
or days work. We are sternly
opposed TO the evasions and viola
tions Of the present oight-hour law by the
heads Of departments and officials in the
Federal service.
2 A remodeling Of our immigration
laws so as 10 secure an enlarged protcc-
ton to American citizens and their fami-
lies.
3. Reform In the national banking sys-
TEN and in the issuance of the currency
of the United States. so as 10 secure the
people from the possibilities and dis
asters Of financial crises.
4. Liberal appropriations for govern
ment public works and for the improve
ment Of rivers and harbors.
Now. If Mr.. Gompers is right If there
L
disposed to obtain their rights "by selling
them by brute force" we do not believe
that the enactment Of the measures above
proposed will prevent that calamity. If
these men are 50 violent as Mr.. Comp
ers would have us believe. they would
never be satisfied. no matter what the
government should do. The government
could not appease them by making liberal
appropriations for public works and the
ike. for the greater the appropriation.
the more lavish the government should
be in expenditures. the more would vio-
lent men demand as their rights. More
over. if there are violent men outside the
ranks OF labor, when they should see
violent men inside the ranks Of labor were
getting special favors from the govern
ment. they too would make their de-
mands. and in little while We should
have the whole population clamoring
for government money and threatening
10 have it either by legislation. or brute
force. If Mr.. Compers Is right, then the
government IS in danger Of overthrow.
But we do not believe that Mr.. Gompers
is right. We do not for one moment be-
neve that he has made a fair presenta-
ton of the case. We believe that he has
done large body of labor:ng men, whom
he essays to represent. a gross injustice.
We cannot speak for the laboring men OF
the whole country. but we can speak for
the laboring men Of our own community.
and we resent the statement Of Mr..
Gompers as being incendiary and gross
~ unjust to the large body OF intelligent
law-abidlng workingmen in Virginia. We
protest that they are not violent and
that they are not threatening TO rise up
against the authorities, and TO seize any
thing that does not belong 10 them By
brute force" Our workingmen are
conservative. honest and patriotic. and
as ready as any other class of citizens
TO uphold the government. a.d resist
lawlessness and riots in all their forms.
Mr.. Gompers has not spoken FOR any
Large class Of laboring men, in this
community. and we are sure that they
will resent this unjust charge which he
has brought against them.