Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-05-18
SAMUEL GOMPERs,

stand for the flag and the nation with
Its hearts blood. But as have travelled
through the ranks of organized labor
since March 81 I have found the senti.
ment to be almost unanimous that if
Cuba could be freed and reparation for
the loss of the Maine could be secured
without bloodshed it should be done.
II war must be, then labor will be in
the front van. 1t is my personal opinion
that o conflict is almost inevitable.
lyon must understand that, for the
last 20 years, in this country a great
work Of humanizing men in their rela.
tons to each other has been going on.
1t has been tremendous reorganization
Of the social and political as we'll as the
economic relations of men to each other.
They have been drawing closer togeth.
er, and the more harmonious relations
Of labor and capital are evidence of the
strength of this movement War means
q setback to this reorganization, a seri-
Gus blow to its progress for years to
come. '''i'-
Again, q revival of healthy indus.
trial conditions is at hand. The impetus
of increased work is felt on all sides.
War means an interruption of this.
1.-The laboring man Of today, the man
in the ranks of organized labor, was
never thinking as much as he is at the
present time. and he is not crying for
war. Is it necessary that. because pro-
Weylerite, for political reasons, de.
stroyed our Maine, we should seek repa.
ration by shedding the blood of other
men? Are there not other honorable
modes Of reparation to be obtainedf
When it is determined there are not
such modes, then consideration of war
will be another question:"
OF labor organizations Mr.. Gompers
went on to say: "They were never
stronger. I think capitalists and the
workingmen are closer together than
ever, and we have reached that point
where there is no human power that can
destroy the labor organizations Of the
United States. The fact that these or.
CARNATIONS have gone through the period
of industrial depression without becom.
ing disorganized has increased the con-
fidence and respect in them on the part
Of the employer.
Further, there is more work for la.
Dor today than there has been for some
time past. Labor is more in demand,
and, while here and there some differ.
ences exist, they are not serious, and
the general situation is most excellent
"Of course the preparations for war
have increased the work in certain
branches of labor enormously, but to
offset this is the fact that while war is
imminent or when it becomes certain
ty there will be much capital withheld
from investment because of capitals
timidity. This will affect industrial con.
ditions to Q certain extent. The Cuban
question will trouble everything until it
is settled, and that is one of the power.
full reasons why labor wishes for the
freedom of Cuba. A more powerful rea.
son is that the granting of political free.
dom to a people but precedes the secur.
ing for them Of economic freedom. Aft.
er political freedom is secured for Cuba
the great questions will arise Of econ.
omic freedom, and in all this American
labor is vitality interested and opposed
to the existence Of any rotten Spanish
autocracy in Cuba. Chicago Times.
Herald,