The times., 1899-04-19
PRESIDENT GOHPERS
DISCUSSES LABOR
Industrial Commission En-
lightened OH Organization.
Strikes Advocated and Compulsory
Arbitration Condemned
L. E. Clark. Chief of the Order of
Railway Conductors, Also
Heard.

leDueG statement py
President of the American Federation of
Labor. on the condition of the labor world
in general. Each topic taken up by Mr..
Gompers was treated in an exhaustive
manner and at O'Clock the committee
adjourned, requesting Mr.. Gompers to con-
tinue his testimony today.
Mr.. Clark's testimony brought out the
fact that there are %, 100 members of his
organization, most of them employed in
the United States, few however, work
ing in Canada and Mexico. There are
only about 800 conductors in the United
States who do not belong to the brother
hood
Railroad brotherhoods in this country
are all in fiourishing condition. and much
good has been accomplished to labor
through them.
Mr.. Gompers took the stand at IL
o'clock He said he had been president
of the Federation of Labor since 1882, with
| the exception Of two years.
The organization is composed of II 500
! labor unions and has n numerical strength
of 100000 The Federation never interfered
with the affairs of local unions except
when asked to do so.
defence fund through voluntary con-
tributions is one of the present endeavors
of the organization.
The labor organizations of the country
are becoming more and more unified
throughout the country, and there is more
negotiations today between the labor or
ganiZations and employees than ever be-
fore, said Mr. Gompers. The success of
enforcing these bargains or contracts de-
pends more on the strength of the union
than it would on any law that might be
made.
Mr.. Gompers was opposed to form of
| corporation for labor organizations which
would impose monetary penalty on such
interpretations for failure TO keep its
contracts. He also opposed a forfeiture
of charter for the same offence. II was
fact, he said, that il was most difficult
matter to get employers to entertain pro-
positions from labor unions, and the en-
ployers were in almost every instance the
| ones TO break such contracts. He would
as readily take the word of either employ
ers or employees as their written contracts
in matters OF this kind.
There are at present three organizers
representing the American Federation of
Labor travelling in the South endeavoring
to organize the textile workers. There
are throughout the country 40 of these
organizers. 1t is the aim of the organiza-
tion to establish a living wage throughout
the country-to establish a lifeline, as it
were, below which the laborers of the
country would not be required to CO. as
Mr.. Gompers put 1t.
On the subject of strikes Mr.. Gompers
observed that generally during the first
year of organization of any particular
craft strikes were more prevalent than
thereafter. This was explained as result
ing from change of feeling on the part
of the workmen from that of abject de-
pendency on their employer TO being alb.
solutely independent. On the; other hand
the employer imagined generally that his
personal and property rights were placed
in jeopardy the moment his employees be-
came an entity and addressed him through
a committee.
Strikes, looked upon in broad and
comprehensive way, had invariably been
beneficial to industry, even when they had
been lost. AS illustrating this Mr.. Gompers
said that in the case of lost strike those
who took the place of the strikers gener-
ally improve on their previous condition.
Strikes have also convinced many employ
ers of the economic advantage of reduced
hours of labor; they have forced out of
business irresponsible employers; strikes
have made men brave who had previously
been towards; strikes have takenythe place
of barbarism-they only occur in civilized
countries. ?"
1t was, however, the effort Of organiza-
tion 10 prevent strikes. 1t is their object
TO accomplish the same results without
cessation of industry. This result, he
thought, would hardly be accomplished as
long as mems interests were opposed to
each other The time was approaching
when by the more thorough organization
of both employers and employees these CON
tests would take the form OF reason and
not of violence.
The details of strikes were discussed at
length. The referendum to determine the
opinion of the craft in reference TO such
matters was very generally in use, and
was becoming more and more popular with
labor organizations The walking dele
gate, Mr.. Gompers said, was the best
abused man in a union. He was often
abused by both parties to a contest.
The boycott was a natural weapon of
offensive and defensive action on the part
of labor. The question was asked that
if the boycott was advocated should not
the lacklist also be upheld.
Mr.. Gompers replied that he did not con-
slider them on the same plane. One was
for the purpose of benefiting conditions and
the other solely for injury.
The commandment Thou shalt not take
thy neighbor's job" was regarded as a
good one by labor organizations. Labor
organizations were opposed to riots but
Mr.. Gompers said the right of peaceful
persuasion TO win a strike was in perfect
accord with good citizenship.
He condemned injunctions strongly
Higher courts generally have oyerruled
these forms Of legislative injustice, but
before this decision could be reached the
purpose OF the injunction had been ac-
complshed and the injury done. An in
junction curtailing the liberty of citi-
zen had never held before a jury,
Mr.. Gompers was emphatically opposed
to compulsory arbitration, II the findings
of such arbitration embraced the enforce
ment of an award.
IF you make a man work under condi-
tions which are repugnant to him, that
moment slavery begins" Mr.. Gompers de-
clared He would not hazard the liberty
of workman by voluntary arbitration.
Cancellation should first be tried. In the
event OF failure to meet solution he
would favor compulsory arbitration, but
not an enforcement of the award. 1t was
his opinion that the public sentiment ere
ated by such an award would not long be
withstood. Compulsory arbitration was
however, an awful power TO give into the
hands OF a State. 1t was practically con-
fscation.
The weekly payday was advocated by
the witness. Time work was also pro-
nounced better than piece work. He was
opposed TO overtime work, which soon
became habit among employers. and the
extra price was gradually dropped off. 1t
tended to shorten the season of employ
ment and made the workman careless.
The sliding wage scale generally slid
one way only and that was down, said
Mr.. Gompers. With minimum wage
standard, however, the sliding scale was
not so bad.
A living wage Mr.. Gompers regarded as
the most important question before labor
organizations. This should be the first
In NJ III nf