The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-18

this place mentioned at the first oppor-
tunity, probably on next Labor day,
and expect to be treated with that hos
pitality and courtesy characteristic OF
all who aspire to the proud title OF
American trade unionists''
Mr. Gompers is at present in Salt
Lake and last night he made public
address. To a Tribune reporter ne
said that the special object of his
tour through the Middle West and
his visit to Salt Lake is to create
more thorough organization of the
Workingmen of the country regardless
of location. The condition of affairs"
said MI Gompers, stindustrially, COM
mercially and politically requires that
the workingmen unite more closely
than they have ever done before Cap
ital and corporate power do not di
vide on sectional lines. The lesson is
obvious that the workingmen of the
United States must not allow the
Rocky mountains to divide then. They
must be united and it is in the interest
of closer union that I am here and
making tour of the country organ
izing unions and helping and encour-
aging those which already exist. The
workingmen of the Far West are
largely organized and most of them
are members of unions in affiliation
with the American Federation of Labor
but our aim is to bring about an or
ganization of all and make the feder-
alton complete"
WAS your visit here timed with a
view of meeting and comforting with
the Western Federation Of Miners and
the Western Labor union now in an
nual sessions in this city?" queried the
reporter.
mo, I did not know the organza-
tions you name were meeting here I'M
til accidentally learned it on my way
out, but if can meet them and do
anything to bring about unity l will
undoubtedly do so. think their seces-
sion from the American Federation of
Labor very serious mistake and one
which can only rebound to their own
disadvantage and to the disadvantage
of the labor cause"
1.-THE Western Federation of Miners
and the Western Federation of Labor
and the Western Labor union think the
American Federation of Labor discrim-
mates against the West in favor of the
East was suggested.
IF that statement was made it was
unjustifiab BILE, because it is not a fact.
The Western Federation of Miners
joined the American Federation of
Labor during or about the time of a
strike. I won't say they Joined with
the object of getting financial aid but
they got as much aid as If they had
been anywhere in the East. They re-
manned affiliated with us for year
and then broke loose. They are one
link in the chain and it is pity they
dropped out, but they are only one
link and not very large one. They
number according to the figures I have
seen about 11,0O0 but there are more
than 100000 members of the American
Federation of Labor. They ought to
be with us, however. That is where
they belong.
Mr. Gompers said he was meeting
with great success on his trip. New
unions are being organized right along.
The American Federation of Labor is
now composed of II national and in
ternational trade unions, 16 state feder-
ations, 122 city central bodies and TAO
local unions. the latter having no ma
tional or international unions directly
affiliated, and $4,000 other local unions.
Each local union is lfgoverning and
the general federation does not inter-
fere with them except in matters af-
fecting the wage-earners as whole
and only then when they request it.
| The aim is to have a strong union with
as little government as possible "ToC
much government" said Mr.. Gompers
has been the bane of many labor or.
CARNATIONS"