Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-17
THOUSANDS GREET COMPERS
President Of American Federation Of Labor
Talks at 0h~autauqua.
DISCUSSES LABOR AND CAPITAL QUESTION
Takes he WOrkman's side of the
story and Says There Are Many
Evils I'm system Need
3 Ing Reformation.
T~.i.phOn-. sls-ssa.

MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK, Nd, Aug TO-
Several thousand persons greeted Samuel
oompers, president Of the American FEEDER
alton Of Labor, who delivered an address
today before the Chautauqua assembly on
Labor and Capital; the Workman's Side
OF the Story"
President John Mitchell Of the United
Mine Workers, who was also to have spoken,
was unable to be present because Of the sit
uation in the anthracite fields.
MIR. Gompers p~refaced his remarks by
saying that the average mind looks contrary
on labor's side Of the question.
The newspapers, without attempt on
my part to charge them with unfairness,
usually present the labor question from the
standpoint of the employer. They either
get their information from employers or
their representatives. 1t 10 the same old
story, the men and women, the representa-
tives Of labor who suffer from the same old
wrong. There is no short cut to enamel
patton" "
Mr.. Gompers declared that the evIl Of
labor Of children needs reformation.
MANY states, particularly in the south,
have no laws whatever to prevent the prac-
toe"
MEN get rich," he declared, from tho
~ "a NhOoO viz u HlOuhu
into almighty dollars. II Is a sad COM
mentarg. Men walk the streets in Idleness
in the textile districts while the mills are
filled with busy children Instead Of labor
being crowned with honor and dignity, it's
rightful heritage, II is a question Of how
much labor can be squeezed out o: the
lRborer and how little wages he can be
forced to accept In return.
TnIEa NJ ahorfar Houra
Mr.. Gompers discussed the question Of
shorter hours at length. declaring the coun-
tries Of long hours were decidedly backward
and denied the allegation that shorter hours
would mean the decadence OF the United
States as a great producing power. He de-
elared that there was no greater conseryator.
Of the people than the labor organizations.
zone hundred and fifty thousand men in
the anthracite region have been engaged in
a silent fight for three months and there has
been less violence than is committed at a
picnic Of ordinary people on ordinary occa-
sions. The men struggling today had been
reduced to a state of serfdom. but in the last
three years they have been recast. Their
manhood is aroused, and I believe, as God
is my judge, the worst the miners have to
confront is past" Great applause.)
Mr.. Gompers declared that the lawyer is
Incompetent to discuss the industrial ques-
tion. THE lawyer lives In and studies the
past" he said. while he is facing phys
ically forward he Is mentally in the dark
ages" This observation was brought out
by the alleged remark OF a Mr.. Roos, the
legal representative Of the Delaware, Lack
awanna q Western that there ''ean be no
arbitration, that the miners must FIRST re-
turn to work and the companies will dis
cuss the matter with them" I'VE demand
the right to be heard by counsel" declared
the speaker. Just imagine the miner being
forced back to work with all the grievances
he may have had squeezed and starved out
OF hint"
Mr.. Gompers declared against the pro-
posed government compulsory arbitration.
He predicted the success OF the anthracite
strike.