Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-08
ARRIVES IN OMAHA
American Federation President Speaks
Enthusiastically Of Organized Labor.
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO STRIKERS
ME. Gompers says Central organisa-
tiOn H. in Hearty Accord with
Striking workmen of
the Union Pacific.

Organized labor has come TO stay, and
those great corporations which are now
dealing with strikes, the mining and rail-
road interests, will, IL they have not al
ready, realize this fact. We have passed
that st1ge Of anger or depression and are
now proceeding along the most intelligent
lines for the preservation and protection Of
Dur interests"
Samuel Gompers, president OF the Ameri-
can Federation OF Labor, spoke in these
terms yesterday morning of the Industrial
situation of the country. Mr.. Gompers, with
president w. d. Mahon OF the Street Rail-
way Employees association, arrived In
Omaha yesterday morning, and with Presi-
dent James o'Connell Of the International
association Of Machinists, who arrived In the
afternoon. addressed a mass meeting last
might In Washington hall in the interests
of organized labor.
'"The iaboring man wants nothing beyond
bis own rights" continued Mr.. Gompers,
''but he wants that with all his heart and
soul, and will have it. We are not an an
Iagonistic body. seeking to undermine or
,nestroy the interests of capital; we want
peaceful relations with capital at all times
and under all circumstances. but we also
want fair treatment at the hands OF the
capitalists and will insist upon having It,"
In Accord with strikers.
Mr.. Gompers was asked about the attitude
OF the American Federation Of Labor to-
ward the present strike on the Union Pa
cihc. He said;
at is one OF heartiest accord. The ma
ohinists, boilermakers, carmen and all
other shopmen, who are members Of the
federation, have the fullest sympathy and
cooperation of the central Organization
and It will stand by them throughout tho
struggle.
w look upon the action Of the strik-
ers here as just and right. They are
fighting for what they should have and
are carrying on a peaceable, intelligent
contest that indicates a profitable set
Element for them. The situation looks
good from our standpoint. We have no
reason whatever to feel discouraged. In
fact, we never feel discouraged over any
thing. Defeat only gives us new impetus
and inspiration, for We know our cause is
a great and Just one and must eventually
succeed. AS l said before, organized labor
Is not a transitory thing, but a tangible,
living movement that has come to stay
and not to be swept aside by the powerful
opposition which its enemies may heap
upon It,"
Asked II he would intercede with the
officials in behalf of the Union Pacific
strikers while here, Mr.. Gompers replied.
Certainly not unless asked to do SO,
and thus far no one has approached me
on that subject. / do not know that there
Is any occasion for me to take such a
step now. Things are running along very
we'll indeed"
Able for Long Fight.
President Gompers said that the strikers
here and at other places on the Union Pa
clio were able and determined to wage q
long fight II necessary. "They will not
skulk and run to get other jobs elsewhere
nor will their places here be filled by Other
union men from abroad" he declared, 'for
as a matter Of fact every shopman In this
country has a direct interest in this very
strike and not one would undermine his
fellow workmen by coming here to work in
his place. That is not organized labor and
no one should allow himself to be deceived
into thinking 1t is. Another thing thai
wants to be borne in mind is that shopmer
are not plentiful over this country. There
are none Of them competent who are oul
Of work except those who are on a strike
Speaking OF the situation in the coal
mining regions of Pennsylvania, Mr.. Com.
pers said the miners were waging a good
,Aght and had hopes Of winning. The situa.
ton, he said, is an aggravated one and q
strong and determined effort would be
necessary to bring about victory. He de-
clared that every day every possible effort
is being made by the labor interests to in.
duce a settlement. "No stone is left un.
turned that might afford a solution Of thil
vexing problem. But anxious as those
miners are for a settlement, they are not
going to quit without some very substan.
tial considerations. There must be con.
cessions made to them or they will not Civ,
in"
He said the strain of present strikes
while heavy. was not testing the strength
or vitality Of the American Federation o.
Labor. which organization is increasing IL
potency every day.
MT. MahOn Talks.
Mr.. Mahon said the interests Of the stree
car men are improving every day. Durinl
the last year over 81 900, 900 increases il
wages have been secured over the United
States. In Detroit alone the men hav,
realized $4,000 more in their pay and IL
New Orleans $1ss,OO0. The conditions IL
Omaha, he said. were satisfactory and h,
had no mission here OF especial concern I,
the railway employees.
Do you want a sound liver. vigorous
digestion. strong, healthy kidneys. regu
N.wNkw. - a.. k.--q No.. Wa-s-at- a..