The Washington times., 1902-01-19
ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF THE
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR.

ell OF the order, which they, with the
vice presidents. compose. These two men
have become as well known to the finan-
cial as they are to the Industrial world
Sam tno one in the movement even thinks
of him as "SaruerD Gompers and Frank
l. Morrison.
Sam Gompers was born in London. Eng
land, January y, 1859. At the age of ten
he was put to work in a factory in Lon
don, about which time the problem OF or
ganization was pending solution in the
great English factories. Here. too, he
imbibed his love for the free institutions
of America. and when the introduction of
labcr-saving machinery began TO disturb
conditions in the English labor market
and thousands were vainly seeking work.
Gomrers' parents, when the former was
but thirteen years of age. came to this
country. settling in New York, where he
learned the trade of Cigarmaking, joining,
while yet in his teens, the first union Of
the craft organized, and he is still the
possessor of card No. / in union of
&c. eco members.
MIR. Gompers served the cigarmakers'
local union in New York as president for
six years and as secretary for two years,
and has filed numerous other offices in
the gift of organized labor. having been
a delegate to the 4. F. of L. since its in
ception, and he has been president OF that
body, with the exception Of one term, for
the past fourteen years.
Declined Political Tsonors.
In 1886 Mr.. Gompers wss offered the
post of commissioner of arbitration by
Governor Hill OF New York Although
earning but $50 week working at his
trade, and despite the fact that the salary
OF the position was SO, 3,0G0 per annum. MIR.
Com h.
for the State Senate the following year
and as Representative in Congress in 1855.
Later Mr.. Gompers declined position on
the Industrial Commission offered him
by President Mckinley.
In Frank l.. Morrison Mr.. Gompers has
an assistant who enjoys the confidence of
the labor world not less than he does
that OF Mr.. Gompers and his associates OF
the executive council. Mr.. Morrison is in
the prime of life, just turning forty, but
has behind him two decades of nard work
in behalf OF organized labor. Suave, dip
lomatic, aggressive withal, his restless
energy keeping him going night and day,
the secretary OF the American Federation
of Labor favors an eight-hour day for
every worker in the land but Frank Nor
riSon.
Trained In Chicago
Mr.. Morrison was reared in a school of
statecraft and politics-a typographical
union, and Chicago Typographical Union
at that. He has filled numerous positions
in the gift of the Chicago union and of
the International Typographical Union
which he now represents in the American
Federation of Labor.
Mr.. Morrison was first elected to the
secretaryship of the Federation in 1896,
and has held the Office continuously since.
Mr.. Morrison holds his membership in
Chicago Typographical Union. He is a
single-taxer, as are most printers, thor
oughly versed in the history of the trades
union movement, and lawyer in addi-
ton.
Both Mr.. Gompers and Mr.. Morrison
have been engaged in the newspaper busi-
ness, and each has contributed to the
great discussions which have marked the,
evolution OF the American Federation of
Labor. Mr.. Gompers is one of the found
ers of the eight-hour workday movement,
and has done more in its interest than
probably any other man in the movement,
a fact which alone will preserve his name
to posterity.
Genesis of the Federation.
Not a little of the present almost in
credible prosperity of the United States
is due to the conservatism and wisdom of