The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-11
MIR. GoMPERs AND LABOR UNIONS.

Mr.. Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, is a pretty
sensible and level-headed man, but like all
claim too much for his speciality. man
who rides hobby is apt to let it go its
own pace. Prohibiticnists think the ad-
vance in temperance reform during the last
few decades is due entirely to prohibitory
legislation, but those who look beneath the
surface know better.
In his speech IN this city on Labor day Mr.
Gompers made some claims for labor
unions which, to say the least, cannot be
substantiated. He claimed for labor unions
all the credit Of having brought about the
betterment of labor conditions from the
time when, as he said. workmen were
slaves In bondage" to the present. And
he seemed to think the work of emancipa-
ton is not yet complete for he said: 1.-The
employers sometimes look upon the en-
ployes as slaves and speak of themselves as
masters" Mr.. Gompers seems to cling to
some of the traditions and phrases of his
native country. The term masters as APP
piled to employers is in common use in
England, but is never heard in this coun-
try, and no American employer has ever
looked on his employees as slaves Such an
expression from Mr.. Gompers, II not I'M
guarded. could only have been intended to
excite prejudice and bitter feeling.
Mr.. Gompers has read history to very lit
tie purpose, or not at all, il he does not
know that the condition Of society i'm gem
eral. OF all classes. has improved as much
as that of wage-earners since labor unions
began to be formed. and that this improve
ment in very many respects has been as
independent of labor unions as the prog
ress Of the arts and sciences. the extension
of popular education or the achievements of
applied Christianity have been. A great
many factors have co-operated in the bet
terment of society. and the most that can
fairly be claimed for labor unions is that
they are one Of many. 1t is a long call
from the condition of the working men
at the beginning OF the nineteenth CEN
fury. when English masters" used to
treat them almost as slaves, and that OF
to-day, when hundreds OF employers In the
United States are on the best of terms with
their employees. providing them with many
comforts outside of wage contracts. and,
in many cases. voluntarily making them
gifts Of a percentage OF the profits. Such
changes as this are not due to labor unions,
but to the more enlightened and humane
views Of the employers of to-day over those
of hundred years ago. brought about by
other factors in civilization and progress,
besides organized labor. Something must
be conceded to religious workers, to the
broadening temper of philanthropy. and
to the all-informing spirit OF progress that
made the end of the nineteenth century SO
different from its beginning. To claim that
labor unions have been the only factor in
| uplifting society is hardly fair. Mr.. Com
pers is like hunter shooting ducks from q
| blind-he sees only the birds that come
within range OF his gun. IL he would get
| out I'm the open he would discover that
| there is large slice of the universe not
visible from his narrow point of view
American workmen Of to-day owe some,
thing to labor unions. but they owe much
more to other causes. including one which
Englishmen have not yet attained and prob
ably never will-freedom from class dis
| tinctions and the impossible barriers erected
| and maintained BY society 70 perpstust<