The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-11-12
POINTERS FOR LABOR.

The report of President Gompers
of the American Federation of Labor,
as presented Monday to the convention
in Faneuil Hail. contained some
points that are OF interest to the gem
eral public, coming as it did from the
recognized head of the labor organ
izatious of this country. Mr.. Com
pers advocated action along the fol.
lowing lines for the advancement of
the cause of the laboring man, the
doing away witch open shops, " re.
sistance of all attempts to reduce
wages, the division of work and short
ening of hours per man instead Of the
discharge of workmen higher wages
for minors, avoidance of sympathetic
strikes, and the restriction of immi-
grafton,
This declaration of President Com
pers is in part such a one as can be
seconded by the ordinary citizen,
whether he belong in the union ranks
First, perhaps, in Importance, as the
points might strike an outsider is the
recommendation as to the restriction
of immigration. Nearly all thinking
Americans agree with Mr., Gompers
that it would be better for the United
States to have the lower and criminal
classes of Europe kept out The great
influx in the last few years of for
eigner1 of the ignorant classes who
are little better than cattle in the
hands of contractors and managers
and political crooks is menace not
only to the intelligent laboring man
but to the public in general. The
difficulty comes when the attempt is
made to draw the line between the
desirable and the undesirable immi-
grants. This country has got its bone
and slnew from Europe and even now
a goodly proportion of immigrants
are such as bear promise of becoming
good American citizens Few hard
aud fast rules as to financial condition
and education of immigrants can be
laid down and enforced with the re-
suits desired The problem must be
worked out slowly.
AS to sympathetic strikes Mr.. Com
pers spoke sound sense when he said.
The advocates OF the so-called in
dustrial system of labor organizations
urge that an effective strike can only
be conducted when all workmen, re-
CARELESS of trade, calling or occupa.
ton are affected. That this is not
borne out by the history of strikes
in the whole labor movement is easily
demonstrated. No one will attempt
to say that sympathetic strike shall
under No circumstances occur. Under
certain conditions it may be not ONLY
Justihable but practical and successful,
even II only as an emphatic protest
against great injustice or wrong 4:
but generally and normally considered,
such strikes cannot be of advantage.
In his advocacy of the division Of
work and the putting of workmen on
part time in place OF discharging EN-
ployees when business is dull, cues.
tion is raised which has been much
discussed There are strong reasons
for adopting this method in the fact
that thereby every man is kept at
work, though at a reduced wage per
day, and the great dangers arising
from an army of unemployed are
avoided In a sense the workmen
bear each Others burdens and tend to !
restore activity in business. But this
Is question which should be decided
according to the circumstances of each
case, and not on general principles.
Two of the other three propositions
of Mr.. Gompers should also be decided
according to the facts as found to be
in each shop or locality. The ques-
ton OF open shops is one over
which great labor battles are fought.
and as one believes or disbelieves in
the right of organized labor to control,
or in the right of non-union man to
work when and where he please, so
must he frame his answer. 1t is be-
coming a grave question which the
Whole country must answer.