Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-05-09
1LABOR'S CONDITION.
sWHAT. PREsIDENT GoMPERs THINKS
OF 1T AND OF THE FUTURE.

&11creased Spirit of Cancellation Is
= Good Sign-This, as Other Evil
dences of Progress In Labor World,
Due Entirely to Organization.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, sees il,
the present industrial situation a better
condition for the laboring man than
ever before in the history of America
and in the future hope of still further
Improvement.
In an interview given to the New
York Herald the other day he ex~
pressed in unqualified terms his sim
cerest pleasure at what organized la
Dor has accomplished and what it rea-
sonably expects to accomplish in the
future.
do you agree with Senator Hanna"
/ asked, that the end of the strike era
is at handy'
II cannot go so far as that. From
my standpoint | do not yet see the end
of strikes. That depends too much on
capital. They will occur so long Us
there are diverse interests in the indus
trial world. They will occur so long as
the capital class refuses to recognize
the dignity and rights of labor.
""This | can say, however Strikes
are becoming fewer and fewer each
year, and there is ground for hope that
In the future, however distant, differ
ences between labor and capital may
be settled without recourse to such
means"
This tone of hope pervaded the entire
statement which Mr.. Gompers made.
He attributed the present situation en-
t1rely to the efforts of organized labor
and insisted that all that has been
gained in the improvement of the la
boring class and nearly all that has
been gainet. in the way Of arbitration
OF labor disputes were due to the union
and organization of the various work
ing classes throughout the country.
His first statement expressed the sim
cerest satisfaction that the beginning
of April, Il usual time Of labor's un-
rest throughout the world, found a bet
ter situation than ever before existed
in this country. AS to the merits Of the
few disputes and strikes now in force,
Mr.. Golnpers said he did not wish to
make any comment. Time, he said,
would adjust the differences, and arbi-
tration, he hoped, would prevent any
prolonged struggles.
The last year." continued Mr.. Com
pers, has developed spirit Of concilia-
ton on both sides that cannot fail to be
satisfactory to the people Of this coun-
try. Progress has been made and re-
markable progress. 1t is safe to say
that the adjustment of industrial diff
terences by arbitration has advanced
during the last year more than any
other in the history of organized labor.
This, l may say without fear of con-
uavention, is direct result of the re-
markable growth of organized labor.
"Arbitration is gaining not only ev-
cry year, but every day, and this spring
we find the condition of the laboring
man better than ever before in all his
tory. Strikes, however, will occur so
long as capitalists refuse to recognize
the inherent rights of the working peo-
pie and fail to assist them in their ef-
forts for constant improvement, mate
rial, moral and social"
ITO whom do you give the credit for
this advancement Of labor's interests %
was asked.
ITO organized labor alone" was the
quick reply. I'VE have no one to thank
Tor it. If we We're not gaining in the
matter of arbitration and the improve
ment Of the conditions of laboring men,
It would be a reflection on our own in
telligence and that Of those who have
gone before us.
industrial disputes are caused more
by the ignorance Of employers than
anything else. Their refusal to recog-
u1ze the needs Of labor and to put labor
TN condition Of proportionate prosper
dty has been the beginning Of many a
long and costly struggle.
Zone main effort Of the American
Federation Of Labor and all its de-
pendent bodies is to win for labor in a
peaceful manner this recognition.
When it finally comes, fully and COM
pletely, as we have reason to hope, in
the future, then we may look for the
end of disastrous strikes"
"Do you see any marked growth of q
desire on the part of capital to meet
labor half way in the matter of arbi-
trating differences?'
'STo answer you frankly, must say
That this spirit Of arbitration on the
part Of employers has been forced by
labor. 1t has not been spontaneous on
the part of the capitalists. The labor
Ing man has compelled each year and
more in the past year than any other
an appreciation on the part Of the CAPT.
talist of his rights. 1t has been neces-
cary in many cases to appeal first to
that great third party, the public, and
through the public and public spirit
unyielding capital has often changed
Its position.
''The working people now realize
more clearly than ever before that
Hhpir On1V homo 1ios in nrpq nizafiOn ond