Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-19
FAvORs BOTH SIDES
MR. GoMPERs BELIEVES EMPLOY
ERs sHouhED ORGANIZE.
Regards Existing Conditions as Due
to Lack Of Stringent Immi-
grafton Lewis.

Following up hisgassertion to the effect
that there should not be, the least appre-
hension as to the outcome of the existing
labor conditions inJNewI York. which was
published in The Star, President Samuel
GomDers Of the American Federation of
Labor In statement given out last even
ing, placed himself on record as being in
favor of the organization of employers as
well as of employees. The statement in part
follows: 500 s ns
Employers will find 1T to their advan-
tage to be organized. and not only this
but to deal with organized labor. The
movement to form unions among the bust
ness men will tend rather to prevent con-
fict than to promote. trouble. The better
the organization on both sides. the better
1T will be for business. Organized employ
ers Will De better able to understand the
demand OF organized labor and to meet
these demands without friction.
There has been much hot talk about the
increasing demands of labor. My expert
ence mas Taught me not to be an alarmist,
ana am not alarmed over this particular
movement or over the industrial situation
In general. So long as human nature is as,
1t Is there will be manifestations Of discon-
tent, both from laborers and from employ
ers But believe that every day is max
ing 1or better conditions. We hear more
OF labor troubles now than we did years
ago. but we must not Judge too hastily
from this that laborers are any more wide
~ olscontented or that they are unreason-
abe. When an industrial dispute occurs in
our time 1t Involves so much that 1t must
attract more attention. But every dispute
IS an influence toward better condition of
things in the future
Lack Of Legal Restrictions.
President Gompers attributes the pres
ent situation to the lack of vigorous immi-
grafton laws, and says that the lowest types
of foreigners are coming into the country
in an unrestricted flood.
Referring to the action of the federation
in placing the Western Union Telegraph
Company upon the unfair list" of organ
lied labor, President Gompers stated to a
reporter of The Star this afternoon that
such action was taken first by the Order
of Commercial Telegraphers and was in
dorsed by the federation, pending an in
vestigation of the charges placed against
the company. Accordingly Mr.. Gompers
states, that the federation officials insti-
tuted an investigation, with view of adj
justing, if possible, the existing grievances.
The labor officials. it is declared. met with
rebuff and the telegraph company officials
expressed themselves as being against the
conciliatory methods exercised by the fed
Grafton in the investigation and said they
did not care to confer relative to the mat
ter. s.-.
Subsequently, Mr.. Gompers says, the fed
GRAFTON received information to the eff
feet that union telegraphers were being
Disseminated against, and, In consequence.
the Telegraph company was placed under
the ban of organized labor. If the inStruc-
tons of the federation are strictly obeyed,
no worker affiliated, directly or indirectly.
with it through various trade organiza-
tons will patronize, the Western Union
Company - Is
When seen by Star reporter today the
officials of the company tefused to be in
teryiewed in regard to the matter.