The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-17
(special Correspondence to The Times. c
toiupo

4 ship OF 10000 900 worknlcn, representing
4 the Drawn and muscle Of the, country.
"Workl I have never known much
elso but work" was the reply. II have
been working all my life and most OF 1t
at my trade. My father was cigar
maker. went into tho shop at ten years
OF nge and In time became q journeynan,
continued to work at making cigars
for twenty-slx years.
What kind OF workman were you.
Mr.. Gompers? IA lE
Il think may say I was a fairly good
one. was never out Of a Job except at
my own volition and I received as high
wages as my Of my fellows
Gompers as Cigarmaker.
'Couk1 you make u cigar to-day7"
II made some at Boston a few weeks
ego while attending our last annual con y
: vention there. At tho noon recess I went
to tho largest union cigar factory In tho
world, which was not far from the con
vention hall. One Of the men asked me
the Same question you have asked. In
reply j took of my coat sat down ut
the bench and made three cigars. have
son who has cigar factory near here.
and II you wish Will go there and make
you one now"
IL did wish, and Mr.. Gompcrs went with
me to the factory, sat down at one Of
the benches and rapidly rolled out a
choice Havana. 1t took him less than two
& minutes by my watch to put the tobacco
Y into shape, and the cigar which lies be-
fore me as write this is as good -lool-
ing an article Us any cigar sold anywhere
tn the United States. 1t is O. big fat eli
gar and contains q good. honest smoke.
After this MIR. Gompcrs rolled a cigar for
himself and smoked this while we talked.
lie told me that he still retained his mem
bershlp In the clgarmakers union. and
showed mo his union book. with the
4 stamps OF his dues paid 10 date. he has
{ been a member OF that union for thirty
nine years. and pays his regular dues OF
80 cents a week 10 keep up his member
ship.
The Evolution of a Unionist.
when did you first become interested
in the labor movements" l asked.
when WIS fourteen years DID, was
the reply. My father had been a mem.
her OF the union, and at that age join
4 cd. ! have been a union man ever since n
Have you ever beenin q striker
MANY times. Sometimes when | np-S
proved OF the strike, and again whenBl
did not. Some OF tho strikes were hard
y oiles. and have actually suffered from
hunger during such times. but never
regretted them. When | went OH
strike&I considered the shop door closed.
as far rs l was concerned. until. that
strike was settled. and for that reason
I did not want to strike without due
cnuse. "
Strikes and the Workingman.
"Do you think strikes pay the work.
ingman.
..They most certainly do. although they
should be avoided II possible. Still /
Hope the time will never come when We
shull SO lose our manhood as to refuse
to strike Strikes are an element OF
civilization In barbnrous times and bar
barous countries the people do not strike
There are no strikes In China. The wages
there are 10 cents day and the work
men live In mud huts and feed upon rice
and an occasional rodent
when has tho laborins man the right
to striker"
"Hc has the right to do so at any time
md for any reason or for no reason az
slI. Strikes are an evidence OF liberty
and freedom and we laborlng men claim
the right to strike at any time. am not
discussing the policy. We have the
right"
"What is the present outlook as to
labor Mr. Gompers? Times have been
good There have been many strikes
and wages have gone UP. II Is now SAID saiu
that times are becoming pau; WIZ tney
not go down?
"As to the tines said the president
OF the American Federation. "rny infornla-
ton shows me that tnere Is change for
the worse. We have number OF ui'-
ions. which pay benefits to their unem-
(, 1,loyed and therefore keep track OF those
out Of work These unions embrace dlf-
fcrent branches OF trade In many parts OF
the country and their reports form an
excellent barometer Of Industrial condi-
tons From them ! can see clouds IN
The Industrial sky. and look for period
Of depression during the next few years.
1t will not DO as bad as In 1857, IN 1873
or in 1894. but 1t will be felt more or less
MI over the country"
Worlnnen Advised to Resist Re-
ductions,
NOV as to the second part OF your
question:" Mr. Gompers went on, II don't
think wages ought to be reduced In con-
geauencc and have advised our unions
to resist all attempts at such reductions,
/ advise them TO strike against any cut IN
wages and think the employers should
pee that such cuts will Increase the pad
times rather than lessen them.
"Prosperity depends upon tho markets.,
continued Mr.. Gompers. ''and they de-
pend upon the consuming power OF the
fpeonle. II you cut wages you lessen the
consuming power. Tho men VIII have
, less 10 spend, The factories must make
still less, FnSulLlIiS ~ AloIc HVtoS"at sSs
and more cats and making the times
worse than ever, | believe 1t is better
to strike in such enses oven Il we V, are are
defeated, Every strike In time OF ue-
/, creased prosperity prevents furtner AZ.
tempts to reduce wages. II We 40 not
object to reductions. they will be follow.
ed BY further reductions II Is only ny
lighting that we can hope to hold our
own. I would like to see our workmen
have such n system Of dues as would
create a fund sufficient to enable them
to engage In a strike at any time With
out fear, The employer who knows MS
workmen can successfully fight VIII not
impose unfair exactions upon them"
Wages Not Too High.
"But, Mr., .Gompers. are not wages too
high In many branches of Industry?
INC" was the reply. 1.-THE higher they
are the better for the country and the
people, Il YOU viii look oyer the world l
nations and those who do most In the
manufacturing and commerce OF the