The St. Louis Republic., 1904-01-17

srec.ai Cor-esponleace Of Tie Sunday Republic.
Washington. Jan. 15.-"Do YOU know
anything about work YOURSELF"
..Dii you ever work tor wages?'
asked these questions Of Samuel Com
pors as we chatt7a together in his office
yesterday afternoon.
Mr.. Gonrc-s IS unc-owreG king Of or
ganizoi labor in the United States.
He IS president Of the American Fed
GRAFTON cf labor. which embraces more
Than 2i.5'o different labor unions. and has
membership Of 2u')cH) worl,rnen. rep
rescnt:uS tn Drawn and muscle OF the
country
Work, ! have never known much else
but work. was tile reuiy. y have been
vyorfiu- al nv lit, aud most o; 1t at my
trade
M father was a cizarmaker I went
into the sfcp at - years OF age and In
time became 81 joTrueyinan. and l con
tinuci TO vsrl, :. making cigars for TWEEN
ty-siy years"
Mr.. GuwIe.S,'
4 thiu,s ! may say I was Il fairly good
one. was never out ~ H job except at
my ow- voit!ou. aud ! received az high
wages as auy of nv fellows"
GONPi.HS AS \ CioiARMAKER.
"COI,d 20. make = cigar to-day?'
Il made some n: Boston a few weeks
ago while attending our last annual con-
vention there.
AT the noon recess ! vert to ths lar
gost union cigar factory IN the world,
which was not far from tho convention
hail.
"One OF the Iuen asked me the same
question son have asked. In reply took
off ny coat. sat down at the bench and
made throe cigars.
II have son who has a cigar factory
near here. and If you wish I will 20 there
and make YOU our now"
I did wish. and AIr. Gompers went with
me to the factory, sat down at one OF the
benches and rapidly rolled cut a choice
Havana.
It took him Ices than two minutes by
my watch 10 put the tobacco into shape,
and the cigar which lies before ne as /
write this IS as GooJ-looking an article as
any cigar sold anywhere IN the United
States.
1t IS q big fat cigar and contains a
good, honest smoke. After this Mr. Com
pers rolled a cigar for himself and smoked
this while We talked.
He told me that he still retained his
membership in the cigarmakers' union.
and showed me his union book, with the
stamps OF his dues paid to GRte.
He has been n member OF that union
Tor thirty-nine years, and pays his regu-
lar dues OF 81 cents a week TO keep UP
his membership.
EVOLUTION OF A UNIoNIsT.
When did You first become interested
In the labor movement" ! asked
When 1 was u years DID," was tho
reply. My father had been n member OF
the union. and at that age ioined 1
have been union man ever since"
Have sou ever been In a striker
Many times. Sometimes when I ap-
proved OF the strike, and again when
did not. Some OF the strikes were hard
ones, and l have actually suffered from
hunger during such times. but never re-
GREETED them.
When I went on E strike considered
the shop door closed, as far as was con-
cerned, until that strike was settled. and
for that reason I did not want to strike
without due cause
do you think strikes pay tho work.
ting man?"
'-They most certainly DO. although they
should be avoided II possible. stu. hope
the time Will never come when we shall
so lose our manhood as to refuse 10
strike. Strikes are an element OF civiliza-
don. In barbarous times and barbarous
countries the people do not strike.
There are no strikes in China The
wages there are 10 cents a day. and the
workmen live In mud huts and feed upon
rice and an occasional rodent"
EVIDENCE OF LIBERTY.
when has the laboring man tho right
TO striker
''Ho has the right TO do SO at any time
snd for any reason or for no reason at
ali. Strikes are an evidence OF liberty and
freedom. and We leboring men claim the
right to strike at any time l am not dis
cussinG the policy. We have the right
What Is the present outlook as to la
Dor. Mr.. Gompers7 Times have been good.
There have been many strikes and wages
have gone up. 1t Is now said that times
are becoming bad. VIII they not go
Gown
'As to the times" said the president
OF the American Federation. my in
formation shows me that there IL
change for the worse.
We have a number OF unions which
pay benefits to their unemployed, and.
therefore. keep track of those out OF
work. These unions embrace different
branches Of trade IN many parts of the
country, and their reports form an excel
lent barometer of Industrial conditions
From them ] can see clouds in the in
------------------