Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-01-16

man amounted to something, now II Is
only by combination that he Is able
to accomplish results. II the sixty.
eight men stop, the shOemakIng cannot
go on II Is the union that makes this
possible, and thus enables each Of the
sixty-elght to get his lights.
ORGANIZED LABOR IN 1904.
Are trades unions increasing in the
United States"
Yes, replied Mr.. Gompers. Very
rapidly | don't know OF any time In
our history when they have grown
faster than they are growing now. The
American Federation Of Labor Is. you
know, composed OF nearly all the inter-
national, national, state, central and
local unions OF the country, These
unions are independent organizations,
but they work In connection with and
as part OF the American Federation
OF Labor. We are continually adding
new members. During the past year
we have issued new charters for TWEEN
~ international unions, three state
fedcrations, III central labor unions
and more than 1000 local and federal
unions We have now all told more
than $4,000 unions Of various kinds In
the federation, and our membership Ia
very near 100000 We Increase our
members by missionary work on the
part Of organizers whom we send to all
sections of the United States, and In
addition q vast amount OF volunteer
work is going on on the part OF the
unions and individuals
THE GREAT LABOR TRUST.
you say YOU have two million work
ingmen In your combination, Mr., Com
pers | suppose they will average s.
day, or in the aggregate, 100000 4
day or more than $4,000, 100000 year
Ii not organized labor trust, and
where will you find trust with such
power and such dividends"
you may call II trust replied
Mr.. Gompers with smile but II Is
trust for the good Of the many, and not
for the individual few. The combina-
tions Of capital try to eliminate every
one but themselves, They try TO freeze
out as many of their own members as
they can. and the big fish eat the little
ones. Our trust, II you call II so, Is
open to all We welcome every one,
and our only aim Is the good OF the
country and Of all the members Of our
organlzatlon"
"Will the day come when all labor in
this country will be organlzedY'
II think So replied MI Gompers'
1T Is coming fast
ORGANIZED LABOR VS. ANARCHY.
But Will not A combination such as
you have be a menace TO the govern
ment2 You have two millions now EN-
a
the voters OF the United States. AZ the
present rate OF increase your organize
ton might soon be 80 welded as To
dictate candidates. inaugurate policies,
and rule or ruin The country
"Organized labor VIII certainly in
crease as an economic force, said MI
Gompers, although as at present or
ganlzed, labor Is not affiliated with any
political party. II would be far worse
for the United States, however II there
we're no such thing as labor organi.
cation Suppose we had no concerted
effort to protect our workinBmen from
the exactions OF the capitalists Let
greed grind the worker down to the ut
most, and milllonaires increase even
faster than they are now, by the de-
yeopment OF our material resources
Let the rich grow rlcner ana the poor
poorer until at last the poor man turns
What would be the result? ! tremble to
think OF the possibilities. We might
have A second revolution more terrible
than that of France. II Is the labor
organization that keeps the peace, that
forms the corner stone Of our republic,
The unions are among the greatest of
our educating forces, and they stand for
almost everything that is good in our
government and Institutions"
1T makes some difference, therefore
Mr. Gompers" said !, what kind of