Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-23
WAS SPECIAL GUEST
DINNER GIVEN IN HONOR OF
SAMUEL GoMPERs.
In His Address of Acknowledgment
Mr.. Gompers Discusses Up
rising in Russia.

Mr.. Samuel Gompers president Of the
American Federation of Labor. was the
central figure Saturday night at a ban
quet given in his honor by Plate Printers
Union, No. 9. at the Washington Light In
fantry armory. 1t is estimated that fully
600 members of the union and their guests
were present to do honor to the man who
was described by one of the speakers as
1.-The uncrowned king of the labor world"
literary and musical program was rem
dered, the first address being by James
Wignall. general organizer Of the Dockers'
Union of Swansea, Wales, who paid high
tribute to Mr. GOmpers and his work as
the head of the labor movement in this
country.
Mr.. Gompers was presented to the as
semblage by Mr.. s. Edward Beach, pres
ident of tho Plate Printers Union, after
Mr. Terence V. towderly had outlined Mr..
Gompers' -iabors as president of the ed
Grafton. Mr.. Gompers received a hearty
ovation as he arose to speak.
Mr.. Gompers' Address.
He said, in part:
"As you are assembled here tonight
there is movement among the people of
Russia that BODIES no good to that coun-
try 1t is movement of revolution against
tyranny on the one hand and Of bloodshed
against human progress on the other In
this connection would be trades unionist
III great Britain for the same reason that
, would be revolutionist in Russia
Inc people in that country have too long
borne the tyranny from which they have
suffered They have been too long denied
the freedom of speech, and the freedom of
their press, and the thing of which they
are thereby deprlved-the right of express
slon-must have an avenue somewhere
Ihey have found it, and. as a result of the
nnding of it, Russia is disturbed from CEN
Yer 70 circumference, while the people are
demanding their rights
MIR. GOmperS eulogiZed the conduct of III
zooOo textile workers of Fall River Mass
who, he declared, have checked the license
greed and avarice that have made the con-
dlt1ons of life of the textile workers prac-
tcally those of slavery
He said the labor movement in this conn
try was still in its infancy. MANY peopIe
IN our day consider the principles upon
Which the Declaration of independence
rests as a mass of glittering generalities
1t is the purpose of organized labor to lift
up those principles, and under the full sun
light to make them the living actualities
of everyday life.
Man is but mere atom in the great in
dustrial hive. Liberty is but an empty
phrase when the workman as an Individual
is pltted against the power and might of
the great corporate institutions of our day
The protection that every man is entitled
to in the benefits and profits that come
from his own labor can be gained in but
one way, and that way is through organ
lied labor. No one man can cope with the
tremendous forces of capital unless he calls
to his aid the protection that is to be found
in the elective body represented by the
labor union.
Mistaken View.
cit is mistake to believe that the pur-
pose of organized labor is to tear down
anything that is worth preserving On the
contrary the purpose of trade union or
CARNATIONS is to maintain and build up all
that We have that is fit to remain. Labor
unions are for the benefit and betterment
of humanity. They deive deep down into
the submerged strata of mankind and help
those who need helping.
Among the many results that have
blessed the American people as result of
the movements of organized labor, none is
more prominent than the education of the
masses. Through the efforts of the unions
children have been taken from the shops
and factories and put in school. There
they have learned how to be good citizens
and how to render service to their coun-
try"
Commenting upon the free lecture courses
in the public schools recently Inaugural ted
in the District, Mr.. Gompers attributed
them to the efforts of organized labor. and
he expressed the hope that they would be
maintained in such a way as to be useful
to the general education of the people.
Il am looking forward to the day. con-
cluded President Gompers, when labor will
be emancipated; the day of which poets
have sung, philosophers have dreamed, and
for which the common people have strug-
gled'
There were also addresses by E. L. Jor-
dan, editor of the Plate Printer; President
Dickman of the Central Labor Union; Will
liam c. Mckinney, chief of the printing
division of the bureau of engraving and
printing, and others, the speeches being
interspersed with musical selections