The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-05-27
PRESIDENT SAMUEL GOmpERS DELIVERS
MASTfRlY ADDRESS ON TRADE UN10NISm


multitude OF toilers the church had
a special mission. And, after all, it
was the church, that had made possi-
bic the better conditions of the work.
ing people OF today.
Miss Frances Vincent next gave a
vocal number, responding also to an
enthusiastic encore, and the speaker
OF the evening was introduced by Mr..
Kellington as:
1.-The grand old young man who
has for the last twenty-five years
been president OF the American Fed
Grafton of Labor"
Appearance of Speaker.
Mr.. Gompers lis a man of striking
appearance, with splendid head, a
grave and thoughttuP countenance.
His mode OF speaking, clear and
forceful, and for the most part calm
and dispassionate, commands and
holds the attention of all.
So ably did he present the cause
OF organized labor, for which he has
toiled so many years, that judges,
ministers, professors, and prominent
men in public life seated on the plat
form, leaned forward In rapt atten-
ton throughout the hour and twenty
five minutes OF his address often ex-
changing significant glances, at other
times laughing heartily at his many
lively sallies of wit. and frequently
expressing their approval OF the JUS
tice OF his contentious.
The audience was singularly unde-
monstrative, the cheers, hearty when
they came, being infrequent. 1t was
an address more conducive to an at
tentive thoughtfulness than to de-
mOnstrations of enthusiasm.
Mr.. Gompers spoke in part to the
following effect:
"One would be less than human it
he did not appreciate the honor or
addressing an audience like this, so
great in numbers, and so representa-
tive of the peoples OF Minneapolis"
With few more Introductory re-
marks he plunged into the heart OF
his subject.
There Is a Labor Question.
I'VE are sometimes confronted by
men who will say that, after all,
there is no such thing as the labor
question. That the whole thing is
nothing more than the idle vaporings
OF the modern labor agitator.
If there is any such here, l ask
him to 60 to any factory, and see men
and women begging for the oppor-
tunity 20 work.
ut Is a sad commentary on our
civilization to see Sthe idle men and
busy children OF whom there are so
many in our cities'
Go to the factories and see the
-NQmana and CHI 6Sen posing over
work ,awherewith every stitch goes
their hearts blood. Look at them
with their pinched cheeks and shriv-
elled fingers.
ASK the man dependant for live
lihood on the whim OF some superior.
Ask the man who labors long hours
tor scanty wages. Ask the women
and girls. And the answer will come
back in thunder tones.
There is & labor question. 'The
question, the living, burning question
OF the hour, overshadowing every
other, and calling for the best talents
OF the best men and women of today
Tor it's solution.
1T is a question that has many
phases. 1t is great moral question.
And, again, it is great economic
question.
"Organized labor makes demands
on modern civilization which cannot
be shirked or sidetracked.
All Have Same Rights.
lit calls for the opportunity as
we'll as the right to work. The Dec
laration OF Independence sets worth
the right OF every man to life, liberty
and the pursuit OF happiness and
life includes the right to make
living.
1.-The wealth continually produced
in the present day is beyond the wild
est dreams OF past times. Then why
SO difficult the struggle to live today?
1T will not do to say we are bet
ter off than our forefathers. We
grant you that. We are not pessi-
mists. There has been an improve
ment. But the betterment of our