The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-02-12
ACTS FOR GREAT
ARMY WORKERS
American Federation of Labor
lis Nerve Center of Labor
Movement.
HOLDS A UNIQUE
POSITION IN MANY WAYS
Something About the Man Who
Heads 1t, Samuel
GOmpers.
Special to Tho Tribune

unique position in many ways The
federation is a congress-a body of the
workers by the workers and for the
workers. And so the views of every
union toiler are significant and are
given due consideration.
Workings Interesting
The workings OF the federation are
unique and interesting. That IT is a
task TO look after the welfare of mil
lions OF the woTkingmen and women
and children of the United States, Can
ada, the Hawaiian Islands, Porto Rico,
Cuba and the Philippines. cannot be
controVerted. This is the work of the
federation, and 1t is done properly and
Systematically Only by system and
strict discipline can 1t be accomplished,
which fact is thoroughly appreciated.
Home Of Federation.
The federation has its headquarters
in Washington. To he exact the nerve
center OF the organized labor move
ment of the country Is In a modest and
unDretentous brick structure on G
street, between Fourth and Fifth
streets, No 423, and is almost directly
opposite the main entrance of that i'm
mense building, the Pension office The
home OF the federation is known as the
Typographical temple" Modest and
unpretentious as II Is, the building is
a massive structure, three stories In
height with basement, which is utl-
lized throughout, 1t is owned by CO.
lumbia Typographical union No, i0l of
the International Typographical union
The rooms are spacious and bright.
Is Veritable Beehive.
But little Is known as to the extent
of the business of the federation and
the manner in which 1t Is conducted.
The headquarters is a veritable bee
hive of activity. There discipline, not
Of the harsh or eXacting character. and
system go hand in hand From there
the manufacturers could gather Ideas
which would. no doubt prove valuable
If put I'm operation at their own estab-
lishmentS, The amount Of work per-
formed at the federation surprises the
ordinary employers of labor In all,
the services OF about 100 persons are
required to keep the machinery of the
headquarters in operation. and IT may
be said TO move along as easily and
with as little fiction as the most up
to-date private factory or business
house. The federation is strictly an
eight-hour establishment, with a half
holiday on Saturdays.
Acts as Information Bureau.
1t is surprising the great amount of
CORES Spondence that is carried on be-
tween the federation and the educa-
tonal institutions and debating soci-
etes The federation acts as an In
formation bureau on the labor move
ment for the entire general public, at
great expense TO Itself Letters are
received daily requesting information
on this or that phase Of the labor prob
lem, and the views OF President Com
pers on certain topics or occurrences.
All such communication go 10 Presi-
dent Gompers, and he personally re-
plies to them. Answering such letters
has become a great feature Of the
work at the headquarters, and Mr..
GomperS has come to look upon II as
mere pastime, in comparison with
his other duties
To facilitate response 10 these let
ters. President Gompers has compiled
a large amount OF data for such pur
poses. Whenever a letter arrives In
curing upon a certain point OF the
problem, information for which has
not hitherto been requested, he gives
especial attention TO the communica-
tlon and Immediately replies. giving all
obtainable data, at the same time d.
recting that manifold copies Of such
data be made in order that the next
tlously as possible.
Seems Never to Tire,
The work performed by Mr.. Gompers
has been spoken of as phenomenal. He
seems never to tire and believes In the
old adage Never put off until tomor-
row that which can be accomplished
today" The labor movement Is at his
fingers tips: the time has yet 10 come |
when he cannot discuss. explain or de- |
bate without a moments notice, any
phase OF the problem between capital !
and labor
Born in England.
Mr. Gompers Is an American by nat
uraliZution and a ciGarnaker by trade. |
Born in London. England, January q,
1850 OF Holland parentage, tracing |
back his genealogy TO Austria on his |
maternal side OF the family and to
France paternally. Ne attended COM
mon school from his sixth year until |
he was ten when he was placed in a |
factory to learn the shoe trade, which |
proved not TO his liking. |
Abandoning that calling. he was APP |
prenticed 10 the trade of cigarmaking. |
When he was but thirteen years OF age |
his parents emigrated to the United
States. arriving here July 80 1863. Dur |
ing his employment In the factory in |
| ,ondon a discussion often occurred |
relative to the merits Of the contro- |
Versy which eliminated In the Civil |
war His sympathies were with the |
North and he advocated the abolition |
of sla avery. The oppression upon the |
IaborIng classes was imbued upon
his mind while at work I'm London, and |
he took up the cause of labor. In his |
mature years President Gompers al |
ways felt the injustice done him In that |
he received an inadequate school train
ing, And for that reason. II for no
other, he stands for the abolition or |
child labor and the thorough education
OF the youth In 1864 the Cigarmakers'
union was perfected and.
as there was no age limit clause In
serted in the constitution, Mr. GomperS |
became a member. He was then four
teen years OF age, and he now has the
distinction OF being the oldest member, |
In the point of continued membership. |
of the union