The Washington herald., 1907-12-24
THROWS DOWN GAUNTLET.

"In the coming year, we will make
n strong fight against the open
shop"
'We Will continue TO organize the
working people of the country. Al
ready we have abUat 100000 MEM
berS, and we are constantly grow
ing"
"The American Federation of La
bOr il trying 10 organize all the
working men of thc United States,
and we will do it,
''TO protect himself, the working
man must organize. He cannot
fight capital as an individual and
secure his rights
"Orranized labor il willing TO ac-
cept voluntary arbitration 20 pre-
vent strikes, provided by that
method the arbitration n rcuily vol
URtary and faithfully carried out"
"Organizcd labor does not favor
strikes for the sake of striking.
But facts are facts. and human ma
ture Is human nature
'What il labor TO do when an en-
PIOyer is arrogant, stupid, blind 10
his own interests, prejudIced. and
arbitrary" SAMUEL GOMPERS.
Mr.. Samuel Gompers. president Of the
American Federation Of Labor, until yes
terday had remained silent on the deci-
sion of Justice Gould. enjoining the
federation from prosecuting the boycott
against the Buck Stove and Range Com
pany. of ST Louis
The decision Of Justice Gould was re-
garded as a hard blow 10 organized labor,
and the public has been anxious TO as
certain what the next move Of Mr.. Com
pers and the federation would be.
When Mr.. Gompers was seen by a re-
porter for The Washington Herald yes
terday afternoon. he began his statement
with the declaration that the federation
did not propose to remain idle. but would
fight al Efforts 10 deprive labor OF its
rights.
No Sale for stoves.
''The people viii not buy those stoves"
said ne. I'VE will do something in the
matter, but l do not want to make the
federation plans public at present.
In the coming year. we viii make a
strong fight against the open shop. We
viii continue to organize the working
people of the country. Already we have
about 100000 members. and we are con-
'stantly growing.
'The American Federation Of Labor is
trying to organize all the workingmen
or the United States. and we will do it,
To protect himself, the workingman must
organize He cannot fight capital as an
individual and secure his rights The out
look for organized labor in the coming
year is bright; brighter than it has ever
been before.
organized labor is willing to accept
voluntary arbitration TO prevent strikes.
provided by tnat method the arbitration
is really voluntary and faithfully carried
out"
President Gompers said this statement
would appear as an editorial in the Amer
lean Federationist in January.
Strikes Are Necessary.
NO intelligent workman will assert
that the strike method is il itself good
thing" continued Mr.. Gompers. 1T may
be inevitable, at times, but necessary
evil is not a blessing. Organized labor
does not favor strikes for the sake of
striking, and would be glad of better
methods 10 settle disputes. But facts are
facts, and human nature is human ma
ture. What Is labor TO do when an en-
ployer is arrogant, stupid, blind 10 his
own interests, prejUdiced, and arbitrary?
Figures are given by the Department
of Labor showing the immense amount
lost by both labor and capital by strikes
ard lock-outs. These, we are told. are
direct losses. The inference .conveved is
that If no strikes or lock-outs had oc
CURED. the colossal amounts would have
been saved. This inference is subject 10
heavy discounts. Business has its ups
and downs apart from labor. Statis-
ucians cannot tell what would have hap
pened in any given case, and they natu-
rally regard the loss as total and real.
However, let US assume that billions
Of dollars have been lost by employers
and employed through strikes and con-
troversies.' How are similar losses to be
prevented in the future? BY making
strikes and lockouts Illegally compui-
sorry arbitration? Neither employers nor
organized labor viii entertain that idea
for a moment. The right to strike and
the right to produce are fundamental.
Voluntary Arbitration.
ssTRv x-oI,1pr.,x-
ready TO accept that method. provided it
IS not tricky, and provided the employ
ers put aside childish and antiquated
prejudices, and meet properly selected
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