The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-21
Urges Better Organization in Alabama to Get Things for
 Which Labor Contends
GLAD TO BE HERE DURING
 THE STREET GAR TROUBLE
President of American Federation Is Given Ovation By Big Audience
 of Union Men at the
 Jefferson Theatre.

President Samuel Gompers of the Amer can Federation of Labor, addressed large audience at the Jefferson theatre last night on Labor Questions" and his views met with hearty appreciation, voiced by thunderous applause.
 A large delegation of local labor leaders occupied places on the stage, and several were made by way of introduc- Ing the distinguished speaker of the even ing.
 James B. Drake was master of cere- monies and introduced c. c. Houston, who in brief but eloquent address eX- tended welcome to the great labor leader in the name of the 12,OO0 organized of the Birmingham district.
 W. D. Seed. treasurer of the state of Alabama addressed the audience upon "Education and Labor"
 o. D. Buckalew, third vice president of the National Association of Machin- ists, made a forcible talk on labor mat ters with particular reference to the local situation, predicting a victory for the men.
 SFSdHSl 0iNCli ONdAlOIis
 President Gombers received an ovation when he arose and his splendid address was punctuated with frequent and pro- longed applause. Eloquence, humor and colI, solid facts were combined in Mir Gompers' address with such skill and logic that a profound impression was made upon everyone in the great au- dience
 In opening his sddress he was particular in stating that his coming to Birmingham had been arranged two months previously hence had no connection with the street car trouble, though, he declared, that no could be more opportune for his visit.
 There is universal unrest and protest against labor condtions,' he said, ''as they obtain today. not only In this great but all over the world. This unrest Is expressed in the organization of labor unions in Austria and several other European countries, but Is eX- pressed in Russia by revolution and as- sassination.
 We of America desire not revolution, but we. do want change from present conditions. Some people are indifferent to the situation, but nearly all hope and believe that some day all will be as men and brothers.
 The trade union movement of today the greatest factor in the so- lution of the labor problem that has ever been promulgated, and 1t is a move ment which is not destructive in charac- ter or form or purpose. On the other hand, 1t is constructive. uplifting. to give new life and new hope to the submerged brother.p
 Apeal to Sectional Feeling.
 MT. Gompers took up the arguments of- fered by corporations to workingmen and showed that an appeal was often made to sectional feeling, and that the claims made by corporations that unionism is are not based on facts. He took up the question of unionism from two standpoints, giving conclusive argument for the union side and entered most ein phatic protest against corporation pre- organization.
 What is freedom?" he cried. "The right of man to enjoy life. liberty and the pur suit of happiness. Can this be found in the present day among the unorganized. slaves of corporation?
 Organization prevails In all classes of society in all lines of modern business. Why, then, deny the right of the work Ingmen to organize? Labor Is called trust Not so. A trust is an organlza- ton for the benefit of the few while labor organization is found to help many, the downtrodden brother. The rule of organized labor is, Thou shalt not take thy neighbours Job There is q pet name in use for those who 1o.'
 UphoIds Stand Taken By Men.
 The speaker told how he had learned of the Birmingham situation upon arriving here and the alternative which had been given the men of turning in either their union cards or their company badges. He said. he was glad tc know that the men still had their union cards.
 MT. Gompers said that he had heard that a former effort to organize had been crushed by the company, but he de- clared this should only encourage the
  been crushed but always lived to form the basis of a new movement.
 Mir. Gompers went over the history of the causes of the present labor trouble and gave his opinion that the men would win their fight for recognition. He made reference to strike breakers as ''unde- sidable ctlzens," and asked the people present if they wished to minge with them.
 Offers to Assist.
 In conclusion, President Gompers offer ed to assist in any way possible to bring about peace either as an industrial peace appointed by President Roosevelt or in his official capacity as head of great labor organization. He seemed to think lightly of arbitration as a means of settling disputes, for the con tests, he said. are so often on such an unequal basis.
 He admonlshed the men to be careful and law-abiding end urged more thor ough organization In the district.
  of his country as he thinks proper. Code, Sec. 51GO.
 Unlawful assembly is defined in code. section 5413 to be where two or more