The morning journal-courier., 1908-11-10

GOMPERS AND LABOR.
 The wiseacres will feel considerable interest, now election Is over in what the attitude of organized labor gener- ally will be toward Samuel Gompers, the president of the American Federa- ton of Labor. Quite aside from the question whether the interests of or ganized labor would have best been looked after by MT. Taft as president or by MT Bryan as president and quite aside from whether Mir. Gompers sup ported MT. Taft or MT Bryan, the fact remains that MT. Gompers did take an active hand in the campaign. In the past labor interests have consistently refused to enter officially into politics. If there Is to be change, 1t remains for MT. Gompers to be censured or commended in accordance with wheth- CT he used his influence on the right or the wrong side of the election fight; but, if there Is not to be change and if organized labor is not to take an ac- tive part in politics any more than tho organized church, 1t remains for Mir. Gompers to be considerably censured, whichever party or candidate he sup ported.
 The twenty eighth annual convention of the federation was opened yesterday fin Denver and proved to be the most notable gathering of labor delegates the organization has held in its history Tn his annual report to that body yes terday Samuel Gompers treated with a masterful hand many of the most per picking problems at present facing or ganized labor, but 1t was interesting to note that he very evidently avoided any very specific reference to the re- cent national campaign just brought to close or to the active part he and the executive council played in it. AL though the idea is laughed at in some quarters as bordering on the rldlcul- ous, 1t Is said that those who are op- posed to his reelection are numerous and that they are fully prepared to work together against him. By the lat ter MT. Gompers will be charged in due time with "perniclous political ac- tivity"
 This anti-Gompers feeling Is reflected in some of the most representative la bor papers of the country. Tho I,a- bor World, for instance comes out this week rejoicing in the significance to organized labor of the election of Mir. Taft and censuring Mr. Gompers mer- cllessly, first, for having taken any of- ficial part in tho campaign, and, geo. ond, for having supported MT. Bryan. Says that paper "Prcsident Gompers presumed to voice the request of or- ganized labor in demanding an anti injunction law that, if enacted, would be one of tho most viclously unjust laws that ever dsgraced statute book. Mir Bryan and President Comp CTS led, or tried to lead organized h. bor to believe that the Democratic par ty, if returned to power would estab- lish law granting the demand of Mr. Gompers. Tho latter, thereupon en- deavored by every device contrary tc the custom, policy and rules of the A. r. l.. to try and throw the entire labor vote to Bryan and the Democratic par ty, an avowed enemy of labor"
 As a general proposition, few minis ters of the church will he found to be of the belief that the church, per se should undertake to make any decld. ed stands in the world of politics. On the other hand, there are undoubtedly ministers who think there are times when extenuatinE conditions warrant churchmcn in massng their votes upor matters of great moral aspect What is true of church men is perhaps true US well of the men of the labor unions In that case, the question for the Den yer convention to decide must bc whether there were oXtenuating ant peculiar circumstances in this year'' elections which necessitatod official in reference one way or the other on tho part of fits president and executive board 1t must always be remember ed, however, that once q beginning l' made in this sort of thing, 1t will b much easier in the future for labo leaders to believe conditions in site eeedmg campaigns are such as war rant repeated interference of this sort even though they may not Again la