The Boise citizen. (Boise, Idaho) 1906-1910, 1908-09-04
GOMPERS AND HIS MEN
TRIBUTE TO ORGANIZED LABOR BY A WRITER
OF NATIONAL FAME


titled "Nlr Gompers and His Two Million Men, published the
SDember Pearsons Magazine and which we regard as the most no
table article of the month fact that should be read in full bv
every student of currents events
For nearly year two millions of American worneen have
been out of employment
A through these bitter months of undeerved dlene tre country
has been snguarly free from public disorders
"The toiers have borne their suengs with apaocpaenceta
hanes great financial gamblers whose reckless greed strained the
money and credit Of the continent arrested industry
produced time of rich harvess worldwide peace
with the memory of the bloody and waseu railway strikes
1877 and 1894 the appalling struggle of the worers
stead 1892 and the national losses and uerngs attending the
great anthracite coal strike of 19O2wh ended only when Pr
interered-ths wonderful industrial tranquility main
tanned stouty in exasperang conditions full of hopeful sig
nnce time when organized labor and organized capital have
their greatest stage of development produced
voluntary trade agreement substitute for the strike lockout
carried until side the other beaten the ground
by hunger or bankruptcy
Surely meaning of change be understood when
remembered that according the estimates of the United States
government the American people lost $469 100000 through strikes
years stretching between 1881 and 1900
and President Rooeves commissioners estimated the loss
ned by the anthracite coal strike years ago S99000OOO
So that the total loss the country twenty reached the
of $568 OOO-amo eequarer of the whole
interest bearing debt of the nation
These solid, indsputabe facts
Ye in spite of all this it is whispered the throneooms OF
finance and industry that the worngmen OF America however
patriotic individually, collectively menace
destroy the power of the of justice that may freely and
learesy make war upon private property.
Mr Gompers Mr. Mitchell and the other pokmen OF organzed
labor who point the constructive and making record OF the
millions they represent and ask the country to save them from OeS
back into the old ways of methods and unreeng war
fare denounced as bathe1es and professional ouOe
who approach the affairs of civilization blowing rams orS OF O
barm with malice treason plage and murder in their souls
Nor their patient and unceasng poesaonS OF oDdeC
the and the courts whatever injustice may done avail against
this pitless unreasoning and ceaseess abuse ,
1T most interesting dramatic thing in the whole scene
Of the national government the very hderp OF the most
forces in the land H.,
organized labor the courts which lifts ITS deaa Co
enance above the noisy contentious OF parties ana ne @
who considers the question cold blood and without
How the orators of all parties praise the WorKnS1a
year of political humility and expectation! nov u as
against his enemies and promise vague redress! l IN I ]
candidates and the myriad seekers for office smile ana
vote! ~ =,
For with that pencil point wherewit he markes his oao @
American workngnan may smte parties and goVern- - al
the laws and change the of history ana It - in
workngmen do not think alike that this power IS o'
the United States !, ,t oocaared
Never history of the country has ORGANIZED arJ J nain
before the American people with such voice OF a naded
that which now declares the courts have deD% tIr
the personal Liberties of workingmen have and
only peaceabe means protecting and advancing ue inner
have left then, disarned and helpless the mercy OF vast %
sona industrial system from which all the human Iy dis
governed the relations of and man IN the past
appearing IL, NV violence to
The answering cry organized labor seeks & % and to de-
take the personal freedom OF uno5g noyers of the
privilege of controlling their own business ~ 81 the United
1T is terrific problem that the supreme ned bv the
States has raised in its decision that the boycott the
organized hatters is conspiracy restraint OF trade % o e or i'm
conpators may sued for damages and Pusu fn on the
plsonment-a problem from Wincn even
verge of Presidential election d for = modification
And with that goes the demand ian be of theory that it
BEING se PeiGsv IS 4 e oors tn paze labor BY sSaqg r
the ordinary laws and subecng striking ] %ortfg f4n by jury
punishment a the will of a single Judge "'u
night of appeal .4 +he abrse of the writ OF
This oucry organized labor against se IN January by P
injunction solenny repeated TO CoHs
dent Roosevelt himself in these words ~ has sometimes been
There is no question in my mind tnal i I