Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-08
LABOR HAS Been AROUSED
SECRETARY FRANK MORRISON
so DECLARES AT SYRACUSE.
Makes Labor Day Speech to Trades
Unionists-Speaks in Behalf
of President Gompers.

SYRACUSE, N Y, September S.-Frank
L. Morrison. Secretary of the American
Federation of Labor. and Secretary OF
State John S WhaIen addressed the mem
beers of the Syracuse trades unions yes
terday afternoon.
Mr. Morrison began by saying that il
was signal recognition to labor to have
a day legally set aside for it To celebrate,
and went on to say that it was owing TO
the zeal of the members of organized
labor that this condition of affairs had
been brought about. This brought him up
to the object Of his speech, TO describe the
conditions which had compelled labor to
enter into politics.
Mr.. Morrison said that never in the his
tory of the labor movement had the feel
ing of resentment been 50 bitter as 1t IS
today. He spoke of the efforts of organ
lied labor to secure the passage OF an
anti-injunction law, the efforts 10 secure
an amendment to the Sherman antitrust
act and the efforts to enact an elght-hour
day for all work done for the government.
After the refusal of the republican con-
vention to comply with our request, he
continued. 1.-THE members of the executive
council attended the democratic conVen-
ton at Denver, and as a result of their
effort the democratic convention. without
a dissenting vote, Incorporated every one
of labor's demands in their platform, thus
pledging that party to enact labors ue-
mands into law. Since the adjournment
of that convention the democratic candl-
date for President has both in speech ana
in letter champiOned the measures WHICH
labor is most intensely interested in
1T is now your duty, felloW-Workers'
as citizens of this country, to use your
Judgment, your good common sense, ana
cast your votes as your conscience snati
dictate" He then added:
This brings me to Il point to which II
NAV be well to make Il passing mention.
You have all read the statements which
have been made. and which VIII he MADE
in the future. that neither President Com
pers nor the members OF the executive
council have authority vested in them to
deliver the votes of organized labor TO any
particular party. You know, and | know,
that the very people who make such
statements are well aware of the fact
that President Gompers, or no other
man. has either the authority or power
to deliver the vote of one member of
organized labor, other than his own,
10 any party.
Speaks for Gompers.
president Gompers nor the members
of the executive council have neither by
word of mouth or by written message
even vaguely intimated that they had
such power. But notwithstanding that
fact the officers OF the federation have
carried out the instructions given to them
by the conference of the national and in
ternational unions; they have endeavored
to secure the enactment of legislation de-
sired, they have informed, and will con-
tinue to inform, the members of organized
labor that the dominant party was re-
SponSible for the failure of the enactment
of legislation at the last session; that the
republican convention at Chicago fatty
refused to incorporate labor's demands in
their platform; they will inform the wage
workers, and continue to inform them,
that the democratic party have inserted
every one of their demands in its plat
form. and that its nominee for President
has in speech and by written article
charnpioned the measures that labor de-
sires: they will say to the members of
organized labor that Your representatives
have instructed us to furnish the infor-
nation as to the party that was reSpon-
sibe for the failure of legislation.
I'VE have made our report and placed
IL squarely before you to take such &C
ton as in your opinion will result in the
wage-workers securing the legislation de-
sired