Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-26
NO CUTTING OF WAGES
Gompers Sounds a Note OF Warn
ing to Employers.
LABOR WON'T STAND FOR IT.

Present Financial Conditions-7e-
dueed Earningo Would Lower Con-
sumption and Mako Matters Worso.
Samuel Gompcrs, president of tho
American Federation OF Labor. was
one of the speakers Mt the eighth an
nual banquet OF the National Civic
federation recently held In New York
In the course OF his address he served
notice upon employers that attempts
to reduce wages because of financial
conditions would be fought to the ut
most by the work.ngmcn.
Since have been in New York."
said Mr.. Gompcrs. 81 have been up
preached dozen times by bankers,
inancicrs, capitalists. in open CONVEX
sation. In written communications and
In whispers to the effect that wages
must come down. that the laboring
man must make up his mind to bear
his share of the hard times.
And / turned 10 these men and
said; I would simply suggest this
thought: Our soil Is not less fertile to-
day than it WAS yesterday; the treas
'res beneath are not less valuable; the
laborer not less Industrious; mems
minds have not been dulled since yes
terday The great genius OF all by
gone ages IS here with us now rs yes
teray, md men nre as willing to work
today as yesterday.
Wherefore, then, Is there reason,
with all these facilities for the produc-
ton of wealth, and men willing to
worls-wherefore, now, is there rcn-
son to attack wages and the American
standard of life In this country?'
"lf l thought the reduction OF wages
would lessen the present situation by
one day l would favor the acceptance
of the proposition.
THE history OF industry demon
strates that every such reduction OF
wages intended to meet such condl-
lions rs now exist has only accentu-
ated the situation, made matters
worse. When you reduce the laborlng
mans earning capacity you reduce his
consuming power and thereby intensi-
~ what was already bad enough.
$50 I>say to the employers-to the
bankers, the lawyers. the manufacture
ers, the mine operators, to all employ
crs-that IL they now attempt to re-
duce wages they are not going to have
the easy sailing they had few years
ago. for the American workingman
has come TO the conclusion that IL for
any reason the financial situation is as
II is-and shall not suggest any rea-
son tonight-it was not at any rate due
TO any fault on the part OF the work
ing people.
They have made up their minds
that they ARE not going to be tho chief
sufferers because of an artificial panic
or OF one caused by the bunders of
those IN charge OF the finances of the
country"
Mr.. Gompers had been preceded by
President Eliot OF Harvard, who spoke
on the extension OF federal power, say
ing that 1t should he made to include
al such questions as divorce. child Ia.
Dor, incorporation OF big combinations
of capital and labor unions. He char
actcriZed the labor union as com
mercial association
Mr.. Gomners took issue with him on
this. saying:
ut has been left TO this evening for
me To learn that labor organization
IL commercial association. CONNER
ial i'll whntr We deal so much In the
phrases of commercalsm that we can
not dissociatc them from anything
rven though 1t be the hearts of human
beings. Would you call labor trust?
] was surprised TO hear this from so
scholarly Il man"
Mr.. Gompers also pnid some attcn.
lion TO George W. Perkins. who read a
rapcr on The progress of the profit
,haring plan Of the United States Steel
corporation.
"If l had time" said Mr.. Gompcrs,
II would like to ask what nre the
wages of the employees of the steel
corporation now as compared with
what they were before this profit shar-
Ing scheme was put into operation"