East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-07-15


Washington.-K world wide move
ment on the part of the working men
to secure their rights is the idea that
President Samuel Gompers of the
American Federation of Labor carried
to Europe with him when he sailed
from New York recently.
In his office here he discussed some
of the problems of the present day
with which labor is confronted.
when the country again adopts
that equality, liberty and justice to
all which was foremost in the minds
of those who founded this nation"
said Mr.. Gompers, "and the sooner
they apply these fundamental princi-
pies in the light of present and future
Industrial conditions, the sooner will
labor be given its just rights.
why" continued the labor lead
er, smiling, II have been depicted as
a long haired anarchist, running
around at large with blood in my eyes
and a club in my hands with which 1
was striking at the foundation of gov
Iernment. I'm not an enemy of So
ciety as labor's rapacious, greedy foes
have dubbed me. I'm not undermin-
| ing social institutions; I'm not ami
| hilative, But the cause for which I
stand demands a reconstruction up
on the foundation Of common human
| ity, common Justice and common lib
/ erty of our present day institutions.
l don't care how labors enemies may
malign me and paint me as an ogre
and all that, my conscience is per-
fectly clear about it, anyway"
Contempt Cases.
Referring to the contempt cases."
an appeal in which is now pending
in the court of appeals here, Mr..
Gompers admitted that much hinged
upon its final settlement.
by that" he hastened to say, 81
, do not mean as individuals. Mitchell,
Morrison and myself do not look up
on that case as individuals. We rep
resent the cause of labor, the cause
of the people in maintaining the AM
erican principle of freedom and equal
ity before the law. We have been
vilified. insulted, blackguarded and
accused of heinous things, simply be-
cause we voice the principles Of right
for which organized labor stands.
Toilers Are Best Americans.
But the time is past when such
men as Van Cleave and his hirelings
can intimidate unionism. The work.
ers have learned through organization
that they have rights, and through
organization they propose to secure
those rights. The toilers are the best
of Americans, because they have a
conception of citizenship and sover-
eighty and the responsibilities of
both. They will demand an exercise
of the former and are willing to as
sumo it's duties.
Under the so-called open shop, as
individuals there is no hope for the
exercise of either. The only hope is
in union and intelligent constructive
action"
President Gompers sees a world
wide movement Of the lhborers to Sc
cure their rights. He hopes to- get in
closer touch with this international
spirit through his; tnip abroad. He is
going there to fratennize and bring
back to America greetings from the
brotherhood of Enrope.
Only Hope IL, In Unionism.
GgrfHlz. 81 hA.
Gompers, discussing his trip, ''is a
fundamental scheme Of things. There
is not any boundary that separates
our mutual interests and mutual ne
cessities. Against the tyranny and in
justice of nations towards the work.
ers must be directed the combined
force of organization. There is no
other instrument on earth so effec-
tive, nor weapon so potent against
the wrongs that exist under modern
Industrial conditions, as the union.
Without III the toilers cannot peace
fully, lawfully and nationally work
out their destiny. With 1t will come
peace and a readQustment Of civiliza-
ton; without it, servility, serfdom or
revolution We ask equality before
the law
That Fake Square Deal.
'T don't mean that fake square deal
that has been prated about so much
that square deal is mighty hollow
square. But 1 mean that sort Of a
solid, real and tangible square deal
that the signers Of the Declaration Of
independence had in mind. A sup
preston of free speech, free press and
the right to assemble peaceably-all
rights irrevocably granted American
citizens-would be the demolition Of
our entire governmental structure and
an overthrow of the very ideals which
, led to the revolution and to the for
nation of the United States"
Questioned about the tariff, Mr..
Gompers replied that there was many
things more important to the labor
, ing man than that. He declined at
this time to discuss the present situa-
tion in congress.
Help for Those Who Have Stomach