Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-24
GOMPERs DISCUSSES
ENGLISH LABOR LEADERS

President Sam Gompars of the American
Federation OF Labor is enjoying what Is
known here as "a busmans holiday"
When London omnibus driver takes a
day off 1t is supposed that he spends it
riding round on the top Of friends bus
seeing how he does things. That Is the
way Gompers is spending his holiday in
England. Since he landed here he has
been rushing round from labor headauar-
tiers to labor headquarters Sc ling how the
English labor men do things, and getting
points for use on his return to America.
Since he arrived in London he has been
out from 10 O'clock in the morning until
= the next morning. and there is very lit
tie to see in connection with the labor
movement In London that he has not
already made himself familiar with.
He has varied matters little by MAX
ing speeches at public banquets. He was
the guest of honor the other evening al
dinner given by the LABOR men I'm the
house of commons. and recently he was
one of the speakers at a dinner given
by the American Embassy Association.
which is trying to get the United States
government to provide Its ambassadors
and ministers abroad with suitable resi-
dences and Offices.
He was met today just as he was start
ing from his hotel for a round of the la
Dor Offices. He was attended by group
of English and continental labor mon,
who are simply amazed at his vigor and
somewhat bothered at his incessant thirst
for Information. 1t is evident however.
that he is not taking all that is told him
for gospel, but is observing for himself.
En1- incf inc oh fl,a II Iar
o. the London lockers. who is now the
l.ng'S favorite minister is not overpopu-
lar among his former colleagues, who
expected to find him much more sympa-
thetfc to some of their pet schemes than
he has proved himself to be. Gompers,
however. has a high opinion of John
Burns. with whom he has had a couple
of conferences.
His constructive work seems to me
to bib excellent said Gompers land I
hope that he will keep on. man like
that does more good for labor than a
dozen men who merely talk"
When It was suggested that he had not
much use for the political socialists in
England, who are Burns chief enemies.
Gompers merely pursed his lips and
smiled.
1T seems to me that the development
IN the labor movement is much the same
here as 1t is with u.s. he said Here
you have the division between the politi-
cal socialists and the trade unionists just
as We have" Every one who is familiar
with the labor movement in America
knows that Gompers does not love the
labor politicians there, and 1t NAV be
inferred fairly that he has not any higher
regard for them In this country
Asked about the differences between the
English and the American trade unions.
Gompers said that he found the English
organizations superior to those at home
In some respects and inferior in others.
He thought that the benefit features OF
the English unions were much in advance
of those of the American organizations,
while the American unions he considered
to be better organized for fighting pur-
roses. He paid a high tribute TO the Eng
lish labor leaders. They are all men OF
intelligence" he said. Il have not met
one who Is rot above the average" But
when he was asked how they compared
as to strength and forcefulness with the
leaders of labor at home he replied:
We'll. they have lad their fights on this
side, haven't they
On the question Of American embassies
abroad the labor leader was emphatic.
You know, / am no believer in excess
i've pomp and SHOW" he said. but ] do
believe that there is great deal in
keeping up appearances. When l went
the Other morning to the American en-
bassy in London to pay my respects l
was ashamed. | felt as If We're enter
ing the Office of some seconG-class law
Yer, instead OF the repres NATIVE of
at Dorchester House in the afternoon TO
see Nr Reid himself things We're quite
different bat then that is his private
residence ard has nothing to do with the
embassy ] am told that he pays $4,000
a year rent for H. and his salary, as Won
know, is only S11.5oo. That is all wrong.
We want our an.ba ssadors to have houses
and offices in keeping with the standing
of the nation they represent. and We
want every American citizen to be able
to visit his own house abroad without
feeling that he is sponging on the gen.
crosby of some rich man who happens to
be the anba ssador at the moment
Gompers leaves London shortly for
an extensive tolr the continent. ~ilere
lie will continue his study of labor con
ditions He will attend the International
Trade Union Congress at Pars, August 20
and 81. and will be in England for the
British Trade Union Congress. which be-
gins at Ipswich September 8 He as
for home from Rotterdam September -
and expects to be back in time to hear
the decision Of the federal court of ap-
peals on his appeal against sentence
Of a years imprisonment for contempt
of court. Of course. he refuses 10 predict
what the decision Of the Judges will he.
but he does not seem TO be worrying ut
all about going to prison.