Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-13

was understood that Commissioner Mac
farland had signified his acceptance-but
this was before the Corcoran Cadets in
cident. President John Colpoys of the
Central Labor Union acted as chairman
of the meeting, and he called twice to
ascertain whether either of the Commits
sioners or Senator Owen was in the au-
d1ence-but there was no response.
The browning feature of Mr.. GomperS'
!; welcome home" was the great meeting
at Convention Hall. Thousands of the
paraders crowded into the big auditorium
and hosts ofe, other friends and SYM
pathizers of the: labor movement also
made their way into the building. intent
upon hearing recital of the experiences
of the leader of the Federation Of Labor
in his tour through Europe. and an out
line of his first impressions upon his
return.
The doors of the hall were not opened
to the general public until after all of
the delegat ons of marching labor union
men had entered and found the places
assigned to them. Members of the Cen
trail Labor Union came first and took the
posts of honor in the first two rows %
chairs in front Of the platform. Bohin1
them were the typos or Columbia typo
graphical Union, and then in steady
streams through all entrances the march
ers poured into the aisles and to their
seats to await the arrival of Mr.. Gompers
and his personal escort. The members of
the Baltimore Federation of Labor occu-
they were hailed with cheers as they
spread their great banner overhead.
Bands and drum corps came in with the
paraders and they were in friendly COM
petition for unoccupied time. so that the
usually tedious detail of filing SO great
an auditorium was accomplished to an
enthusiastic accompaniment.
On the Platform.
Among those seated on the platform
were Frank ]. Hawley, international
president of\the Switchmen's Union OF
North America; P. H. Morrissey, also of
the switchmen's Union; Timothy Healey
Of the Firemen's lUnion,s Robert Clock
Lowe, president of the International
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way; ].
F. McCarty of the Bartenders' Union,
John Fl. Brinckman of the Wagon Work
ers, Joseph Reilly of the International
| Brotherhood of Carpenters, H. Prender of
the Steel Plate Transferers' Union, D. A.
Davis of the Y. NJ. c. A., Joseph s.
Wadby of the labor bureau. Mahlon Gar
council and now collector of the port of
Pittsburg. and II. B. Perham, president
of the Order Of Railway TeIegraphers.
Mr.. Davis pronounced the invocation at
the opening of the meeting.
In ealing the meeting to order Mr.
Colpoys. president of the Central Labor
Union, gave expression to the joy which
| organized labor felt at the return of Mr..
Gompers to the United States. and he had
| much to say in praise of the latter's work
for labor.
For more than twenty-six years
Samuel Gompers has been at the head
! of the Central Labor Union,' said Mr.
| Colpoys. land in that time he has seen
it grow from an infant in swaddling
| clothes to the giant of the present
time. 1t has been Samuel Gompers
who has brought this growth to pass.
| and know I voice the sentiment of
J all who are here tonight in saying that
I hope he will be spared for many years
to come to continue his leadership Of
our cause"
Sam De Nedrey was called upon for
paid a strong tribute to Mr. Gompers'
work. He bade the returning traveller
and his family welcome home, and then
launched with a brief review of the
the appreciation in which the leader is
held. I'VE indorse everything he has
said and everything he has done in our
behalf, both at home and abroad" de-
| cIared Mr.. De Nedrey. and his remark
was greeted with cheers.
Frank Morrison. secretary of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor, gave personal
praise to Mr.. Gompers and laid emphasis
upon the fact that Gompers' tour of Eu-
rope marked the cementing of the ties
between the labor unions of the old world
and the new. Il want to express my APP
probation of the marvellous work Mr..
Gompers has done in other lands" said
Mr.. Morrison.
Mr.. Perham. in stirring address. told
of the benefit organization had been to
the railway telegraphers, and paid
glowing tribute to Mr.. Gompers.
Mr.. Gompers' Address.
Mr.. Colpoys introduced Mr.. Gompers
as "a fearless fighter a generous victor.
and the noblest Roman of them all, and
the labor leader in his address spoke In
part as follows:
I'm so far as this demonstration has
its personal aspect, I cannot find words
to express what l feel. But I prefer to
think it is not for a man. but for the
principle for which we stand.
II have seen much abroad, all OF 1t In
teresting.
ut Is almost impossible for us to con-
ceive Of the woeful misconception of the
American labor movement. due almost
wholly to the willfnl suppression. OF the
news and wicked Misrepresentation.
81 have seen much of the treasures of
Europe I have seen her cultured classes
and have seen her luxury and her
misery. 1 did not circupscribe my in
vestigation and I know the forces OPP
posed to the labor movement, to the
trade union movement. After the most