The Washington herald., 1909-06-08
GOMPERS STRIKES
Tn HIS FAREWELL
Guest Last Night Of the Cen
tral Labor Union.
PAYS RESPECTS TO ENEMIES
Asserts He Doesn't Want to Discuss
"the FOOlhardiRess of Justice
GOuId"-Free Speech Can Be Pre-
vented when Martial Law Prevails.
Takes n Fling at LegnI Profession.

SdInuel GOmperS maCe MS du reVOir
last night 10 the Central Labor Union OF
Washington. and indirectly 10 all the
labor interests Of the United States.
He is going TO Europe TO study condi-
tions OF the toilers and 20 bring them
message from their brethren across the
Atlantic.
He made his farewell in a characters
tic address. His words were temperate.
He did not revile his enemies, but his
phrases were full Of those barbs and
pricks which have made his name Ia
nous. He showed a new magnanimity
and a deep concern for the nonunion man.
and he declared he went abroad as the
representative OF all the toiling masses OF
the country. with or without the stamp
OF unionism.
THE greedy, rapacious antagonism or
our enemies is seemingly concentrated
upon your humble servant, he said. I'm
not a giant I'm not a long-haired an
archist. I'm not bloody-eyed. But upon
my head falls all their vicious blows.
Respects to Justice GOuId.
Justice Gould says we must not puS-
hsh the Buck Stove and Range Company
on our We don't patronize list. We
must not say there was any controversy.
We cannot even rerer by means Of
press or circular. 10 the dispute Now
don't want 70 argue this case over
again. have said 7 won't buy a Buck
stove and range this summer. or next
winter. or the winter after that. don't
want 10 discuss the toolhardiness Of Jus
tice Gould's proposition.
The government can. when martial
law prevails. prevent free speech, free as
sembly. and free press. But IL can es-
tablish such a censorship only when the
life Of the nation is endangered Yet
what the nation cannot do except for
the sake OF saving its life. Justice Gould
would do IN perpetuity for the sake OF
saving a stove"
The head Of the American Federation
Of Labor took a fling at the legal pro-
fession when ne said: The most sue
cessful lawyers are those with their
heads turned back farthest"
lie declared they were often ohstrlct-
i've. rather than constructive
He sounded. also. a new slogan for the
union when he said il was uplifting the
entire superstructure Of human society
and could not improve the condition OF
one body Of workers without improving
ell
You cannot improve the condition OF
the organized Iaborer without improving
the condition Of the unOrganiZed, and
even though the uniOnist is bearing the
brunt Of TIE fight he rejoices that others
wifi benefit by his fight
i believe I 60 % Europe as speaking
the voice of labor IN the United States
/ can tell them that no other instrument
on earth Is so effective and potent 10
tight the wrongs connected with modern
conditions Of industry as the union That
Is one message I can take 10 them
HIS Place Was at Home.
Had I not i1terpozed objection. be-
lieve, 7 would have been sent 10 Europe
in 1905 on the invitation Of the British
trade interests. But I Nnew nv place
was In my home country last year. II
was the season OF our national election.
! knew that should I go abroad al that
time all our enemies would misinterpret
and misrepresent my motives. Ny place
was here on the firing line.
President Taft has written 10 the am
bassadors OF seven foreign countries ask |
ing them 20 take cOgnizance OF nv COM
Ing visit 70 the European states. Every
facility will be extended 10 me 20 pursue ]
OF them. and I am sure my work will 4
prove fruitful and profitable In my future 4
work al home
Without the unions we cannot work {
out our destiny peacefully. lawfully, ration /
ally Without the unions, either servillty /
or revolution viii come Therefore 10 4
the powers that be. let me say that some I
aay you viii appreciate the great service /
the men OF union labor are rendering for
peace
We ask equality OF rights. equality Of /
opportunity, and equality before the law /
Judges have taken unto themselves the \
power 10 issue writs that would make
common outlaws Of men active In the
labor movement. II Is significant that the |
invitation from abroad came when my /
name was associated with the contempt
proceedings, and when men OF the type
OF Van Cleave dared 20 attempt 70 assas- \
sinate the character OF the men OF labor. \
He IS a microbe; bothersome. and some
times dangerous. but quite Insignificant %
Mr. Gompers sails for Liverpool on
June ls. and his first reception by British