The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-04-10
President Gompers Eloquently
Pleads for Greater Solidarity
Among the Workers.
LOYALTY TO UNIONISM
WILL ENSURE SUCCESS
Hope of the Workers Depends
Upon the Faithfulness Of
Their Efforts.

NEW YORK, April s-"when bad
men combine, its is time for the work
ing men and women to stand shoulder
to shoulder and fight, that we may
hand down to our children sweeter.
happier lives than we have known"
eloquently urged Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Federation
OF Labor, as he pleaded for greater
solidarity among the cloannakers, at
a meeting held by their joint board
Of New York locals at Beethoven
hail.
II WAIT to appeal to your manhood.
your better Selves continued Mr..
Gompers. "You shoupld decide to join
the union, stick to the union and
fight for the union. If that Is done.
you will see very shortly better and
brighter day for all Of you. II you
show your Willingness to perform
your share of the work, you will find
the American Federation of Labor
ready to do its part.
Il know that the courts of our
country" the Federation president
went on, '1nae decided on an injunc-
ton question and upovn a contempt
proceeding and you know that John
Mitchell, Frank Morrison and myself
have been sentenced to prison.
Uaughter)
Il do not think there is anything
funny in that was Mr.. Gomper's re-
tort to the outbreak. Il could enjoy
myself much better in another way.
But don't you know that we are not
standing for our own rights alone.
but for your rights? "
Will Stand for Workers.
''They may carry out their sen
tence," he continued, "but SO long as
we live there shall remain in US that
purpose to stand for the fundamental
guarantees OF human lights, and we
shall speak the best word we know
for our fellow men,
As the cloakrnakers' locals Of this
city lack organization, meeting was
held Friday at Beethoven hall and
the workers and urge the complete
unionizing of the trade. Mr.. Deutsch,
national secretary and treasurer OF
the cloakmakers, presided at the
meeting. Meyer London and Heyman
Weinberg also spoke, addressing their
audience in Yiddish.
Mr.. Gompers was scheduled to be-
rive until 8:45. By that time every
available seat on the floor and in the
gallery was filled and men crowded
one against the other on the plush
covered benches that extend along
two sides Of the hall. When the pres
ident of the A. F. OF LS stepped upon
the platform, he was greeted by q
burst Of heartfelt applause that lasted
almost five minutes. a
Il would have preferred" he be-
gan, III this meeting tonight were held
for a purpose, some different purpose
than. that for which 1t is, called.
should have preferred to have been
able to address you In a meeting OF
your unions, or at a. mass meeting
of the unions OF the Ladies Garment
Workers, rather than to preach the
doctrine Of undonism to those who are
not members of your organization.
rs is necessary, week after week,
year after year, to always tell the
cloakmakers and ladies' suit makers
that they ought to be union men and
s
do you not know, Just as well as
can tell you that you cannot protect
your interests unless you have well
organized trade? It should be just as
unnecessary to talk unionism to
working men and women as it is nec-
essary to call your attention to the
sun and moon and stars.
''But perhaps you are too we'll fixed .
perhaps you are doing so well that
you need no solid organization. But
I have lived in New York in the past
and worked among you. I know OF
your fights. know that you did not
always win but without a strong mill
tant organization the bosses have no
consideration whatever for your dn-
terests. -. ~
"Ihe difficulty was and is to large
degree, It seems to me- that as soon
as you won a strike you lost interest
in your union and withdn few weeks
atferward you were working at tho
| same old wage. -4 ass4.ses s 4 S5.s.8 .sS8a4
1T doesn't make any difference
what your nationality may be. You
are going to remain the United States.
you are citizens of this country and
you owe it to yourselves, your wives
your children to combine and fight to
bring light and sunshine and happt
ness into your homes.
Eve want you In the union We
want you to have better lives, said
Mr.. Gompers, in conclusion. Say
that we are selfish, selfish untonists.
but we best protect your interests a.
workers only when you are organized
to protect your own interests; your
interests az citizens, tor no country
can i've where people live and are
housed as no civilized beings should
be housed. Unless the working peo-
pie do the rtght hing, then there ~
no hope Tor them, s Is 3 ;sE