Evening journal., 1909-10-09
GOMPERS BACK
FROM EUROPE
American LabOrers Have
Reason to be Proud of
Their Country

BY United Press Leased Special Wire.
NEW YORK. oct. 9-Samuel Comp
ers. president Of the Ameracan Fed
GRAFTON Of Labor, who accompanied by
his wife and daughter arrived here to-
day from an extended tour OF Europe,
is confident tfat the time is near at
hand when an international federation
of labor. which will include the lead
ing labor organizations Of the world,
will be formed.
while 1 cannot go into detail as TO
what has been accomplished along this
line" he said. 81 hope that between
now and tho meeting Of the Interna-
tional Labor Congress in Budapest
next year the union understanding Of
labor conditions in American will be
such that the American Federation OF
Labor can join the movement and thus
form an international federation of
labor. I was not an accredited dele
gate TO the recent meeting in Paris,
but made suggestions to the body
which will be considered by the execu-
tive committee and will probably be
the basis for an important decision
next year"
Regarding labor and the trades union
movement the world over, Gompers
said: ''I am more optimistic than
ever. ] am more convinced Of the ac-
curacy of the trades union movement
as developed by the American FEEDER
alton of Labor.
Europe is catching the idea. Con-
ditions there, particularly in Germany
are on tho upgrade. l can't tell you
how surprised l was at the improve.
ment in German labor conditions. Ger
many is by all odds the most advanced
country in Europe in this respect.
France seems to be undergoing 8
sort of labor upheaval due to the en-
lightened demand of her laborinl
masses for the right to organize.
1T is true that France has been dis
turbed by a number of strikes and
that others are threatened, but I dom
think they viii be serious. French
/ capital and the French government
will have to recognize the right Of EN-
ployes to organize into unions.
"rhe budget fight in England IS one o
the greatest movement for democracy tina
Europe has ever seen. II is a movemen
TO place part Of tho burden Of govern
ment expense where it can best be born
and the movement is bound TO succeed
I do not believe the House of Lords vii
dare reject It.
| Not only Is the trades union movemen
gaining numerically in Europe. but in in
dependence and freedom.
sln comparing the condition Of The
American laborer with his European
La trt1H ff4
thing you noticed?" Mr.. Gompers wa
asked.
II can hardly answer that question,
he replied. ''The general conditions fl
/ America are so vastly better than in Eu
rope that it is difiicult TO say In whs
particular feature the improvement
most noticeable. The whole bearing q
tho American laboring man bespeaks HI
intelligence and Independence. NO Anne
lean has greater cause 20 be proud OF
country than the American laborer.
Gompers was asked what he thougl
of the idea OF a central bank OF iss'
but he declined to make a statemer
until / have studied the present stat
Of the proposed bank I do not care
talk about it,"
what do you think of President Taft
endorsement OF ship subsidy"
81 had not heard that Taft was in 4
vor Of ship subsidy and so don't kno
what plan he has in mind. But u
american Federation OF Labor is Oppose
TO ship. subsidy. and 1 think. always W
be. ] am glad TO know that the Pres
dent IS in favor Of the postal savinl
banks. We have been in favor Of such
bank for twenty years"