United labor bulletin., 1909-11-05
living, and who in turn 1 have inter-

living, and who in turn l have inter
viewed.
The reader may at once get point
of observation which, whether entirely
correct or not, will enable him to survey
the situation as a whole if l begin by
stating the views of M. Rene Vlvianl
minister of labor and member of the
French cabinet His are, of course, the
views of the present adminietration-or,
as they say here, government of France
NJ. Viviani is an enthusiastic admirer
of American trade unionism. After the
greetings 1 asked M Vivian wnat
grounds there were for the statements
had frequently heard before and since
coming to France, that his government
was opposed to working class organiza-
tions to such an extent that on the oc-
currence of a strike of any character the
authorities might be expected to order
the intervention of the army to provide
a supply of strike-breakers. M. VIVIAN
replied the charge was boseless. Never
mad the present government interfered
on any occasion, when the strike was be-
tween a private employer and his men,
except when actual violence had taken
place. with attacks upon persons and de-
struction of property. 1t was then only
when government employees had gone to
strike, endangering the public safety,
that soldiers were sent to the scene or
men hired to take the place of the strik-
ers. 'In these cases." said he, "the ma
ton being the employer, the suspension
of an essential public business and the
stability of society were threatened. A
strike of government functionaries could
not be tolerated. The work of postmen
and telegraph operators, for example,
must go on uninterruptedly If a country
is to maintain order, peace, communica-
ton from place to place, publicity OF
current events, and those conditions OF
commerce in which above all other
classes the masses of workingmen have
a vital interest.
Trade Union Reception in Dublin.
President Gompers had a reception
after his own heart in the Trades Hall
of Dublin, ireland, when the parliament
dIy VI lhC iiiSh
Congress and the leading members OF
the Dublin Trades Council met to do
honor to the visitor and wish him God
speed on his European mission.
The chairman, in extending hearty
welcome to Mr.. Gompers on behalf OF
the trade unionists of Ireland, said 1t
would indeed be remarkable if he did
not feel particular pride on such an oc-
casion, seeing that there were probably
80 per cent. of Irishmen among the two
million members of Mr. Gompers' feder-
alton.
In Italy.
Last year, in Italy, separation was
declared by the trade unions from all
other movements, including the political.
AS in several other European countries,
the necessity of discriminating between
the purely economic methods of the
unions and the theories and methods OF
the political parties has been acted upon
in Italy. The unions are to be trade
unions, and not party sections; their Of
fcials are to be workers at the trade,
and not "intellectuals; the members
are to be governed in union matters by
their own democratic decisions, and not
by votes of delegates at political con-
ventions: each individual union MEMBER
is to be free in his religion, politics, or
other activities, except where contract
with his union is concerned. In other
words, in Italy as in other great coun-
tries of Continental Europe, the united
wageworkers are adopting the well-set-
tied principles of the American Fedora
tion of Labor This necessary work is
not complete, but it is proceeding rapid
ly and effectually.
1t is to be remembered that at all
meetings in Italy my addresses, made in
English, were translated, invariably to
patient audiences. At one of yesterdays S
gatherings, there being no one present
whose command of both English and
Italian was sufficiently certain and fluent
for public speaking, a gentleman present
spoke my speech after me in French,
from which an interpreter gave it to the
assemblage in italian, third hand. And
so the light is spread!
+ + r + r
SAVING THE SAVAGE.