The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-03-24
UNIONS HERE TO STAY.
Foes of Organized Labor Live In a
Fools Paradise, SAYS Gompers.

Foes of Organized Labor Live In a
Fools Paradise, Says Gompers.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation, was the prin-
cipal speaker at a Lincoln day celebra-
ton held by the Long Island forum,
Port Washington, N. Y. He said:
"Lincoln's work Is just about begin
ming to be understood. He came from
the common people and reached the
highest Office in the land, but he al
ways remained true to himself and
true to the people. He foresaw that
when the shackles of human slavery
were broken then would arise the
question of the right of the producer
of wealth to share in the results of his
toll.
"If there is any who thinks there is
nothing in the labor question let him
visit the large cities and see the unem-
ployed walking the streets, wanting to
give their services in return for daily
bread. Let him go to the sweatshops,
the mines and other places of toll, and
go where he will the answer will come
that there is a labor question. 1t is
living question that must find a hui
name, rational and intelligent solu-
ton No right thinking man can see
misery abound and himself enjoying
happiness. If there is one man who
through no fault of his own is OPP
pressed by poverty and misery society
Is at fault.
"We say that it is a blot upon our
boosted civilization when people can
not find work. Those who hope for
the crushing of organized labor are
living In a fools paradise. Organized
labor is not going out Of existence so
long as there is wrong to right
1.-THE history of the world is crowd
ed with the records of the crushing
out Of organized labor. The saying
that the blood of the martyrs is the
seed Of the church is not only appli-
cable to the church of God but it also
has it's application to the cause of la
Dor. 1t is said that to produce good
race it Is necessary to begin three gen.
erations back and those who want to
crush labor should have begun with
the people three generations ago.
organized labor pray to God once
week and then prey on humanity for
the balance of the week. We are not
going to give up our right of protest
against wrong and our determination
to come into our own.
"The representatives of labor here
on the platform don't appear to be
sions of the Sherman antitrust bill
they are designated illegal traders.
This law was intended to protect the
people against the trusts and corpora
lions, but it has now been so pervert-
ed that it doesn't mean the trusts, but
the men and women who only control
their own right to work. For the
sake of money men and public officials
have stolen the power from the people
and vested it in themselves.
"What great money getter has been
put in Jail? What great corporation
has been prosecuted? One fine of $780,
100000 was imposed, but it was writ
ten in ice on a summer day.
Free speech and a free press were
not put in the original constitution OF
the United States as 1t was then
thought that it was ordained. The
first amendment to the constitution
was the one granting freedom OF
worship, free speech and free press,
freedom of assembly and the right OF
petition. No one wants the freedom
of speech to preach treason. By free
dom Of speech we want the right to
criticise, the right to give vent to pro-
test and opinions. The worst that
could come to our people would be to
attempt to shut off freedom OF the
press and speech"