New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-30
'COMPERS MENACES STEEL
Labor Leader Makes Yelled
Threat of Strike.
CORPORATION WILL WAKE UP
Attack Openly Addressed to
Trust Official on Platform
at Science Gathering.
nv Telegram ~ The tribune !

by Telegraph 20 The Tribune.
Philadelphia. March 29-Samuel Gompers,
president Of the American Federation Of
Labor in lightly yelled threat to-day.
practically served notice on the United
States Steel Corporation that IL was far
from being immune from "A strike. The
threat came as the climax OF Gompers :
address before the American Academy OF
Political and Social Science. which is hold
ing its annual meeting here, and followed
an address by Raynal e. Boiling, assistant
solicitor general OF the Steel Corporation.
I Turning to Mr.. Boiling. the labor leader
said:
You are luling yourself into a fancied
security. Some day you will wake up.
You think the workers are docile. You
think you are safe Your la Dor ideas are
simply to lull the workers and tie them up
in the interest to take away their oppor-
tunity, for protection"
Following his declaration. Mr.. Gompers
was asked II his words were threat that
the steel workers would be called out.
Il meant just exactly what I said said
Gompers; the words are easy OF interpre-
tation. Take them for what they mean"
IL "ds SApldlHSl aItsTNdTu lndt bOIIlpcIs
looks with fear on the stock distribution
scheme Of the Steel Corporation. through
which the employees are enabled to purchase
stock of the corporation on the instalment
plan. thus giving them an active interest
In the company This, Gompers believes, Is
pulling the fighting teeth OF the workers,
who feel that, in part at least, they are
working for themselves
The United States Steel Corporation was
used to-day as a model from which the
speakers addressing the scientists drew
| pictures Of Industrial depression and OPP
| preston, capitalstic rapaCity and inditer-
ence 10 human suffering
Mr.. Boiling told OF the efforts made by
the corporation toward lettering the con-
ditions Of its thousands OF employees say
| ing,
| We are not Indifferent or satisfied over
| the condition Of our men. We are trying 10
| improve their condition; We do not resent
! criticism. and we do not believe the lot Of
| the steel worker is easy. but we believe il
| IS better now than IL ever was before in the
history OF the steel industry, We are
/ spending each year for the betterment OF
/ the condition Of our men about $4,000
Before We can reach an agreement on
| the labor question we must first get rid OF
/ lavlessness / believe II an error TO say
/ that the Steel Corporation has made war
on unionism. The Steel Corporation mas
| acted solely on the defensive We consider
! the principle OF the open shop ore Of the
! principles on which this government was
founded
Applause from all parts OF the hall greet
ed the declaration OF John n. Bartlett, Of
! Portsmouth, y. H., who was delegated by
! Governor Bass 10 represent New Hamp-
! shire at the meeting. that the only weapon
! left for the Uorkmen was the ballot. The
vorkngman. he said, will soon be saying
! 10 the employers: "Ir you DO not do some
thing soon tor us we will soon do some
! thing 10 YOU"
Mr. Bartlett said that many men were
| getting Il cents an hour for their labor, and
while big combinations were getting to-
/ gether by "gentlemen's agreements" or by
ether means, the man receiving the Il cents
an hour could not organize "or was afraid
to do So
Other speakers advocated competition
| with reasonable regulations