The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1912-01-05
Able AND honest
What Organized Workers Think
of Sam GomperS.
LABOR MOVEMENT STABLE.

Trade Unionism Will Not Be Seriously
Affected by Recent Developments.
Acts OF Individuals Cannot Destroy g
Noble Cause.
Ever since the confession Of the Me
Namaras Samuel Gompers has been
made the scapegOat in the case. La
Dor haters have had their say and are
hoping to instill in the minds of the
workers that the time has come for the
unions to change their leadership. 1t
is apparent beyond all doubt that they
want Sam Gompers out of the way.
Will they succeed? No! That stur-
dy old and tried fighter, although put
to II strenuous test by his prosecutors,
IS calamity holding his own, and be
hind him stand 100000 trade union
lists who voice their confidence and bid
him Godspeed in his hours of trial.
Every day since the confession of
the McNamaras the newspapers of the
country have printed glaring headlines
which told of the things which Burns
and others were going to do to Com
pers All this is believed to be tommy
rot, and we doubt very much if any
considerable number of trade unioniSts
pay any attention to these reports.
Trade unionists know too well the
., 10
gives to their interests. They know of
his untiring efforts to improve their
conditions during the past thirty years
They are fully acquainted with his
ability as a leader, his cool judgment,
his ability to handle big propositions
and, in short, his great desire to help
the underdog, and nothing like the
stories which are being circulated will
in any way tend to divert their conf
dence in him.
The present is a most opportune time
for the labor haters to express their
disgust for labor. 1t is many years
since such an opportunity presented it
self, and they are bound to take advan
tage of it. 1t is therefore not surpris
ing that they will keep on with theil
denunciations just so long as the press
is willing to do their bidding.
There has been much question as to
what extent labor would be affected
by the present conditions. This has
been a much mooted question; but
fortunately, it is those outside the
movement who have been foremost in
saying that eventually it will prove a
deathblOw.
Those in the movement think differ
emily, however. That in some of the
trades, and especially in those that are
partially organized, work may be tenn
porarily retarded there is little doubt
as it is possible that among prospec
are some who possess cold feet, and
these may see fit to hold out. But that
the movement will be affected other
wise we say positively no. This has
been demonstrated during the past few
weeks, when, according to officials OF
local unions, the meetings have never
been better attended, and in every case
there were expressions of confidence il
those who are being made the butts OF
labor haters.
The trade Union movement has be
come too large a proposition to be
affected by the mere fact that a few
men have seen fit to violate the laws
of the country.
Because clergyman goes wrong II
is not to be taken as conclusive that
all clergymen are bad. The same is
true of bankers. If one is The cause Of
wrecking bank which causes thou
sands of people to become pennies
it must not be taken as a fact that al
bankers are crooked There is there
fore absolutely no reason to think thai
the labor movement will be seriously
affected as a result of the McNamaras
blunder.
/ The labor movement as regards hon
esty and integrity stands on an equa
footing with any other great move
ment. 1t is true that some of the mel
who have been intrusted with conf
dence have broken faith, but this has
rarely happened, and because of this
the movement has been proclaimed as
accomplishing the greatest good for the
greatest number.-WOrceste Labor
News.