The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-09-11
President of American FEEDER
alton of Labor Tells of the
Aims of Organization of
Laboring Classes.
LONG EXAMINATION
OF EMERY IS ENDED
Counsel for Manufacturers
Takes a Fling at So-called
yellow" Press Before
Leaving Stand.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10.-Samuel
Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor, appeared late TO-
day as q witness before the house
lobby investigating committee begin
ming an inquiry into organized labor s
efforts to influence legislation by coz.
gress.
Mr.. Gompers, questioned by his at
torney, Jackson II. Ralston, gave the
committee a detailed statement of the
aims and purposes of the American
Federation Of Labor, frankly told of
its efforts through legislative commit
tee to influence congress toward the en-
actment Of legislation favorable TO the
workers, and declared that in this
effort opposition of the National AS
sociation of Manufacturers always had
been encountered
"The only evidence that ] and my
colleagues ever have had as to the
existence Of the National Association
Of Manufacturers, he added, "was
vindictive antagonism TO everything we
advocated, no matter how humane.
Aims of Federation.
AT the outset OF his testimony Mr..
Gompers was asked to state the aims
Of the American Federation of Labor.
cit aims, - he said, "to relieve the
working people from burdensome long
work, protect their lives and health
to improve their material, moral, social
and practical standing; to bring about
better condition for the toilers Of our
country as a reward for services they
render to society,"
Tracing the history of legislation
for the benefit Of labor. Mr.. Gompers
claimed credit on behalf Of the fedora
tion for the work of legislative COM
mittees in Washington and in many
labor legislation was constantly being
urged upon legislative bodies through
argument by representatives of the
working people,
The witness said the American Manu-
facturers' association had not always
been an anti-union or an anti-labor
organization.
Began With Parry.
"As matter of fact he said, ''the
National Association of Manufacturers
was not an anti]abor organization up-
til D. NJ. Parry's declaration in
1903 to the convention of that associa-
tion at New Orleans. Mr.. Parry, as
president, had his report printed. 1t
was a virulent attack on all organized
labor. The report he never read to
the convention at New Orleans. From
that time the association became anti
labor and anti-union.'
Representative Willis asked Mr..
Gompers what relation the American
Federation of Labor bore to the
Knight sSof Labor
'.Tbe relation Mr.. Gompers re.
piled, "between living human organ
ism and corpse,
Mr.. Gompers was called to the stand
at the conclusion of the examination of
James A. Emery, counsel for the Coun-
ell for Industrial Defense Of the Ma
tioual Association of Manufacturers,
who said when asked what he now
thought of the Workmen s Protective
association, organized by Martin NJ
Mulhal:
Falstaffian Army.
"I think it was political Falstaf.
fian army, whose members increased
according 10 the Imagination Of the
commanderin chief. -
Cross Examination Of Emery today
concluded the house lobby committee g
investigation OF the alleged influence
of the National Association Of Manufac-
turers with legislation.
Emery referred to recently pub.
lished statement by Gompers that labor
had elected sixteen men to congress
aud put one man in the presidents cab
met,
''If the National Association of
Manufacturers claimed that il elected
five men to congress, said Emery,
Continued on Pago Two.)