Evening star., 1914-01-28
MEMBERS Of CONGRESS
LAUD SAMUEL GOMPERS
Praised for His Work as Leader of
Organized Labor Movement at
Banquet in His Honor.

Tributes 10 Samuel Gompers. president
of the American Federation of Labor
and to his work as the leader of the or
gauized labor movement of the country
were paid last night by members of the
cabinet. Senate and House on the occa-
sion of dinner given in his honor at
the New Ebbitt House by the Washing
ton Central Labor Union TO celebrate his
sixty-fourth birthday. y letter from
President Wilson was read. congratulate
ing Mr.. Gompers and sending him birth
day greetings.
The decision yesterday of tie House to
investigate the Michigan and Colorado
mining strikes furnished a theme for
much discussion at the banquet. Repre-
sentative Heating. who introduced the
resolution calling for the investigation
declared that conditions will be laid bare
whicn will shock the country and lead to
those responsible Inending their ways.
Mr.. GomperS said that such lnNestlSa-
tons will soon 1t a stop to the condl-
tons which cause them.
Secretary Wilson of the Labor Depart
ment. Secretary Daniels of the Navy De
partment, Senator Sheppard of Texas.
Senator MARITIME of New Jersey and
twelve members of the House euloGized
Mr. Gompers. All rected his long leader
in behalf of workingmen and women and
his honesty of purpose.
All Who Labor Benefited.
In reply Mr.. Gompers said that what
the American Federation of Labor does
for organized working people, it does for
unorganized working people as well.
Fights for shorter hours of labor, better
working conditions and for better pay do
not apply only to the members of the
American Federation. he declared, but
bring benefits to all who labor.
Representative Heating of Colorado
declared that efforts TO associate Or
ganized labor with trusts and prose-
cute them under the Sherman anti
trust law should be stopped. He eX-
pressed the hope that during the pres
ent session of Congress legislation Will
be passed eXempting labor unions from
prosecution under this law
Several of the speakers referred to
the charges of Charles H. Meyer. presi-
dent of the Western Federation of
Miners. that the American Federation
OF Labor has been inactive in the west
ern mining strikes now i'll progress.
Mr. Gompers spoke of the charges in
cidentally. saying that they were the
only things which kept him from get
ting "swelled head" from the pleas
ant things said about him
House Members Praise Gompers.
The members of the House who
praised Mr. Gompers were Representa-
tives Fitzgerald of New York, Rainey
of Illinois, Stanley of Kentucky,
Batrick of Ohio knowland of Cali
fornia, Buchanan of Illinois. German
of Illinois, Foster of Illinois, Logue of
Pennsylvania, Hill of Illinois and Al
bert Johnson of Washington. Others
who spoke were Frank Morrison, sec
rctary of the American Federation of
Labor. and Tony Costello. who walked
from Texas to congratulate Mr. Comp
ers.
John B. ColpoyS acted as toa stmaster
and chairman of the committee on ar
ransements for the dinner. The other
members We're Charles T. Smith, Ed
ward l.. Tucker. John L. Lorch, Dan
lei y. Gillen, John Webber. Villa m
ID. Clark, Newton \. James and Henry
Nolda.