Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
GOMPERs WINS
ETGHT-HOUR FIGHT

Il
whose minds are In the 18th. l am sur
prised 20 hear In the convention Of the
American Federation OF Labor, which Is
supposed 10 contain the cream Of the In
selligence OF the labor movement, some
declare tho legal esht-hour law unsafe
and dangerous. II the eight-hdur law is
unsafe then all labor legislation is unsafe
then Il is unsafe TO enunclate and pro-
claim the right Of labor to organize.
"If the elght-hour law ls unsafe then
there is something wrong with our Gov
eminent, with our executive officers and
with our courts There Is something
wrong with the present use OF the po-
litical power by the workers. II Is time
that the workers organize into a political
party OF their own, so that n proper in
depreciation may be obtained upon any
law which Mr.. Gompers thinks will prove
paternalistlc and binding upon the labor
movement
MITCHELL FAVORS Law.
John Mitchell, former vice president
Of the American Federation Of Labor,
opposed the committees report
I'VE in America" said Mitchell. seem
70 know more about conditions in Aus
tralia and In other countries. but very
little about conditions In our own coun-
try. l am In favor OF securing an eight
hour law by whatever legitimate methods
we can, political or economic. II the re-
port of the committee is adopted, the
employers will have good reason 10 say
that we don't want an eight-hour law
when organized labor I'm the several
States comes to fight for II.
THE elght-hour law has been enforced
without any false or detrimental inter-
probation to labor in Utah, Colorado,
Montana, Idaho and Nevada and is en-
Joyed by union men and nonuniOn men
as well. l believe that the American
Federation of Labor will make n big
mistake II II will declare against the
eght-hour law. 1t is wrong to suppose
that the law will be interpreted to the
detriment of labor"
After Delegate Louis Gazou had spoken
for the eight-hour law and Vice Presi-
dent Duncan against President Gompers
took the floor
"I would oppose a law for the enact
ment for the regulation of private en-
ployment of labor as q serious interfer-
ence with the liberties OF the people,"
shouted Gompers Fools rush in whore
angels fear to tread. We have been
asked to go for all the laws we can get.
God save the worklngmen of America
from such q proposition.
"The labor movement OF America Is
still in its infancy and only 50 years ago
the throttling arm of the law was taken
off the workers throats. Only today,
after many years of struggle, has 1t
been declared that labor is not COM
modify.
And still since the passage Of the
Clayton antitrust law Federal Judge
Anderson in indianapolis, has issued an
injunction forbidding the men of labor
to quit their work. 1 have no doubt
that with the aggressive, militant trade
union movement he will have to swaI-
low his own injunction. He is not the
first Judge who had to walk the plank
DANGER OF INTERFERENCE.
"The danger which turks In the inter-
ference Of any Government in the labor
movement, no matter what the form or
that Government may be, whether II is
in Australia or any other country. is in
the shackling of the limbs OF labor by
legislative provisions and limitations.
Even in Australia, where there is so
called labor government, men have been
dragged through the streets and lodged In
Jail for disobeying the minimum wage
law.
"In limiting the Issuance of injunctions
we clip the power of the courts. In
the eight hour law we give
them still more power than they have.
Once you give a court jurisdiction over
any matter 1t will find a way of using
that jurisdiction to the detriment of labor.
The elght-hour day has been enforced
and introduced In many industries without
a strike, and we don't need any law TO
introduce 1t III all the other industries.
'I would much rather prefer the eight
hour law be won by strikes rather than by
law. A strike strengthens the character
and fighting spirit of the working class.
Legislation weakens 1t. If We can get
the eight-hour law for workingmen you
ylll find the workers will lose interest
In their militant economic organizations,
and without these you cannot enforce
any law.
II cannot conceive why the United |
Mine Workers should want to get by law |
what they have gotten by their economic |
"It is not so much political statesman
ship that is required by US. 1t is the |
humanitarian craftsmanship |
which the times demand" concluded Mr.. |
Throughout his address Mr.. Gompers |
was being interrupted by his opponents |
by questions, and the discussion brought |
out sarcastic repartee on both sides
After the close OF the session Germer |
went so far as to call Mr.. Gompers an
anarchist" because of his derson and |
opposition to- political action as a means
IF securing labor legislation.