The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-09-04
A MINIMUM WAGE
Where the American Federation
of Labor Stands.
OPPOSES LEGAL ENACTMENT.

to Industrial Slavery-Favors Short
Day For Women.
In statement made before the Unit
ed States commission on industrial re-
lations Samuel Gompers, president of
the American Federation of Labor, said
of the minimum wage:
The American Federation of Labor
favors direct employment of workers
by the United States government, state
governments and municipal govern
ments without Intervention of con-
tractors and has accomplished this to
a large degree.
The American Federation of Labor
is not in favor of fixing by legal en-
actment certain minimum wages. The
attempts of the government to estab-
fish wages at which workmen may
work, according to the teachings or
history, will result in long era of in
dustrial slavery. There was a time in
English history when the government
and the courts in quarter sessions es-
tablished wages. During periods when
there was dearth of workmen and
employers offered higher wages, both
the workmen and employers were
Imprisonment and physical mutilation
because the one asked, received or de-
manded and the other was willing to
offer, or did pay, higher wages.
There is now a current movement to
increase wages by proposal to deter
mine a minimum wage by political au-
thorities. 1t is a maxim in law that
once court is given jurisdiction over
an individual it has the power, the
field and authority to exercise that
jurisdiction. 81 fear the Greeks even
when they bear gifts" An attempt to
entrap the American workmen into
species of slavery, under guise of an
offer of this character, is resented by
the American trade union movement
When the question of fixing by legal
enactment minimum wages for women
was before the executive council of
the American Federation of Labor for
investigation and discussion and sub
sequently before the convention of the
American Federation of Labor, there
was a great diversity of views. L am
betraying no confidence when | say
that. The official decision of the con-
vention was that the subject was
worthy of further discussion and con-
sideration. In my judgment the pro-
posal to establish by law minimum
wage for women, though well meant,
is curb upon the rights. the natural
development and the opportunity for
development of the women employed
in the industries of our country.
If the legislature should once fix a
minimum wage it would have the OPP
portunity to use the machinery of the
state to enforce work at that rate.
whether the workers desired to render
services or not. | am very suspicious
of the activities of governmental agen-
cies. | apprehend that once the state
is allowed to fix a minimum rate the
state would also take the right to COM
pei men or women to work at that rate
| have some apprehension that if the
legislature were allowed to establish a
maximum wOrkday it might also com
pei workmen to work up to the maxi
mum allowed. | ought to say. how
ever, that | am in favor of the legal
enactment fixing the maximum hours
of labor for all workmen in direct gov
eminent employment and for those
who work for contractors substituted
for governmental authority
The American Federation of Labor
is in favor of fixing the maximum
number of hours of work for children,
minors and women. 1t does not favor
legal limitation of the workday for
adult men workers. The unions have
very largely established the shorter
workday by their own initiative, pow
er and influence; they have done it for
themselves. The American Federation
of Labor is opposed to limiting by
legal statutory authority the hours of
work for men in private industries.
The American Federation of Labor has
apprehensions as to the wisdom Of
placing in the hands of the government
to the detriment of the working people.
1t particularly opposes this policy when
the things can be done by the work
men themselves.
1t is In favor of uniform shorter
workday and would encourage and
help affiliated organizations to secure
II by collective bargaining and other
methods employed by labor unions.
For instance. the International Typo
graphical union undertook such a
move. 1t gave employers more than
years notice that after certain day
they would not work longer than eight
hours day Almost Immediately a
large number of employers acceded to
| the request: others refused The men
struck. Covering period Of more than
year employees and individual firms
came to agreements providing for the
eight hour day and its enforcement
until finally the eight hour day has