Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1914-10-02
LABOR PRESIDENT
AFRAID OF LAW
Samuel Gompers Gives Views
to Industrial Relations
Committee.

Samuel Gompers, president Of the
American Federation of Labor, sees
grave danger to working men in the
enactment of a compulsory eight-hour
law. Mr. Gompers has devoted his
life and his abilities to advancing the
interests of labor, and has always
fearlessly and forcefully opposed what
ever he believed to be dangerous to
the welfare and the liberties of the
workers. He favors shorter work
day, but insists that it should be gain
ed only through organization and col
lective agreement. 1t is because he
believes that the fixing by law Of a
maximum workday is unjust to the
worker and menace to their rights,
that Mr. Gompers takes a vigorous
and emphatic stand against such legis-
lation.
In a statement made by him before
the United States Commission ON In
dustrial Relations at it's hearing in
New York City, May 2123 of this year,
as published in the July number of the
American Federationist, Mr.. Gompers
said:
81 have some apprehension that If
the legislature were allowed to estab-
lish maximum workday it might also
compel workmen to work up to the
maximum allowed. l ought to say,
however, that I am in favor Of the
legal enactment fixing the maximum
hours of labor for all workmen in d.
rect government employment and for
those who work for contractors sub
stituted for government authority.
"The A. F. of l.. 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 work day for the adult men work
ers. The A. f. of l.. is opposed to
limiting by legal authority the hours
of work for men in private industries.
The A. F. Of l.. has apprehensions as
to the wisdom of placing in the hands
of the government additional powers
which may be used t. the detriment
of the working people,"
Mr.. Gompers declared that the
American Federation of Labor not on
ly favors the shorter workday, but
that It has consistently and success
fully worked for the shorter day. He
pointed out how much progress has
been made by the affiliated organiza-
tions of the American Federation Of
Labor in securing the eight-hour day
and other improved conditions by col
lective bargaining and agreements.
Referring again to eight-hour laws,
he said: 1.-THE fact of the matter is
the best of intentions grant others the
opportunity to rivet chains on their
wrists"
"The A. F.. of L. encourages the
practice Of its various affiliated or
CARNATIONS in endeavoring to secure
shorter workday by means of COL
lective agreements with employers in
the various industries, but 1t opposes
reaching the same result by means of
a law binding upon all employers in a
given state, or throughout the union
If there were a movement and a pos
sibility of establishing an eight-hour
workday and a minimum wage by
legal enactment throughout the land,
the Federation would oppose such pol
icies, because 1t has In large measure
accomplished the same purposes and
will accomplish them by the initiative
Of the associations or the organiza-
lions and by the grit and courage of
the manhood and womanhood of the
men and women of the A. F. of l..
That these results have been accom-
plished through the initiative and vol.
untary association of the workers pre-
cludes the question of having legal
enactment for the same purpose. In
addition, the giving the jurisdiction to
government and to governmental
agencies is always dangerous when 1t
comes to governing the working PEG.
ple."