Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-10
SAYS STRIKES DO
NOT RESULT FROM
OR RGAN|zAT|0N
Samuel Gompers Contends
That Organized Labor Has
Resulted From Strikes.
OPPOSES COMPETITION
WITH CONVICT LABOR
At the Same Time, He Believes
Convicts Should Be Given
Employment.
SPEAKS on LABOR PROBLEMS
President Of American Federation
Addresses Society for Promotion
of Industrial Education.

I'm explanation and defense OF organ
lied labor. Samuel Gompers. president
of the American Federation OF Labor.
speaking before the National Society
for the Promotion of Industrial Edu-
cation last night said that not one OF
the strikes of the last fifteen years
had been the result of organized labor
but that, rather, organized la hor had
resulted from the strikes. and that as
much as they are to be deplored, when
necessity for them arises they are the
most civilized method or expressing n
natural and warranted discomfort. In
touching on the fight which organized
labor is making against convict labor,
Mr.. Gompers said that labor did not
believe that convicts should not be in
dustrially employed. but that they
employing contractors or for the profit
OF the State.
believes CONVICTS
SHOULD DE EMPLOYED
He did believe, rs organized labor
believes also, .hat employment should
be given to convicts as the best means
OF bringing them back to normal at
titude, but he said, there is plenty of
work for them to do, such as making
articles needed by the eleemosynary
institutions of the State and needed
by others OF those for whom the State
has to care. And he declared that
there Is no greater problem in the
country o-dRy which needs the best
and most careful thought than the
iaborSmoye:nent. that as the struggle
IN Europe in ,otheg, - dayss for politIcaI
and religious liberty had been the all :
compelling motive of tho people, SO
now is the contest for the improve
ment of labor conditions.
The meeting before which Mr. Com
pers spoke was held in the auditorium
OF the, John Marshall High School under
the auspices of the Central Trades and
Labor Council. Representatives of all
classes Of labor were present and the
auditorium was filled with one of the
largest audiences It has had John
Hirschberg, of the Administrative
Board, who had been scheduled to pre-
side, was prevented by another engage
fnent, from coming. and the meeting
was presided over by James j.
Crcamer.
INTRODUCED by
JAMES j. CREAMIsR
Mr.. Creamer introduced the sneaker
as 1.-The greatest statesman labor has
ever produced" and as the recognized
leader of more than 1000. 900 working
men. 'labor's highest champion in
America"
In the preliminary of his address.
Mr.. Gompers declared that men and
women to-day no longer beg for con-
sideration, that they no longer pre-
sent gaunt figures of hunger in de-
mand OF their needs. that their plea
is no longer pictured in pinched cheeks
and hagSard frames OF children, but
that they rather demand right: they
demand Justice and freedom. Though
1t is hunger STILL" he said. at Is a
new form Of hunger. 1t Is the hunger
for better food. the hunger for better
raiment; the hunger for better homes
hn
for better opportunity for our children;
the hunger that the strong arm OF
right and conscience may throw it's
protection around our children, SO that
they may no more be the subjects of
exploitation, but that they may have
equal rights and liberties with other
children, that they may live and
grow up us all other children with
equality of opportunity, and that they
may play in Gods sunshine. Our hum
ger now Is for the appeasing of the
souls aspirations, for the opportunity
of satisfying our wants for better and
higher ideals.
MOVEMENT a CRYSTALLIZATION
Of SENTIMENT OF INDIGNATION
What is the labor movement? 1t
is the specialization Of sentiment
of indignation, of the expression Of
the discomfort of the masses of the
working people who desire relief from
privileges too long denied them. We
present our demands in concrete form,
SO as to receive the consideration of
those who have the power to satisfy,
In touching upon the improved con-
ditions which have been enacted into
law during the last ten years, Mr.
Gompers said that there was not one
of them that had not been advocated
by the labor movement twenty-five
years ago. Wherever tyranny has
been imposed, he pointed out 1t has
been imposed on the masses OF the
working people, upon the producers
upon those upon whom the fortune of
the nation rests, and 1t is to escape the
latter-day tyranny that fair organiza-
tion has been effected. He declared
that James Donahue Sullivan. n printer.
of Union Lodge No. G. was the first
man to propose the initiative and refer
endum; that the Australian ballot, di-
rect nomination, the corrupt practices
act. direct primaries. the child labor
law. the law as to safety appliances
and that even the public school system
were the result of the effort of labor.
LABOR DOES NOT
ASK FOR CHARITY
"And there has been no H." he said.
but that Is the duty! of organized
labor to rectify. Labor does not ask
need 1t. 1t makes q fair"6gift against
the wrongs II would correct. or the
strikes during the past fifteen years,
not one of them was the result OF or
ganization. Organization resulted
from strikes The strike of the btu
CONTINUED on Fifth Pago.)