The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-09-02
LABOR'S ACHIEVEMENTS AND ISSUES.
By Samuel Gompers.

Labor 1916 the workers America the
cheer and confidence the trade union There have
been and crises that have proved its fundamental principles
there have been opportunities that have tested its practical efficiency
Through them all the trade union made progress
and gained in confident vision for the future.
Every international every local union affiliated to
the American Federation of Labor has made definite progress
securing members greater advantages those things which
fundamental of bettement in all relations of life In
ganzations the success has been phenomenal
Taking the labor whole there has been greater
progress securing the eight shorter wokay than
any similar period Of time. The meaning of these victories
be interpreted only in the light of full understanding OF the
ing of the eight day The shorter workday something
than economic demand 1t demand for opportunity for rest
recuperaon and development things which make life than
mechanical drudgery
The whole periods short essentially diff
eren from those who by toll that they have neither
energy mind for other things in life They become
ge workers with keener mentality and
producing power inevitably follows that the
the best paid workers. With reduction hours there
always corresponding wages Wherever demands
for the workay higher wages and
urged by organized workers during the they have
with These economic gains have potent relation to the
social side of life.
Shortening period engthens period develop
activities belong in
dvua Increases give the workers the for taking
advantage of the increased opportunities of the shorter workay
The workers of short hours and better become different
citizens from those who exhausted by the daily grind that
they have neither the time the for thought aspiration
These better homes better food better cotng time
and opportunity for the cultivation the best and the highest that
is possible in the life of man.
Economic achievements the basis which the workers
political progress The power which
these achievements the that will justice for them
other relation Shorter hours and higher the
por1nty and the live better purposeu lives
Power through economic organization political
There be economic basis order political activity
for existence and program By organizing
political protection and by adering strictly
partisan political program the American Federation of Labor has
won glorious Legislative victories.
The object of legislation which organized labor has sought OBJ
always establish larger and better opportunities for life
and freedom Organized labor does seek through Legislation
things for the workers that they do for themselves 1t only
seeks establish for them opportunities This principle applies
workers private industry In the of workers
employment where the the employer and conditions
of employment be fixed only by legislation then the organized
labor seeks do something than merely establish
1t legislation regulating conditions of
ployment.
The of the legislative achievements of the labor
1906 when the political
rated splendid The the
Seamens Act and the labor sections of the Clayton Antitrust law
The greatest thing is the of hui
freedom.
The problem of human freedom was by
Lincoln There still remained class bound involuntary serv
The Semens brings freedom these work
makes American soil sacred freedom,
which may step without losing his legal letters Freed
pressing demands higher wages and conditions
cep freedom. "The labor of human being commodity
article of commerce.
According old time philosophy, political economy and lega
thought labor power commodity and article of in
different from coal potatoes, and IRON Under this