The copper era and Morenci leader., 1916-09-08

WASHINGTON, Sept Samuel
Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor, made public to-
day a, statement on 'Labor's Achieve
ments and Issues" for 1916, in which
he characterized the past year as
remarkable one in the progress of the
labor movement, especially in the
shortening of the working day and in
general labor legislation. The, state
ment, in full, is as follows:
Labor day 1916 brings to the work
ers of America the right to cheer and
confidence in the trade union move
ment. There have been tests and cri-
ses that have proved its fundamental
principles; there have been oppor-
tunities that have tested it's practical
efficiency. Through them all the trade
union movement has made sure prog
ress and gained in confident vision
for the future.
Every national and International,
every local union affiliated to the
American Federation of Labor has
made definite progress in securing
for its members greater advantages in
those things which are fundamental
of betterment in all relations of life.
In some organizations the success has
been phenomenal.
Getting a Shorter Day.
Taking the labor movement as a
whole, there has been greater prog
ress in securing the eight-hour day
or the shorter workday than in any
other similar period of time. The
meaning of these victories can be in,
terpreted in the light of full under
standing of the meaning of the eight
hour day. The shorter workday is
something more than an economic de-
mand. 1t is a demand for opportunity
for rest, recuperation, and develop
ment; things that make life more
than mechanical drudgery.
The workers whose whole periods
are short are essentially different
from those who are so worn by toll
that they have neither energy nor
mind for other things in life. They
become. more energetic, more re-
sourceful workers with keener men-
tally and greater producing power.
1t inevitably follows that the short
hour workers are the best paid work
ers. With every reduction in hours,
there is always a corresponding in
crease in /. wages Wherever demands
for. the shorter workday and higher
wages have been presented and urged
by organized workers during the past
year, they have met with success.
These economic gains haye potent
relation to the social side of life.
Makes Better Citizens.
shortening the period of work
lengthens the period of development
and for all of the other activities
that belong to the normal individual.
Increases in wages give the workers
the means for taking advantage of
the increased opportunities of the
shorter workday. The workers of
short hours and better wages become
very different citizens from those who
are so exhausted by the daily grind
that they have neither the time nor
the energy for thought or aspiration.
These gains mean better homes, bet
ter food better clothing; time and op-
portunity for the cultivation of the
best and the highest that is possible
in the life of man.
Economic achievements are the
basis upon which the workers can
secure social and political progress.
The power which secures these
achievements is the power that viii
secure justice for them in every
other relation. Shorter hours and
higher wages give the opportunity and
the means to live better and more
purposeful lives.
Power through economic organiza-
ton means political power. There
must be an economical basis in order
to give political activity reasons for
existence and program. By organ
izing it's economic power to secure
political protection and by adhering
strictly to a non-partisan political pro-
gram, the American Federation of La
Dor has won glorious legislative vic
tories'