The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-06-24

mittee of arrangements who introduced
Rev. w. c. Press, who, in his capacity as
a churchman, asked blessing on the
meeting and the work that is being done
to uplift humanity by the trade union
movement.
Brother Graney then turned over the
meeting proper to Brother O. ]. Grubb,
president of the United Labor Congress
of Mahoning County, who introduced as
the first speaker Brother X. B. Stickley,
of the Cigar Makers, who in few we'll
chosen words then thanked the gather
ing for an opportunity to say few
words on behalf Of the Grand Man" of
Labor who was the principal speaker,
and whom he and the members of his
organization revered for what he had
done for the cigar makers as an inter-
national officer thereof. He also spoke
of the good results that had been gain
ed by them on the eight-hour movement,
as they were the pioneers in this move
ment for a shorter workday.
Brother Timothy Healey international
president of the Stationary Firemen,
was the next speaker introduced and
spoke of the conditions in Youngstown,
and that he came from New York just
to participate in this gathering He
spoke of the only remedy for the condi-
tions that now confront the workers who
are combating for just condtions-or-
ganization-and he told how the condi-
tons of the men he represents were
changed by getting together, and what
it has meant to them to change from a
12-hour day to an s-hour day.
When the name of President Gompers,
the next speaker was announced by the
chairman, the band played the national
hymn, and the entire gathering arose as
the most prominent figure in the work of
uplifting humanity, walked across the
stage to the speakers table, and the ap-
plause was deafening.
President Gompers opened his remarks
by stating that ''it was quite appropriate
at a meeting of the organized toilers that
the national hymn should be part of our
ceremony, for there was every reason to
show that the workers, and especially
the organized workers, were the most
patriotic of any class of our people, and
it was mainly through their efforts that
reforms that meant the conservation of
our republic and our democratic insti-
tutions, were conserved
President Gompers spoke of the fact
that the workers have at all times, as
far back as history recites, borne the
yoke of tyranny, and that it is the mis-
sion of the organized workers to throw
off all such oppression, and to see that
every wrong is righted and every right
secured.
"Wherc slavery has existed" said
President Gompcrs, 1T was always the
workers that were the slaves. Wherever
rights are denied il is always the toicr
| that is denied this right. This is not
a matter of choice with the toilcr, but
has been handed down from the slave
of old to the slave of the present in
dustrial system.
''It is libel to deny the progress that
has been made, and denies the past hal
ccnturys development. he said 6
He said that possessors of wealth anC
the judicial branch of our country still
live in the days when the slave had NJ
rights hut to do as his master bid. "ll
the time Of slavery" he said "the con
ccpt was that the owner of the slave wa
necessarily the master, and the slave wa
compelled to do as he was bid-he ha,
no choice. Our country was stepped wit
. this idea, and the judiciarys ruling wa
that the slave had no rights that tn
master had to respect. In fact if slav
left his master, because OF the treatmen
he received, in the eyes of this cour
this constituted robbery, for the slave b
leaving robbed his master of his tot
For the first offense he was brandc
with "N," which denoted villain. Fo
the second oifensc he was branded wit
an IS" which stood for "Slave,' an
made the malcfactor an unattached slav
for life For the third offense he wa