Omaha daily bee., 1916-11-22
BROTHERHOODST TO
JOIN FEDERATION
Co. Operation in Eight Hour
Fight Will Be Unofficial Un-
til After Conventions.
GOMPERS AND LEE SPEAK

GOMPERS AND LEE SPEAk
Baltimore, Md, Nov. 2l.-Affiliation
of the members OF the American Fed
Grafton OF Labor and the four big rail-
road brotherhoods for effecting the
general betterment of labor, was urged
today before the federation conven-
ton here by the brotherhood heads
and President Samuel A. Gompers.
Delegates, who crowded the hall,
chcered all OF the speakers enthusias-
tically.
1--WE must hang together or we will
hang separately" w. G. Lee, spokes-
men for the brotherhoods and head OF
the railway trainmen, declared.
at is a great comfort to know"
President Gompers said. that the time
is not far distant when the great
brotherhoods will be part of the
American Federation of Labor"
Lee explained that the laws of the
>brotherhoods now prevent an official
affiliation with the federation until
after their convention is held, but he
insisted that between now and that
time the organizations could co-op-
crate with the same purpose as if they
were affiliated. He also made it plain
that the brotherhoods were not bring
ing their eight-hour day troubles to
the federation for support.
'I am about anarchist enough" he
said, ito say that we are going to
work for the eight-hour day for all
classes. If we can't get it peaceably,
we will fight for it,
Lee said that some sort of affiliation
should be effected to fight any pro-
posed arbitration legislation which
might be unfair to labor President
Wilson plans such legislation, Lee
said, and it should be carefully
watched He declared that congress
had no right to pass any law compel
ing man to work, provided he was
not in prison, if he did not want to,
and he did not think it would do so.
Prolonged cheering followed praise
of President Wilson by Lee.
"It took more courage for him to
write across the front pages of the
newspapers of this country that he
was for an eight-hour day than it
would have taken for him to have
written that this country was at war
with Mexico" he said.
"Our principal object now is to help
the president and the rhen in both
branches of congress to make good
their promises to us. | believe they
will do it.
TT is absolutely necessary for us
who are organized to get together
and say that we shall go the limit
to obtain better conditions, particular
ly for the men on the railroads that
the companyswillA not permit to Or
ganize. We will not strike or go out
to help them, but we will use our best
efforts to obtain better conditions for
them" .e.-.'.
Gompers Accepts Challenge.
President Gompers, in the course
of his remarks, said:
1--WE expect that the railroad BROTH
erhoods will on January /, next, in
augurate the eight-hour work day and
l think can truly say to you that
whatever arises, whatever betides, you
have the undivided support of the Or
ganized working men and women as
represented by the American Fedora
ton OF Labor.
when the money power of the
United States failed in the attempt to
corrupt the electorate and when their
plans were upset by the votes of the
citizenship of the United States, the
capitalists showed their colors. They
met and gave out declaration that
they were going to antagonize every
effort put forth by organized labor
"But men of wealth, say to you,
be careful how far you go. There is
limit even to human endurance.
You throw down the gauntlet and we
accept the challenge. When the time
comes it will be another case of Lay
on, Macduff, and damned be he who
first cries: Hold, enough. 80"
w. S. Carter, president of the
Brotherhood of Railway Firemen and
Enginemen, declared in speech that
the danger that confronts all work
ing people today is "the coercion or
subordination of the public press by
the master class"
"The coming of penny papers he
added, "has done, more than anything
else to place the press under the dom
ination of advertisers. Unfortunately
labor has but little to do with adver-
tising-practically all the advertise
ments come from the master class"