The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-10-26
MIR. GOMPERS SPEAKS
Says He Is S-HOur Lacquer From Way Back
Recalls Gains Made by Trades Unions

mandate of the great rank and file OF
the mer who operate the railroads of
our country, that unless they were
guaranteed the eight-hour day, they
would stop work.
ain passing, / want to say word
or two upon this question of stopping
work. / know the consequences of
stopping work. But my friends,
there are some people who would take
away from the toilers of our country
the right to stop work. | beg Of you
to remember the fact that the one diff
ference between a slave and freeman
is that a freeman has the right to
stop work No man has. the right to
commit crime, or make assault, de-
stroy property, but he has the right
( to fold his arms and say nothing and
do nothing. Il is the great economic
power OF the workers in their freed
ON to withhold their labor power, and
bring unwilling employers to an un-
derstanding of their responsibilities
and duties to their workers, as we'll
as the responsibilities of workers to
their employers.
THE president found that tense
condition. and then appealed to the
congress of the United States to take
cognizance of what was involved.
Now | am not one who believes in
doing SO many things by law. ! think
that the action of the president of the
United States in going before the
congress of the United States. helping
to secure voluntarily. not forced. as
the enemies Of labor would have the
people believe. but voluntarily TO
meet a situation. was one Of the great
est acts committed and performed by
any president of the United States in
the history OF the nation. The man
who occupies the great position of
president of the United States today.
during the period Of his holding that
position, from the moment when he
took the oath Of allegiance at the CAP
itol steps and gave forth that won
drous document. his congress, his ev-
cry address to congress, his every
public utterance have been of that pa
triotism, full of human kindness, full
OF great philosophy and understand
ing, and if the people OF our United
States fail to do him the justice, to
do themselves the justice of a vote
OF confidence. it will be the greatest
blow that people have inflicted up
on themselves in any other time.
| ask you, my friends, to consider
the reverse side of this position. For
Mr.. Hughes | have the greatest per
sonal respect. | think that he is
high-minded, intelligent man. a great
Jurist, but | ask you, whether II is
not true that as rule the Judiciary
which has invaded human rights and
human freedom have not generally
been respectable, high-minded. cap
able Jurist? Evidently by learning
] by environments, by hopes and aspi-
rations. Mr.. Hughes is out OF touch
with the great movement for the up
lit OF the toilers, by the masses of
our country.
Last Monday evening | registered
TO entitle me to vote in my legal home
state. | did not enroll myself in any
! political party ] want to be free to
support or oppose any man or any
party who acts freely, faithfully and
friendly or foully and antagonistical-
ly TO the cause of humanity. | want
TO say to you, my friends, / have but
one vote | cast. | have no right to
command, TO order. even to urge men
how they should vote. ! have the
right as man and as a citizen to pre-
sent the cause OF labor and justice to
the people. my fellow citizens. as |
see IT. If they do not believe with me
they have the right TO reject my phil
osophy and my advice. but | have the
right to urge, as have the right to
urge. as ! do urge, / have the right.
to advise, as ! do advise, ! have the
right TO appeal, as | do appeal to the
manhood and the citizenship of this
great republic of ours to see to it that
they go TO the polls and in accordance
with the light given them, and the
hope they have for the perpetuation
OF the principles of institutions in this
republic Of ours. vote in accord with
the dictation Of their conscience, their
hopes for themselves. their wives.
their children. their fellow citizens.
not only for today but for tomorrow
and tomorrow's tomorrow, that this
republic Of Ours shall be handed down
to our children with a new freedom.
new light. and new aspirations for
the ushering in of that great day when
we shall be not only the great work
shop OF the world but the hope in pol
itical democracy"