Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-09-03
President of American Fedora
ton Reviews Achievements
and Issues for 1916.
SAYS TRADE UNIONlSM
GIVES RIGHT TO CHEER
Politics and the Mexican Situation
Two Most Important Points
Discussed by Leader.

two Of the most important points taken
up by Samuel Gompers, president Of the
American Federation of Labor, In q
statement made public last evening on
'Labors Achievements and Issues for
1916" Saying that every branch of the
American Federation Of Labor has made
definite progress in securing for its
members greater advantages in those
things which are fundamental of bot
terment in all relations Of life." and
that in organizations the success has
been phenomenal. President Gompers
says:
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 crises
that have proved its fundamental prin-
ciples; there have been opportunities
that have tested Its practical efficiency
Through them all the trade union
gained in confident vision for the fu-
ture.
Taking the labor movement as
whole, there has been greater progress
in securing the eight-hour day or the
shorter workday than in any other
similar period of time. The meaning oil
these victories can be Interpreted only
in the light of full understanding of the
shorter workday is something more
than an economic demand. 1t is a de-
mand for opportunity, for rest. recu-
peration and development-things which
make life more than mechanical druid
gerry.
THE workers whose whole periods
, are short are essentially different from
those who are SO worn by toll that they
have r-ither energy nor mind FOR other
things in life. They become more en-
I ergetic, more resourceful workers with
keener mentality and greater produc-
! ing power. 1t inevitably follows that
/, the short-hour workers are the best
! paid workers. With every reduction in
hours there is always corresponding
. increase in wages. Wherever demands
. for the shorter work day and higher
wages have been presented and urged
! by organized workers during the past
, year, they have met with success These
i economic gains have a potent relation
to the social side of life"
Won Legislative Victories.
He points out that shortening the
period of work lengthens the period of
development. and that increases in
wages give the workers the means for
taking advantage of the shorter work
day.
Economic achievements are the basis
upon which the workers can secure So
cial and political progress. The power
which secures these achievements IS
the power that will secure justice Tor
them in every other relation.
Power through economic orsaniza-
ton means political power. There must
be an economic basis in order to give
and a program. BY organizing IT'S
economic power to secure political pro-
lection and by adhering strictly to
non-partisan political program, the
- hos n on
glorious legislative victories
He expIains that the object of legis-
lation which has been sought by or
ranized labor lis ALWAYS to establish
larger and better opportunities for life
and freedom: that organized labor
does not seek through legislation to
do things for workers which they can
do for themselves''-these principles APP
plying to workers in private industry.
In the case of governmental workers,
where conditions may be fixed only
through legislation, legislation to this
end must be procured. he states.
Calling attention to the record OF
legislative achievements of the labor
movement since 1906. when the non
partisan political party was fnaugu-
rated, he says it is zone of splendid vic
tories"
The problem of human freedom was
not ended by the work of Lincoln.
There still remained a class bound to
involuntary servitude, the seamen.
these workers. 1t makes American soil
sacred to freedom, a country upon
which a bondman may not step with
out losing his legal letters. Freed and
given an opportunity to protect them
selves. the seamen are pressing their
demands for higher wages and better
conditions. Section of the Clayton
antitrust act contains the most adj
vanced concept of freedom. The labor
of human being is not a commodity
or article of commerce.
Political Issues.
las Labor day, 1916. comes in one of
the most critical political campaigns
since the civil war period, It is well to
call attention to the big issue of the
campaign which has a national well
as an international relation. The issue
is the attitude of the political parties
toward questions of humanity and hui
man welfare. The party now in power
has in its legislative achievements
placed the highest valuation upon hu-
man life and human attributes that has
ever been declared and enacted by any
political party in power.
The question that concerns the
workers is how to hold their present
advantages and how to secure from
political parties still greater opportuni-
TO- til l.