The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-02-05
G0MPERSR ON0RED.
BYDuLuTH UNIONS
Workingmen Meet and Pay Trib-
ute to Leader of American
Labor Movement. .-.:>7


=: I,":.res :: ~..
Organized workers of Duluth paid
public tribute to- Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Federation
Of Labor. on the occasion of his sixty
sixth birthday. = =. .....:. >. 49,. :
Members Of, the Federated Trades
assembly gathered at an open meet
ing in Owls hall, 41S West Superior
street, Friday night, and heard ad-
dresses by W.. E. McEwen, editor of
the Labor World; E. G.. Hail. presi-
dent of the Minnesota State Fedora
ton Of Labor, and John z. White Of
Chicago, advocate of the single tax.
McEwen' reviewed Gompers' long
| period Of service to the cause of or
| ganized labor and advised members
of the assembly not to- undo all the
good that has been accomplished in a.
| long struggle by becoming too much
| of a business institution and losing
sight of the ideals on which organi-
zation of labor is founded.
Kept Ideals.
During a third of a century Presi-
dent Gompers has kept faithfully to
the ideal Of labor while still doing
| practical service and remaining on
earth," declared McEwen. He said
that labor unions are in danger Of be-
coming simply business institutions
and are threatened with a condition
that will make them little different
from organizations the sole aim of
which is profit
l MoE!uar o1 xrica f1 IN
vote less time to "dry' business and
study the report Of the federal indus
| trial. relations committee, which is
valuable because it covers all prob
lens that confront labor, he said,
touching briefly on revelations re-
garding the Rockefeller, Russell Sage
and other foundations. The speaker
called them ''sugar-coated pills.
thrown by capital as sop to appease
! and mislead labor, and said the foun-
ditions are developing many "high-
toned grafters.".
! Gave Life to Labor.
! How Samuel Gompers elevated
himself from lowly station to leader.
| ship in the labor movement was
traced by McEwen, who pointed out
| that the federation president has de-
| voted himself unselfishly to the labor
cause in the face of alluring offers by
capitalist interests and every presi-
dent Of the United States since Nc
] Kinley.
| 'fMr. Gompers is not so we'll under
! stood as he will be 100 years hence"
said McEwen. II am not hero wor-
! shipper, but I: want workers of Du-
luth to study the mans life and real
ibe his valuable service to the cause.
Born in low1y station, the son of a
cigarmaker, hia, education was gained
by reading aloud to fellow workers of
the craft Of cigarmaking. He started
to work at the age Of 10 and holds
card No. in the International Cigar.
makers union.
Unions Govern Selves.
'The federation president has de-
voted great effort to preserving the
self-government ideal in labor organ
.izations and has been a great factor
| in correcting first troubles that arose
when leaders tried to dictate to the
mass Of MEMBERS
! Hall devoted attention to the Dan
bury, Conn, hatters' case, and lauded
the cooperation Of organized labor in
saving the homes Of $50 union men,
bers who were found guilty of violat-
ing the Sherman antitrust law and
had assessed against them a judy
ment amounting. to more than
100000. Workers throughout the
! country contributed an hours wages
/ to a fund to enable the Danbury
workers to meet the judgment.
| The Labor Forward movement was
discussed by the State Federation
leader, who announced that head
quarters have been established in Du-
luth. The movement has for Its aim
stimulation of interest in the work of
organized labor.
| Cure For Ills.
The single. tax plan would lower
the living cost and raise wages, &C.
cording to White.
! "Low land taxes now prevailing re-
suit in much land being held idle"
said the speaker. I'm Chicago, so per
cent of the land Is vacant or idle. We
now tax production. The result is
that the tax is added to the cost Of
production and prices soar. Because
Of large areas of vacant land, produc-
ton is cut down and there is less de-
mand for labor. Place taxes on land
and, it will not pay to hold it, it will
be improved by production, prices
will drop and there will be more de-
mand for labor because of the in
| creased output Of commodities"
White said it is not fair to tax a
man just because he is rich, and said
taxation Of luxuries encourages de-
ceit and would wreck the nations
morals.