Denver labor bulletin., 1916-02-05
The Optimistic
Philosopher


modest home in Washington. 1t was in
1881 that Gompers, cigarmaker, and
Pete j. Mcclure. a carpenter, conceived
the idea OF constructing national
militant labor organization on civic
lines. The Knights OF Labor was then
going on the rocks, weighed with too
much political ballast by reason. of per-
mitting those to Join who sought to use
organized labor for purely selfish pur
poses. Fired with enthusiasm for the
perfection nf the American constitution,
Gompers and Mcclure, the former an
English jew, born in London, and the
latter from the Emerald Isle. conceived
an industrial democracy modelled on the
same plan as the government of the
United States, both in its federal juris-
diction and state sovereignty, and the
system by which the federal govern
ment exercises only such uowers as are
conceded to it by the several states.
However, it was to be federation OF
organizations, each OF which was to
have its own government and determine
its own needs and requirements, in the
light OF experience of the members oi
such organizations, and the federation to
have no rights except those yielded by
hose making up that federation. Thus
Labor, and Samuel Gompers was chosen
,s the first president, in which capacity
he has served. with exception OF one
erm, ever since. For five years he CON
.inued to work at his trade as cigar
maker on the Fast Side in New York
md served the federation without pay
lie became known as an "agitator," wa
plncklisted by the bosses, and was often
without work, and so poor that often
or lack of cents, had to walk from
the heart of New York far into the Eas
side, where he lived. In the sixth yeai
his industrial republic had grown TO 4 '
,ize that demanded all Gompers' atten' I
ion. and he was voted a salary of 81 ,OO' |
,er year At the last convention. ovei /
his protest, this annual salary, Mhici |
iad previously reached $1,000, wa
missed to s. 900. Today Sam Gomper- q
b. one of the very foremost citizens OF
he nation. and even Mr.. Moneyhags oi /
Wall street and the steel trust have
cea sed to scoff at him and the iedeH'
riou he represents with such sterling in
tegrity and ability. May the "t'Hnd
Old Man OF Labor live long and con.
tinue TO fight the battles for industrial
Justice.
The Lincoln day banquet to be- gwen
by the Republican state central commit
tee at FL .Iebal Temple on saturday
February II, is going to cost 500 per
plate. This announcement Will come US
"A distinct disappointment to scores Oh
the more or Less faithful members oi
the party who have failed to land JOBS
under the present state administration
as it effecutally shuts the door oil the
banquet room in their faces ihese
outer-fringe Republicans are comparing
the high price OF the Lincoln day ic'l7,
IN tho dollar-a- plate Jackson day spreiu
recently pulled off amid great enthusl-
asm by the Democratic state commit
toe However. Chairman Phil stewart
of Colorado Springs, big boss oil tie
Republicans in Colorado, does not sym
pathize with plebians or plebe taste
20 it will be $3.50 per without VINE !"
asmuch as Phil announces that ths o'
auct is to be representative oil ,he iaiN
and file OF the party i'll Coiorado'
presumed the men and women VINO "o'N
for wages and can't put up Sz'oo lo'
a single feed, are not desired as a77o
ciotes except on election day. Perhaps
the hoi polio will fool the piutes "'''
it comes to casting votes TINS IAN
Charles Frederick Wadsworth, mana
Ger of the Denver branch OF the West
ern Newspaper Union, has blossomed
forth as a full fledged song winter aini
musical composer. One oil his conipo7'
tions has just been published by ths
Landes- Carlisle company oil TINS city am
was nut OH sale this week IN music
stores here and turnout the country II
is entitled Dreams OF You, ana mas
melody and lit that charms an VINO
have heard the words and music hcie
il the refrain;
Dreams OF you, the woria see'"'
brighter;
Every heart is light and gay,
While nv own with love grows hghter
Turning darkness into day.
Dreams OF you, the clouds dispelling'
sunlight soft comes shining thru;
All for YOU. my love compelling,
Dreams OF you, sweet dreams oil YOU
80:
| In one OF his speeches this week
President Wilson, in most eloquent
words, described what he termed the
spirit OF the American flag that mas
oausod the hearts of all who heard or
r.ad IL to quicken iii response to ms
call for true American PATRIOTISM. iie
said: "As Islook at the flag seem 10
see many characters upon it when are
not visible to the physical eye theIe
seem TO move ghostly visions OF uc-
voted men. who, looking to that nag,
thought only of liberty, OF the rienls
of mankind, OF the mission OF Aiheriea
IN show the way to the world for the
realization of the rights OF mankind.
Every grave of every brave man OF the
country would seem to have upon 1t
the coiors of the flag, if he was true