The Washington times., 1917-01-23
GOMPERS ATTACKS
SOCIAL INSURANCE
Says Organized Labor Only So
luton of Difficulties of
Poorer Glasses.
ONLY PARTLY EFFEcTpAL
characterizes Compulsory In
surance as inconsistent With
Principles of Democracy.

tions the wisdom OF social insurance
and believes it repugnant to free
born citizens. Samuel Gompers. presi-
dent of the American Federation OF
Labor. told the National Civic Fedora
ton here last night.
Labor wants a comfortable wage
and the right to work out It's own
destiny, he said. The hope OF work
ing men and women lies not In a
thinly yelled kind OF charity which
would divide society into two groups.
one able to care for itself and the
other dependent. but in the organized
labor movement. according to Presi-
Plan UndemOcratic.
Compulsory social insurance is an
its essence undemocratic. he declar-
ed. Trade unionists who have i'm
vestigated the subject advise against
social insurance. he said. The pro-
posal constitutes a grave issue which
the working people must face, de-
clared the speaker. as its adoption
would mean the exercise of power
over them by the Government or
some other agency. Labor is jealous
OF its freedom, he added.
THE fundamental fact stands out
paramount that social insurance can
not remove, or prevent poverty" said
the president of the Federation of
Labor. at does not get at the causes
of social injustice. The only agency
that does get at the causes of pow
erty is the organized labor move
ment.
Social insurance. in its various
phases of sickness insurance. unem-
ployment insurance. death benefits.
ETC., only provides the means for It'd
ing over an emergency. The labor
movement aims at constructive re-
sults-higher wages, which mean bet
ter living for the workers and those
dependent upon them; better homes,
better clothing, better food. better
opportunities and shorter hours of
work, which mean relief from over
fatigue, time for recuperation, WORK
ers with better physical development
and with sustained producing power.
Better physical development is in IT,
self an insurance against illness and
degree of unemployment. The
short-hour workmen with higher
wages become better citizens. better
able to take care of themselves.
Union Only Safeguard.
1.-The real permanent benefits that
come into the lives OF the workers.
those which are felt from day to day
and not merely during times of sps
cIal need. are brought about by the
trade union movement. The trade
union movement represents the or
gahized economic power OF the work
ers. Through the development, the
organization and the exercise OF this
economic power the workers them
selves establish higher standards Of
living and work. Although this eco
nomic power from the superficial
standpoint seems Indirect, it is IN
reality the most potent and the most
direct social insurance the workers
can establish. 1t is the only agency
that really guarantees to them pro
lection against the results of the
eventualities OF life and gives them
feeling of security.
1.-THE efforts OF trade organizations
are directed at fundamental things
They endeavor to secure to all work
ers a living wage that will enable
them to have sanitary homes, condi-
lions of living that are conducive to
good health. adequate clothing, nour-
ishing food and other things that are
essential to the maintenance of good
health.
an attacking the health problem
from the preventive and constructive
sides they are doing infinitely more
than any health insurance law could
do which provides only for relief in
case of sickness, and yet the compul-
sorry law would undermine the trade
union activity.
Examination Perverted.
There must necessarily be a weak.
ening OF independence of spirit and
vIrility when compulsory insurance
il provided for so large a number
of citizens of the state. Dangers TO
wage -earners readily arise under the
machinery for the administration Of
social insurance, one OF which is the
establishment of compulsory physical
examinations. Such examinations
have been perverted and made to re-
suit to the detriment of workers.
The necessary discretionary power in
compulsory insurance lodged in the
administrative board could readily
be used in efforts to cOerce organiza-
tions OF wage-earners. for the admin
istrative body must have the power
to approve societies and also to with
draw approval at any time.
1.-The trade union movement does