Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-11-15
GO'N.pERs SPEAKS
TO ByS|.NESS MEN
Capital and Labor Problems Are
Practically Unsolvable, He
Tells Them.

Buffalo, N. Y, Nov. H-While the S7th
annual convention of the American
Federation of Labor was marking I'll
to-day awaiting the reports of committees,
President Samuel Gompers addressed
joint meeting of the executives club and
the Greater Buffalo club. He told the busi-
ness men that the long standing probe ms
affecting capital and labor are practically
unsovable.
"Al that can be done" he said, 'is to
solve problems confronting us from day
to day SO that, day by day. we may be
better prepared to reach a solution, II
solution be possible, of what has been a
riddle for ages.
I'VE can allay all disputes during this
great war in which we are now engaged
by you gentlemen bearing In mind that
all the virtues are not on your side and
all the vices on ours. 1t Is not fair to take
the derelict and hold him up as type Of
labor any more than 1t is fair to hold up
the gradgrind as a type Of employers.
Neither side can claim all the pa
triotism, but it is possible to obtain a
better understanding so that the STAN
dards of American life shall not be
lowered and to the end that our boys
at the front may be supplied with all
that is needful not only for fighting
but for their comfort when they are
not fighting.
ITO me this war has quite another
significance than the mere winning of
battles. 1t is to bring a regeneration
Of the democratic peoples of the ma
tons of all the world"
Speaking of President Wilson and
the problems that faced him, Mr.. Comp
ers said he was proud to serve under
the leadership Of that great man who
is now voicing the aspirations Of the
whole civilized world"
what we aim to do" said Mr.. Comp
ers, in conclusion, lis to advise with
employers of labor to bear in mind
that. in recasting our industrial con-
ditions, old ideas must be thrown on
the scrap heap and a new conception
| reached on the rights of others.
! "Some ground must be reached on
which the Industries Of our country
may be speeded up so that the war may
| be speedily won. OF its result I have
not the slightest mental reservation
| 1t is written into the stars of freedom
above u.s."
The morning session of the conven.
ton lasted about and hour adjournment
being taken until tomorrow when
word came from the committees that
no reports would be ready until to-
| morrow. Two unions--the steel work
ers on strike at Beaver Valley and
! the Arizona miners-asked the con-
vention to help settle their troubles
| along the lines which President Com
pers and his associates have followed
/ in other difficulties having to do with
| Industries that might have a bearing
| upon war supplies. Both communica-
lions were referred to committees.
The news from Boston late in the
afternoon that the strikers at the
Watertown arsenal and Squantum had
decided to continue the strike regard
| less Of the orders issued by the in.
, ternational officers here caused q
furry and 1t was at first thought thai
the situation there had developed
from a Misunderstanding.
J. F. Toomey, secretary Of the car
penters' district council. who went from
here to Boston, sent a telegram stating
that no information had been received
from the general presidents by any Bos'
ton local. This was taken to mean that
some one had failed to forward proper
instructions and steps were at once taker
to straighten out the tangle.
| 1t was the consensus of opinion thai
| the strikers would return to work. Johr
j. Higgins. president of the sheet meta
workers, said:
| Irrespective of the vote Of the bust
ness agents. the rank and file will return
when the matter is explained to them.
A message from the business agent
| of the federation at Newark said all the
men there had returned to work there
and would await adjustment of theil
grievances by representatives of the fed
Grafton and government officia s.
Reports from the fraternal delegate.
from Eng and and Canada were made 6
special order Of business for tomorrow
mornings session of the convention.