The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-02-17
SAM G0|NPERSA AND
LABOR MOVEMENT
Dante Barton Explains How Or
ganized Labor Benefits Masses
of Non Unionists.


ing letter was sent by Dante Barton
of the Committee on Industrial Rela.
tons to the editor of the New York
Times, in comment on an editorial
in the Times on "Mr. Gompers'
Golden Jubilee:
ITO the Editor Of the New York
Times:
''Sir: Eliminating men who hold
highest office, Samuel Gompers is
probably the most prominent man In
the United States. He is the most
powerful man. More persons talk
and write of him then of any other
man, excepting tha ~~"on's chief
executive, Mr.. Wilson; and exceptine
the nations chief banshee. Mr..
Roosevelt.
Those who do not like Mr.. Com
pers and his work agree to this degree
with those who do like him and his
work, that they accord to him re-
markable ability. His greatness is
more than personal. Its impersonal
side is that he typifies and interprets
the most powerful labor movement Of
American history. Your own estimate
Of him, as partially expressed in your
editorial of the thirtieth, accords him
greatness, or definitely implies it.
II submit and hope you will prin.
an appreciation extremely different
from your own, except in that impli-
cation.
I'm your editorial you have one
sentence Ito single out only that)
which shows why you misunderstood
the man. An estimate Of Gompers
W. &C., hoc
of the movement which he stands for
and directs is bound to be unjust. You
say, The welfare of non-unionists is
nothing to him.
Welfare of All Workers.
1.-THE very opposite Of that is true,
The welfare Of all workers is the very
/ temple Of the American Trade Union
movement. Mr.. Gompers cares so
much for the welfare of non-unionists
,, that he would have them all union
lists. His and his movements attitude
toward unorganized toilers is that Of
the Christians attitude, let us say, to-
ward non-Christians. All members OF
the American Federation OF Labor
were at one time non-unionists. The
life work of Samuel Gompers has
been to make them unionists. The
federation he founded has grown until
| today it is the greatest labor organiza-
ton in the world, with nearly three
| million members. And the opposition
to him, the fear Of him, and the mis-,
representation of him are chiefly be-
| cause he is trying increasingly and
powerfully to- extend the benefits of
trades unionism' to all productive
| humanity, and to make all humanity
productive.
You may deny that trades union
ism does bestow benefits; but in that
case you will find it hard, if you are
| candid, to get around the fact that;
| men whose economic interests are OPP
posed to the freedom Of workers, and
| to the kindred essential elements" of
welfare among workers, are also OPP
posed to trades unionism. If trades
unionism were not beneficial to men
| and women who work, such interested
antagonists of men and women who
work would wish them to be all union
lists.
I'm directing the fight for the i'm
mediate welfare of those already in
the ranks of union labor, Samuel
Gompers and those cooperating with
him have fought for and aided the
welfare Of all workers -unio1,ists
as we'll as unionists. Raising the
standards Of wages, of living, of in
tellectual attachments and of individ-
ual liberty among great group of
| workers. When filtered down to the
most lowly, the example does at least
set a light on the hill before them and
sets lamp to their feet to guide
them. Even the devices Of many en-
ployers devices such as 'bonuses')
temporarily to make non-unionists
content to remain non-unionists, are a
l. chemical reaction reflex action, OF
unionism.
Result Is Power.
1.-THE Service to humanity in the
movement Samuel Gompers leads is
more than material, unless material
ism is taken to support and encom-
pass idealism. The result of the serv-
ice is not only higher wages. It is
not only better hours and terms and
conditions of work-not only a better
distribution of the products of indus
try. Most of all, the result Of the
service is power in the possession of
men anu women Ln0US0lVeSs Inc
power Of self-help; the power to take
care Of themselves instead of being
took care Of
Undoubtedly, Samuel Gompers
would never have been chosen to head
a labor movement by those who be-
lieve that labor should be as meek as
Moses was not But that he has de-
manded rights instead Of begging
them; that he has fought instead OF
cringlng, and that he has not let the
opponents of the union labor move
ment decide how the union labor
movement shall be conducted will not
condemn him with those who believe
that courage and self-respect are
good elements for the national fiber.
I'm his fifty years of fighting for
labor and for humanity Mr.. Gompers
has never said anything more vigor-
Gus than Patrick Henry said, than
the Declaration Of Independence pro-
mulgated. than Thomas Jefferson and
Andrew jackson and Abraham Lin
coin and Mr.. Justice Harlan and
Woodrow Wilson said. But he hae
said things just as vigorous. And II