The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-23
This Preferable to Closing In
dustries, Says Labor Chief.
Railroads Lax Because Ham,
pered by Antitrust Law.
NO NEUTRALITY IN THIS WAR
Labor Must Make Victory Sure
for Democracy.
Calls /. w. w. "BOIsheviki of
q. s." and Warns Workers.

Indianapolis, Jan. 2S.-A universal
seven hour day during the period of
the war instead of present spasmodic
suspension of industries by the fuel
administrator to conserve coal and re-
lieve railroad congestion, was sug-
gested today by Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Federation
of Labor in a speech to the conven-
ton of United Mine Workers.
Mr.. Gompers's speech to the miners
was regarded as labor's message to the
country on the action of the fuel ad-
ministration. He prefaced his declar-
alton for a seven hour day with a de-
fense of those in high governmental
station who may have made mistakes
They are prompted, he said, by the
patriotic purpose to win the war, and
tC think that the great transition from
peace to war could be made without
mistakes was asking the impossible
Continuing he said:
Closing Order Was Necessary.
The order issued a few days ago 1
regard as an absolute necessity You
know there is now a discussion to re-
peal or modify the Sherman anti
excuse for the railroads; they have
been lax SO long, but the Sherman
antitrust law forbade them to do
what now the director general of the
railroads has the right to do. The
jam had occurred and was increasing,
and something had to be done to re-
lieve the situation.
''I think there is one mistake in the
making, and 1 trust it will be changed
or modified. / refer to the closing of
the industrial and commercial plants
of our country one additional day each
week. i think it is a mistake to have
a whole day such as Monday idle and
involving from Saturday afternoon un-
til Tuesday morning. / believe if the
order were changed so that instead of
their being ten, nine or eight hours as
a days work, the same power pro-
claim a universal seven-hour day dur
ing the war better results would fol-
! low.
I'VE would have practically the
same results in the conservation of
| fuel and all other needful commodf-
ties. 1t would not do violence to the
history, the traditions. the work and
the practical operations of industry
and commerce
II trust that the suggestion NAV
| find Judgement somewhere and bring
about that change; but if it doesn't,
am going to obey like a soldier of
America, L am going to yield my
Judgment to the judgment and the ac-
tons of the men in whose hands the
destinies of our republic are placed
Autocracy or Democracy!
Mr.. Gompers said there can be no
neutrality in this war You have got
to be either for autocracy or democ-
racy," he declared. Labor must make
victory sure for democracy but sound
the warning that labor would not
surrender the standards of life ex-
/ cept to save the republic; that no
sacrifices would be made solely to fill
the pockets of the rich with large
| profits"
1t was here that he defended men in
| high places On the train from New
! York to Indianapolis, he said, he heard
the names of many men suggested to
| takeSthe places of those in responsible
| governmental positions. but not one of
! the men named, he added, has ever
| done a public service or expressed a
word or thought in behalf of labor.
| He mentioned no names.
Bolsheviki Drcamers.
| Mr.. Gompers defined Bolsheviki to
/ mean group of men who are the ex-
| tremes of extreme Maximalists, men
who want all their dreams to come
about in one fell swoop.
! After declaring that the czar in his
palmiest days never did more harm
! than the Bolsheviki has done, he re-
minded labor that it has it's Bolsheviki
: in this country. He said there was
one organization that had so conduct
I ed itself that it was now without
! power to make a showing, much less
fight. While Mr.. Gompers did not
name the organization, delegates said
he plainly meant the Industrial Work
nf he