The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-12
LABOR READY To AID
SH|PBU|LD|AG PLANS
Men Only Want to BE Assured OF Fair
Treatment and Decent Quarters,
Insists GonIpcrs.
SAYS 1900, 900 IDLE
SSmpathiaeS With Farmers, But De-
ciarcs They Are Worse Than Cor
porations In Treatment of Their
Employees.

Washington, Feb. 11.-Samuei
Gompcrs, president Of the American
Federation Of Labor. today pledged
labor's unqualified support to the
shiphuilding program. Called before
the senate commerce committee 10 tell
his ORGANIZATIONS attitude and plans.
hc said:
We arc with the government and
with our European allies in fight
to the finish Nothing will suit us
hut that kind of fight. And II democ-
racy goes down before autocracy, let
tt be In fight, and not because of plot,
iutr que and Elackening.
II warn this committee against the
testimony of men who for years have
been trying to make organized labor
leok bad"
Gompers told reasons why, he said,
shipyard labor has seemed dissatisfied.
He charged:
Men were not given a nj place to
sleep; they were gouged for food,
clothing, transportation. working by
the piece. their rate was steadily de-
creased go that wages did not mount
when they increased the amount OF
work done: they often had to pay
grafters for jobs when they knew
work was plentiful.
/ AS for farmers Gnmpers said he
svnpathIzed with them in trying &c
get just p-- for their service to so.
ciety. but that as employers they were
even worse than corporations. They
regarded barn Rs good enough
sleeping place for laborsr: and they
want q constantly unemployed army
q surplus Of labor from which they
.a1tg
figures
Senators johnson and Harding
agreed that there had been no pro.
vision or plans to care for the hous.
ing OF labor at yards But the.
promised him a betterment nj once.
{ Denying a shortage OF labor, Mr.
Gompers said there are 1900 900 per
tsons known 10 the federation of Ia
/ boz now to be unempioyed--rnost |,
needed workers. stone workers. brick
Ela%ere, painters. carpenters and 9th
CTS whose trades had been affecteg
b. VAR economies
Get them TO the Job before yol
start talking shorta ge." he said PRO
wide jobs white men viii want. w,
won't sleep in garages or stables, a.
Some ship workers have. We won
be the goat OF proffteering'
Senator Harding asked Gompers I
the government had not ruled asains
piece workers having their rate re
9uced as their capacity for more worl
developed.
Yes. and. as often cancelled. vic
iated fragrantly" snapped Gompers.
rs there now policy in organize,
labor 20 restrict mans output +?
asked Harding.
Gompers In very few trades. I
is reErettable But 1T Is result. no
a purpose TIE men in those trade
| nave found that as their productive
Increased. their pay per unit OF wor
decreased, So why work harder7'
senator Vardaman: 1T IS unfortv
nate in this great war that every on
ishould not do all he could
Gompers: 1T ought not to be-"
. Replying to a question by Senate
Harding as TO iahor's following of hi
leadership. Gompers said:
~ am not Sir Oracle. District lead
era generally follow me. Not al
some say | have sold out 20 this cnp
italistio war. The same proportion
probably. are with me IS American
are with the president"
Gompers admitted that organize
labor had attempted unsuccessfully {
have all men for certain work hire
through it's unions.
What have you to say to III
charges" asked Senator Harding. tina
as shipyard wages rise men are likel
y to lay off a day or two a week.
MY Information. said Gompers. Z"
I that 1t Is untrue"
can you say how much labc
IS trouble ia pro-German?"
Quite a lot The l, w. W. arc bis
a ger than ever. ] know one former Ia
g hor man, poor. who has blossomed o,
90 as the sole owner of new and agitA
@ Ing paper, The head OF the Socialt
n party, Adolph Germer. is a German"