The sun., 1919-10-29
GOMPERS ESPOUSES
STEEL MEMS CAUSE
Declares Big Business" De-
termined to Crush Labor.

WASHINGTON. Oct. 2S.-More than ten
thousand organized workers of the Dis
trict Of Columbia, who paraded down
Pennsylvania avenue tonight in honor
Of Samuel Gompers. later heard the vet
eran labor leader assert that big bust
ness" definitely had determined ito give
labor because Of It's growing strength a
blow between the eyes,
The attitude of the United States Steel
Corporation toward the steel workers
unions. he added. was only one nantes
tation of this determination on the part
OF Industry. The steel strike now. he
said, had his utmost sympathy. As evil
dence OF this sympathetic attitude he ap-
pealed to the District of Columbia work
ers to contribute to the support Of the
strikers.
You know of the troubles which are
before u.s." Gompers told the union men
These include the steel strike. l re-
garded the Inauguration of that strike
not as wrong but as untimely. You
will note that l am speaking in the pas
tense"
Mr.. Gofnpers added that at the tim,
Of the steel workers xalkout informa
ton had come to him from two source:
which he could not disregard that bis
business" had met and consulted anC
had determined that the moment was 6
proper one to administer a blow to or
ganized labor. Labor was gaining 81
much power and influence. he said. thai
business determined to crush it one,
and for all, inasmuch as the industrial
situation was passing from a war 10 {
peace basis. Mr.. Gompers charged
| the United States Steel Corporation con
sidered that in the midst OF this tran
sition period the moment was ripe for {
| showdown. The decision was made. h,
| added. to provoke deliberately the work
| men TO strike in order to defeat them.
Il don't believe in strikes when th'
boss wants it," he asserted. at is 6
| science to know when and when not u
strike"
Charging that the Steel Corporation
had discharged thousands of men TO
no other reason than because OF thei
connection with organized labor he sale
the workers became apprehensive ant
| they could not be kept from going out
| even though the strike appeared to b.
plan Of the steel interests.
| yet, II they had not walked on
when they did," he continued, "the,
would undoubtedly have fallen, soone
/ or later, under the malignant influence
! Oh the L. W. w. anu bOlSlcNlhl, 81 INA
there was the further issue involved o
preserving these workers in the rank
of orderly organized labor or seeini
them abandoned to the disorderly force
| arising in their midst"
The federation president charged tina
! the foreign language press had lon,
cndeavored TO prejudice the cause o
organized labor.
THE steel strike is not lost, as Mr.
Gary has asserted" the speaker added
at will be won II the proper supper
is given them"
Mr.. Gompers read one of the bill
recently introduced in Congress to pro
hibit strikes He went on: This bill
would reintroduce industrial servitude 4
the United States. 1t could not an
would not prevent strikes. Strike
should be avoided, so should wars
| What man regrets the revolutionar
war? The working people of Americ
have a right to stop work when thei
interest impels them to stop work. tn
strike is only an aspiration for a highe
and better life"