New-York tribune., 1919-01-19
G0mpers Advises American
Labor to Stay Out Of Politics

welfare OF the working people OF the United
States which is not contained in the cur
riculum, the work and the principles of the
bona tide labor movement Of our country?
(Which movement. economic or political,
in any country on the face of the globe las
brought more hope and encouragement,
more real advantage, to the working people
than the trade union movement of America
has brought to the wage earning masses of
our country?
"The organization Of political labor
party would simply mean the dividing OF
the activities and allegiance of the men and
women of labor between two bodies, such as
would often come in conflict
Following a brief outline of what
American labor has already accom-
plished, he inquires
who are we going to have as the leaders
Of this new political labor party here?
understand that there is mpatience among
our fellows. It is creditable to them that
they are inpatient There is not any man
in all America, or in all the world, more
impatient than | with the progress that has
been made, with the position we occupy.
want more, more, more for labor | think
| have tried and am trying to do my share.
My associates of the executive council have
tried to do their share, but there is such
q thing as attempting to overrun, and by
oVcrrunning to defeat, the object we would
gain for the wage earners and to throw
them into the hands OF those who do not
know the honest aspirations of labor or
who would direct them for personal ag-
grandizement.
81 have been the president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor for many many
years, regard that position as the most
exalted that could occupy l have no
aspiration to hold this or that position.
1t is not that ask you to follow me.
ask that. the trade union movement be
given its fullest opportunity for growth
and development so that it may be the in
strumentality to secure better and better
and better and constantly better condi-
tions for the workers of our country.
"IIere we are in this transition period
from war into peace, with all that it may
mean. week ago last evening. that is, on
Sunday evening, December /, at the Cen
tury Theatre. | delivered an address, | am
proud of the address ] delivered there on
that night. do not think that any one
realizes all the dangers which l felt and
tried to express as to the situation now and
which may arise in the near future. l ask
you whether the creation of political
labor party, and particularly at this time,
would help to solve these problems and
meet these dangerous conditions? If ever
unity was needed for the toilers it is now.
ut is not true, some carping critics al
lege, that the American Federation Of Labor
is a non-politica organization. As a matter
Of fact the workers of the United States
and the organized labor movement are
active in the exercise of their political
right and power. We have changed the
control of our government from the old
time interests of corporate power and judi
cial usurpation. We have secured from the
government of the United States the labor
provision of the Clayton antitrust law the
declaration in the law that the labor of d
human being is not commodity or article
of commerce. In that law we have secured
the right of our men to exercise functions
for which, under the old regime, our men
were brought before the bar of justice and
fined imprisoned. We have secured the
eight-hour work day not only as a basic
principle but as a fact. We have secured
the seamen's law giving to the seamen the
freedom to leave their vessels when in safe
harbor The seamen Of America are now
free men and own themselves We have