The Washington times., 1919-10-29

to which organized labor has been
pledged.
Police estimates were that 10000
marched in the parade. Those in
charge of the procession estimated
10000 more. But at any rate. whether
there were 10000 or 10000. the parade
last night is unequaled by any like
demonstration ever staged before in
Washington.
Carrying their red torches, flaming
and smoking on the fianks of the
marching squads. some of them sing
ing, .treading in measured steps to the
music Of fifteen bands dispersed
throughout the route of march, the
thousands made a demonstration last
night which will last long in the
memory of those who witnessed IT.
starts At 5,I0 p. NJ.
The head of the parade rested at
Seventeenth and B streets northwest,
and at 7:l0 O'Clock began to move
east along b street to Fifteenth,
along Fifteenth to Pennsylvania ave-
nue., then east on Pennsylvania ave-
nue. to Liberty Hut.
A platoon of police led the parade,
followed by James J. McCracken.
grand marshal, accompanied by a few
aides. 1t took a little less than two
hours to pass given point, and the
procession would have run of with
great smoothness had il not been for
a blocked street car which caused
some confusion.
Scores of floats, representing the
different unions which were partici-
pants in the parade, and manned by
men and women workers, were one or
the features of the procession.
1t was o o'clock before the march
ers assembled in the Liberty Hut, op-
posite Union Station, to hear Samuel
Gompers deliver his address. On the
stand with him were many of the
delegates to the international confer
ence, special guests of the Central
Labor Union. of Washington. John
B. Colpoys. chairman of the general
parade committee. called the meeting
to order. He introduced Secretary of
Labor Wilson, who officiated as pre-
siding officer.
Mr.. Wilson paid a tribute to Mr..
Gompers when he declared it was well
for the country that a conservative
leader was at the helm of the labor
movement now. Gompers, he said.
had fought for the rights of the work.
ingmen in the face of condemnation
said that no man in a generation had
done, more to mold public sentiment
toward the laboring men than Samuel
Gompers.
In his speech Mr.. Gompers issued a
solemn warning that the men he rep
resented would stand for no indus
trial autocracy: that he would accept
the full responsibility for what may
result in the fight labor is making
against II.
Asks No Immunity.
IT ask no immunity and I want to
share the responsibility for the abuse
and criticism that is being heaped
upon the leaders of the labor move
ment for the fight to preserve the in
tegritp of the American Federation of
Labor" he said.
There shall be no Industrial autoc-
raey in the United States" he de-
clared. The fight for organized labor
has not been in vain. The full forces
of labor will fight any attempt to
force an autocracy in industry upon
this country"
A victory for the steel strikers was
predicted by Mr.. Gompers when he
made the statement that the steel
strike is in better position so far as
the strikers are concerned than at any
time since IL started. Inc Stflke was
not wrong. he said. but untimely. II
was forced by the leaders of the steel
industry, he charged to bring the fight
brewing for a long time between labor
and capital to a finish The strikers
were forced into the battle by the
leaders in the steel industry, he said.
DepIore. Treaty Delay.
II the men IN the strike had not
been led by leaders of conservative
Judgment, said Mr.. Gompers, they
would have fallen into the hands of
tho l. w. W.
God knows where IL would have
ended il the /. w. W. had got control
OF the men," he exclaimed.
Although Mr.. Gompers did not touch
on the coal strike impending. the
general railroad situation, orr the
Presidents message to the leaders of
the coal miners, he denounced in no
uncertain terms the bill which was
introduced in Congress to make
strikes unlawful
In conclusion Mr.. Gompers deplored
the Senate's delay in the ratification
of the peace treaty.
He pointed to what he termed the
humiliating spectacle Of the United
States entertaining an international
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