Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-10-26
GOMPERS SAYS
LEAGUEWOULD
ASSIST LABORER
Denounces Harding and Wat
son for Stand on Working
mans Laws.
RAILROAD LAW RAPED

Storms of applause greeted Samuel
Gompers, president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor. and mention of the
names of Governor Cox, Thomas Taggart
and President Wilson by the speaker in
Tomlinson Hall last night, caused the
big crowd to voice its approval by cheers
and the waving Of hats.
The address of Mr.. Gompers, who was
the principal speaker, was preceded Dy
short talk by William Green, secretary
treasurer Of the United Mine Workers,
who was the permanent chairman OF
the evening.
In his address, Mr.. Gompers devoted
considerable attention to Senator Hard
ing upon various pieces Of legislation
and upon issues of the campaign. o
In touching upon matters to be de-
cided by the election. he said 1t was to
be decided Nov. whether the American
people will stand not only for freedom
and progress in the United States, but
also universal peace among the people
of all nations.
In touching upon various matters OF
legislation, Mr.. Gompers spoke OF the
Sherman antitrust law and said 1t had
been turned against the men and women
of labor for whom it had been enacted.
ESCH-CUAIMINS
BILL CRITICIZED.
He touched also upon the Lever act
and criticized the Esch Cummins act.
He asked whether those in the hall
knew Senator Harding voted for pro-
vision in a bill that provided that any
two or more railroad employees who quit
work by agreement could be imprisoned
for five years.
Mr.. Gompers said Senator Watson was
a close follower and cohort of Senator
Harding-that they voted upon various
bills as though they were twin brothers
The speaker said he remembered when
Watson was a candidate for Governor OF
Indiana, and he expressed the belief that
he had helped to defeat him and to elect
Thomas Marshall.
He said when Watson was a member
Of the National House of Representatives.
the legislative committee of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor came in fire.
quent contact with him. and when asked
to assist in some legislation in favor OF
the laboring people Of the United States
Watson always turned against the COM
mjttee.
In speaking of Senator Harding, Mr..
Gompers asked If any one present had
heard or read Of any original. construc-
tive thought expressed by the Republican
candidate for President.
He added he had not yet seen the
evening papers and so was not Informed
as to whether Senator Harding had again
changed his position.
TELLS HOW LEAGUE
WOULD AID LABOR.
In speaking in favor of the League of
Nations he pointed out some Of the ad
vantages to be derived through it. and
also touched upon his part IN working
out a charter Of labor, as chairman Of
an international commission to protect
the rights and interests Of the work
ing people in all the countries in the
league.
Senators Harding and Watson voted
against this charter. he said, and later
the treaty was rejected.
Mr. Gompers said be sought no po-
litical position; that he felt he could be
of better service by remaining out Of
political office.
In speaking of the work of organized
labor. Mr.. Gompers said It not only had
declared in favor OF, but had made sacri-
fees to put into effect the principle of
equal pay whether the work was done by
men or women, and that he had long
dreamed of, and hoped for, the enfran
chisement of women.
There is nothing for which the labor
movement stands that IS not for the
benefit OF all the people of the United
States" he said
The movement is constructive. max
ing today a better day than yesterday;
tomorrow a better day than today, and
each day better day than the one pre-.
ceding it."
Mr.. Green, in introducing Gompers,
said that it had been his pleasure to
work, IN Ohio, with the Democratic can
didate for Presldent-that he had served
two terms In the Ohio State Senate while
Mr. Cox was Governor.
NINE WORKER HAS
PRAISE FOR cox.
He paid a warm tribute to Governor
Cox, and said fifty eight measures be-
hind which the laboring people of the
State had stood had been passed since
Mr.. Cox had been made Governor.
IL Is wonderful program secured in
Ohio with the help of Cox" he said.
In speaking Of the work of Senator
Harding he said he also was known in
Ohio and challenged any friend of SEN
atpA haEuluS TO point TO any piece or
legislation which labor had asked for
and with which his name is associated
His name is not associated with
single piece OF legislation labor has ap-
proved or asked" he added.
He said during his service in the Senate
Senator Harding, according to the rec
ords, lodged 1,163 roll calls, and added
he would rather have a man who had the
courage to vote for or against 4 PROPOSE
ton.
Mr.. Green said he had never seen such
change in sentiment as that which has
taken place in the past ten days aad said
he felt confident the results will be salts
factory to the workers Of the country on
Nov. 2.
ASKS SUPPORT
FOR THOMAS TAGGART.
He touched on the nomination Of Sena-
tor Harding, and of Senator Watson's
part in 1t. saying he should be defeated
as a rebuke to those people who would
force boss rule ON the American people
Senator Watson has asked support of
the laboring people because he wrote the
labor section of the Republican platform,
but when one reads the platform the
labor sections would have to be found
with q microscope" he said.
In closing Mr.. Green advised the cleo
ton of Governor Cox and Thomas Tag
CART.