The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-09-06
GOMPERS SEES
LABOR FACING
GREAT ISSUES
Arthur Henderson, Noted
British Leader, Greets
u. S. Workers.
By SAMUEL GOMPERS.

By SAMUEL GOMPERS.
president American Federation Of
Labor)
Washington, Sept. 6.-Labor day,
1920, finds labor facing the great
est issue Of the time.
We are in the midst Of a politi
cal campaign of paramount impor-
tance.
We are in the midst Of time in
which those who oppose labor are
seeking to utilize every agency for
the purpose Of undermining the
organization of labor.
We are in the midst OF trying
times-times that call for stead
fastness, solidarity and intell-
gence.
The political campaign makes it
necessary that the workers every
where should unite in the defeat of
those candidates who are the enc
mics OF labor and defeat them: and
that labor should unite in support
of those who are the friends OF
labor and OF the great masses OF
our people and elect them.
Through the machinery OF gov
ernment the enemies of labor will,
if they are successful. endeavor to
restrict and deny the rights and
liberties of the workers.
Those who stand for the princi-
pies of freedom and justice and
democracy in industry must be
supported by the men and women
OF labor.
II we misuse our opportunities
we shall have only ourselves to
blame-and We shall pay the PEN
atty.
Profiteers know what they want
and whom they want.
Those who would deny to labor
the right to an organized existence
know what they want and whom
they want.
Those who would make profit
the sole end of productive labor
know what they want and whom
they want.
On the industrial field the lines
are drawn as sharply as on the po-
litical field. And the industrial
struggle goes on and on. 1t does
not end or pause with election
days.
Let this Labor day mark an
epoch of strength and solidarity in
the ranks of labor-a strength and
solidarity awake to the issues and
the dangers and the opportunities
Of our time.
Right and justice can triumph
only through the ardent support OF
those who believe in right and JUS
tice.
Henderson Sends Greeting.
London, Sept. 6.-Arthur Hen,
derson, Britain.s foremost labor
leader. today sent the following
greeting to American workers:
"On the occasion Of Americas
Labor day. l convey the fraterna
greetings of the organized labor
movement Of Great Britain to theil
| comrades in America.
Never before in the history o.
organized working class move
ments has there been such a cleal
recognition OF the interdependenc'
OF popular interests as today.
Peace has always been one o
the foremost aims Of the workers
"War between peoples and wal
between different sections or class
es Of the same people are destruc
tive occurrences; and destructive
action, whether 1t II called war o.
revolution, Is an empty, mislead
Ing and costly substitute for peace
full constructive effort.
There u no sharp. short ant
royal road to the reign Of univer
sal freedom, material prosperity
and social and intellectual happi
ness.
Tho Only Sure Way.
"The only sure path demand
concerted efforts from the worker
OF all countries along constructive
lines.
NO one country can advance
alono to the ideal state Of exist
ence; there must be q steady an,
concerted movement forward alonl
the whole limo OF national effort.
"In other words. progress to
moro elevated form Of life for tn
people IL not tho special aim Of
particular people: It 10 the com
mon aim Of all peoples. And I
achieve this aim there must b
;, common or International action.
j The British organised labe