Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1921-08-05
VOL. ~
Onward Labor
BY Samuel Gompers

With the approach of Labor Day
it is necessary that there be stock
taking and making of plans for the
future work of our labor movement.
American labor, on its day of cele-
bration and commemoration this
year, must give to tlee world mes
sage of hope, of courage, of determi-
nation and of constructive thought.
The time has come for labor to as
sumo the aggressive. We have held
the line. Our positions are intact.
1t is the hour for a great forward
movement. With a unity such as our
movement has never excelled, with
spirit of determination unequalled,
let us face the future prepared to
take advantage of every opportunity
which the future offers.
The labor movement predicates the
success of every effort upon the
righteousness of it's position and on
the strength of it's organization. The
principles Of our movement have been
tried and found true. The great need
of the day is organization and more
organization-mor unity and soli-
darity. The necessity of trade union
ism-always an necessity and hope
of deliverance-mustb be carried to the
unorganlzed everywhere.
The trade union movement is de-
dicated to the proposition that auto
cratic control of industry must be
destroyed in order that there may be
a full development of human freedom
and in order that all men and women
may have voice in the determination
of their destiny.
The greatest contribution which
the members of our movement can
make today to the cause OF human
progress is the unrestrained giving
of effort in the work of organization.
Labor Day this year should be made
red-letter day in the history of or
ganization work. Upon that day our
movement everywhere should so con-
duct itself as to compel for it's ideals
and it's practical purposes the atten-
ton of all wage earners. The OBJ
servance of labor's great holiday
should be so ordered in every COM
munity as to drive home the mes
sage of trade unionism and to carry
to all hearts and minds the thought
that the organized labor movement
is the great movement Of workers for
human freedom and progress.
Set Labor Day as the day upon
which our great effort is to begin.
Set Labor Day as the day upon which
we cease holding the line and begin
to move forward in a great resistless
wave. Upon that day let there be
demonstrations, let there be great
gatherings of the workers. Let there
be inspiring public addresses and dis
tribution of the literature of our
movement. Let there be everywhere
enthusiastic celebration Of Labor Day.
In those communities where lately
there has been an abandonment of
Labor Day demonstrations, let there
be a revival of them. Let there be
full utilization of every proper
means of carrying to the great masses
of our wage-earners the necessity of
trade unionism and from that day
on let work of organization go on
with such vigor, such an intensity
and such an inspired purpose as our
movement has never known.
1t is the hour for action. Rally the
forces of labor everywhere for the
great forward movement. Bend every
energy to the work of organization.
The voices of the defenseless call
upon us. The eyes of the downtrodden
are turned toward us. The tide of
progress waits upon our effort.
Men of Labor; be and deingl
Organic the unorganized. Unite and
federate the organized in solid phai-
anx. Men of Labor, be up and doing!
March forward and upward to the
goal of justice, freedom and human