Great Falls tribune., 1921-06-14

The veteran labor leader warned
that the same interests that are pro-
noting the alleged anti-union drive in
this country are trying to drive back
the farmers from the position they
have attained in the last few years" !"
He urged united cooperation in op-
posing the movement being made to
and destroy the department of agri-
culture
The labor movement Of America
now stands intact and will continue
to-" Mr.. Gompers said, declaring that
the drive of the anti-union forces on
organized labor had failed.
Before the next snowfalls' he
added. there will be five million mem
bers in the American Federation of
Labor"
Never Retreat, He Says.
The labor movement of America as
well as throughout the entire world"
he said. was never taught the mean
ing of the word retreat and will go
marching forward and upwards
No movement in history has been
put to a greater test than the trades
union movement said President Com
pers, adding that it had successfully
withstood the fires of antagonism and
relentlessness.
''The only purpose Of the anti-union
drive" he continued lis to weaken the
spirit of the working people of the
country and make further inroads on
the standards of life of the toilers of
America and force arbitration in
wages"
The labor leader referred briefly to
world international agreement.
Need New Spirit.
"One thing we need is solidarity
among the toiling masses of this
he declared I'VE need a
new spirit not of resentment, but of
desire to protect the interests of the
masses of this country, to
work of our own structure.
While we love every human being
no matter where born or where he
may reside, one principle from which !,
we cannot depart is America first +"
''The labor movement of America is
endeavoring to cultivate the best Of |
relations with other interests of our
but if we are to retain our !,
standards and our rights we must
present solid front. united in spirit.
IN fact and in idealism."
President Gompers was given a
great ovation when he opened the !
The delegates and visit |
,rs cheered him widely for several
minutes. A gavel of wood from Colo
ado forests and made by members of /
he Carpenters union was presented to |
he labor chief when the meeting was
urned over to him by the temporary |
chairman.
keating Flags Bourbonism.
More than 800 delegates were seat
'ion was opened making it one of the
argest labor gatherings ever held in
he history Of the federation.
1T is not bolshevism but bourbonism
hat is the danger in the United
>tates,' former representative Edward
<eating of Colorado told the conven-
ion.
'Bourbonism. drunk on war profits,
$ the menace Mr.. Heating declared.
I don't believe there are enough
lonest to God capitalists in this
ountry to break up a picnic Of the
noulder's union"
The convention was opened by an
ddress of welcome by Mayor Dewey
:. Bailey and by Governor Oliver H.
'houp Of Colorado.
The first official action of the con-
ention was to adopt resolution to be
ubmltted to congress protesting
gainst the Scott bill, now pending.
'hich, it was alleged, would increase
be length of the navigation season
n the Great Lakes, reduce the number
f skilled seamen employed on ships
nd increase the hours of labor. This
as proposed by delegates of the In
srnaticnal Seamen's union, who de-
Jared that the bill would eliminate