Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1921-09-19
Civic And Industrial
Leaders Praise Gompers
Mayor Key, Judge Sibley, Preston
Arkwright And Others Speak At
Banquet for Labor Leader

al LIAM LA, sept lSth-AS honor
guest of banquet given Thursday
evening at the Hotel Ansley by Allan
ia trade bodies, Samuel Gompers, the
president of the American Federation
OF Labor, received from civic and in
dustria1 leaders a welcome expressed
IN terms of the highest admiration and
confidence.
Herbert Clay, president of the Geor-
gia State Senate, spoke on behalf OF
Governor Hardwick who was out of
the city. 1t afforded him pleasure to
be able to say to Mr.. Gompers that
the chief executive of this state has
always been the friend of organized
labor. AS for himself, Senator Clay,
said he had had seen the standard of
citizenship elevated by one labor union
after another, and would like to see
the unions extended,
Mayor Key said: at is very unfor-
tunate that this gratitous insult by a
former governor should have been
hurled at our guest of honor. I for
one, resent it, and don't mind saying
so. A gathering like this is evidence
that we have made enormous strides
forward. Hostility is the enemy of
progress. There can be no progress
coupled with war. I have regarded
the labor movement as a means of es-
tablishing peace. We have less strikes
and strife here than any city of our
size in the country, I believe. Our
building trades dispute was the first
to be settled after the war. and build
ing has gone steadily forward in con-
sequence. This city, Mr. Gompers,
accords men the right to organize, and
accords no man the right to say they
shall not"
Judge Sibley's Speech
Judge Samuel H. Sibley of the
United States Court said:
GAS working man, I appreciate
Mr.. Gompers and the great movement
he represents. I admire his militan-
cy, his ability and willingness to fight.
But above militancy and popularity
stands good judgement, without which
no leader is safe or successful. 1 was
proud and glad to see his recent vic
torious reelection. 1t showed that
reason must and will prevail in the
ranks of labor, that progress must be
made by evolution and not revolution.
If Iwere allied, sir. with your move
ment, my concern would not be its
lack of power, but its excess of pow
er. 1t is, to my mind, the greatest
organized movement in America. No
man should ever go into court expec-
pecting favor from the Judge. Labor
is thinking generation ahead of the
law, and labor's dissappointments in
judicial decisions are because the law
is OF the past and the present, not the
future. Your recourse, then, is in the
legislative halls and at the ballot box.
Preston S. Arkwright, president Of
the Georgia Railway and Power Co..
gave most remarkable statement Of
the change his attitude has undergone
with regard to union labor. His com
pany, he said, misunderstood and
feared the street car mems union and
made a contract with it; the arrange
ment is working satisfactorily on both
sides.
Finds Unions Not So Bad
THE individual employee in large
organization said Mr.. Arkwright "has
right to the strength of numbers
and organization in his dealings with
employer" ''It gives him assurance
not only that he is getting his rights
but also that he has an equal showing.
This ought to give him more spirit
and help the industry as we'll as him.
used to receive reports confidential
ly about the street car mems union
which made me feel uneasy. Last
Monday morning I attended the OPP
enIag of the street car mems conven-
ton, and heard President Mahon's
address, containing not word which
did not subscribe I received re-
port on the convention from the usual
source, and it was colored, and did
not give a true picture of what
witnessed with my own eyes. There
fore, say it would be good thing
for employers and employees to come
together oftener and get better ac-
quainted."
Tears were in the eyes of Mr.. Com
pers, the venerable labor leader as he
rose to reply.
"You can understand, I am sure"
said he, "the feelings in my heart af-
ter such welcome and such an intro
duction as I have received here this
evening was delighted with the
invitation to come to this board, but
when I read the attack this morning
by your former governor, wonder
ed if some of you here tonight would
share his opinions. Now feel that
you do not, for instead of stunning me
as an accessory to- murder, you have