The Washington herald., 1921-12-29
LABOR'S OUTLOOK
FILLED With HOPE,
GOMPERS CLAIMS
Tide Has Turned for Bet
ter Industrial Year,
Despite Courts.
By SAMUEL GOMPERS.

1t is gratifying to approach the
New Year with the probability that
During its early days the world
will have finally taken the first
great step toward the reduction of
armaments. 1t betokens the begin
ming of a determination to build
for peace.
l wish the Indications Of a de-
termination to utilize peaceful
mGthods in industry seemed as
strong.
1t Is customary at this season to
review tho old year. II has been a
rugged period. a period of combat
1t has been nece ssary to fight to
maintain progress previously
achieved. but that fight has been
won. The assault has been checked
Reaction has made it's supreme Of
fensive and it mas failed.
Labor's Outlook Hopeful.
The outlook for labor is decidedly
hopeful. The days OF struggle
through which we have passed
have brought to many thinking men
and women a better understanding
Of our movement. More and moro
the assaults on the labor move
ment are resented by progressive.
right thinking men and women and
the friendship and understanding
that have come to the labor move
ment in the year now closing are
widespread and deep-seated. 1t is
fully appreciated and greatly
valued.
In addition to the struggle
against those who sought to de-
stroy the labor movement. the
workers have had to contend with
unemployment. The national con-
ference on unemployment did much
to relieve the situation. but no cure
was found and the number of un-
employed is still large enough to
make the situation acute. The
number Of unemployed still runs
into the millions.
There are good Indications that
the tide has turned toward better
industrial conditions and II that
be so it is tone of the brightest and
best of the New Year signs for the
workers. Nothing is so essential
to workers as employment. 1t Is
the foundation of life itself TO
them. We must concern ourselves
about unemployment as long as a
single person is unable to find
work. II 1000. 200 men. out of per-
haps 100000 are back at work.
that is but a beginning, and re-
coubled efforts are necessary to
see that work is found for all. 1t
is time that civilization found out
how to abolish unemployment and
Il viii be well for America to de-
vote much time and study to that
problem in 1922. This thing must
not happen again If we value our
civilization.
EnIightenment Growing.
There seems to be. on the part
of society as a whole, growing
enlightenment. growing desire
that Justice shall be in reality the
keystone of our social structure.
The courts seem unable to come
within the influence of this grow
ing enlightenment. Hid away from
the fundamentals of life, they gnaw
at human rights. unaware that
they are undermining instead of
bulwarking. The promiscuous use
of the injunction in labor disputes
where the Clayton law forbids it's
use at all. is and must be a matter
of grave concern. 1t is to be hoped
that the courts will begin soon to
perceive the destructive effect of
their ill-eonsidered work. America
will not tolerate for long the
steady and persistent restriction
and destruction of essential rights.
Labor hopes that the New Year
may bring a better sense of JUS
tice to those entrusted with dis
pensinE justice, that they dis
pense justice instead of dispensing
with justice.
The labor movement faces the
New Year with confidence. 1t
knows the determination of its en-
emies but II also knows the neces-
coxtiHued on Pogo T1o.