The Connecticut labor news. (New Haven, Conn.) 1921-1925, 1921-07-08
COMPERS' WINDS UP
CONVENTION WITH A
STIRRING ADDRESS
President Urges All Labor to Assert
Itself by Observation OF
Labor Day,

President Samuel GOmDcrS JUS
previous to the adjournment of tn
recent annual convention Of the A. +
OF l.. took occasion to address tn
delegates and laid down a policy 0
advancement for Organized Labor O
America it would be we'll for ever,
union man to read and follow. Whe1
lit was announced that the business o
the convention was completed, Pres
ldent Gompers called the delegates tt
order for few minutes and spoke tC
them as follows:
"Before we finally adjourn this con
vention, | think it is but appropriate
to make some few observations. First
let me say that there are no regret!
that | think any delegate can justly
feel because of the legislation OF thi.
convention. Here, assembled as we
are in open session every minute O
our stay III the convention, subject tc
the inspection and supervision anC
criticism OF the press and Of the pub
| lie, we have been seen at work, in
tensely interested in the proposals
which have been received and consid
cred by the delegates. Every resolu
ton has been examined by the com
mittees and received thoughtful con
sideratiOn and action by the cOnVen-
ton.
Sometimes there has occurred de-
bate and discussion in which we have
felt deeply and keenly concerned and
like ed-blooded men and women
have expressed our opinions and con
V1ct1ons IN language that was unmiS-
taxable. Credit is due to every man
and woman who has been in our con
Ventlon that, Notwithstanding how
various and divergent have been the
views in general, they have been re-
ceived in a liberal and most generous
fashion. The meetings. of the labor
movement, in our local unions, in our
city central bodies, in our state con-
ventions, in our international unions
and in the great American Federation
of Labor are the most democratic,
open-minded gatherings which are in
existence in any part of the world.
This labor movement is not a pink
tea arrangement; it is a movement
dealing with humans, with humanity,
with freedom, with liberty and safety,
not only for the tOiling masses but for
all the people of our country and of
our kind. We deal today with the
questions which confront us and deal,
too, with the subjects for the immedi-
ate and the distant future to safe
guard the rights, the freedom, the
justice and the democracy to which
the people Of our country and our
time are entitled.
IF there were unanimous agree
ment among our delegates, among the
men and women in our movement,
there would be no need of our gather
ing, and out of the conflict of mind
and conscience and heart come the
hot & Il,
by which we are confronted; and each
one Of us doing his or her level best
to reach the WiseSt, most practical
and constructive conclusion that shall
bring benefit and advantage and hap
plness and love and fraternity and
patriotism among all of us-the love
of humanity
"And SO [ may say that though
there has been great divergence of
opinion, manfully and womanly ex-
pressed in terse language, [ doubt
very mucll-indeed, l am fully per-
suaded-that there is not a more in
telligent body of men and women
anywhere engaged in the solution Of
serious problems in which there is a
broader intelligence or a palmer ex-
preston of that which is in the minds
of the delegates than right in the con-
ventions Of the American Federation
of Labor.
MAY I say that I should very much
appreciate, as l know it would con-
organizations of labor in all our cities
and towns would fttingly celebrate
the coming Labor Day, the first Mon
day in September? Let us show with
pride and satisfaction that our ranks
are united in spirit and in fact; that
we propose to greet our friends and
Sympathizers and those who under
stand us with the friendliest greet
lngs, and that those who are antagon-
1st1c to our movement may under
stand that we will go in solid
phalanx to meet the future face to
face.
"Just prior to our coming to Den
yer to hold this convention, and a few
days after our arrival here, we were
received and referred to with sneers
and contempt by those who do not
know, or, if knowing, are so absolute
ly hostile that they have closed their
minds to reason. This American Fed
Grafton of Labor has met in the open,
and at least for the present our CON
duct has silenCed our enemies.
I'VE have met and we have COM
ton. When we adjourn and return
to our respective homes, and offices,
when we meet our fellows, our towns
men and women, when we meet the
great public and our respective con-
stituencies, let us carry to them
message of honor and good will and
fraternity.
LET us endeavor during the coming
year to make still greater strides in
the onward and upward movement,
which is the basic principle upon
which the American trade union
is founded; so that when
we meet in 1922 at Cincinnati, we shall
have a record of achievements for the
right, for the men and women of Ia
Dor, for the children of our country,
that there may be implanted in their
hearts and in their minds the thoughts
and the ideals for that better day of
which the philosophers have dreamed
and the world have struggled; that we
may be nearer that ideal when in the
full sunshine of midday we can face
the world, conscious of the fact that
we have done our whole duty"