Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1922-08-30
LEADERS
IN FRONT RANK
OF. EXECUTIVES
IN General Ability and the Power
for Organization, They Are
Recognized as Having Few
Saperiors in the World of
Business.

"FSi wi . III tlIS VtVlIu VI
Business.
Eighteen thousand dollars a year
Tor labor leader and a contract for
life shows that some unions are pay
Ing as big salaries to their executives
as do the large business interests.
Salaries Of from $4,000 to $4,000 are
by no means infrequent, writes John
w. Harrington in the New York Sun.
The head IF the Dockbuilders' union,
Tor instance, whose compensation is
$1,000 a month, Is the highest paid
labor representative in New York city
and probably in the country. At least
no leader of the working classes has
come forth so far to admit that he is
getting more, and a search Of the
archives of the unions fails to reveal
anything like so huge an honorar rum.
Although this appears to be the top
notch in the way of salaries the dock
builders in the district from Philadel-
phia to Boston, including those of New
York city and neighborhood, believe
that they are getting the worth of
their money, and insisted on his having
that amount, although like Caesar, he
several times declined the honor
Headquarters UpIifted.
Once labor headquarters was a
dark and dingy place, reeking Of stale
pipes and of staler beer fumes. It's
floors were caked with CRIME and it's
VIM l;,-+1,
:hief officer of the dockbuilders has
bright and airy office and does busi-
ness in an atmosphere of good DESKS
file cases and high power business eff
fciency. Clerks, stenOgraphers and
cashiers are under his eye, and every
where are all the devices which make
for attending to large affairs. If one
were suddenly translated to his pres
ence one would think that he was
talking to the manager of one of the
large corporations or a bank president.
He works from 16 to IS hours day
and says he often works 20. Any one
seeing him chcerfully violating the
eight hour law may we'll realize that
he is worth d good deal of money to
any interest to which he might devote
himself, for he transacts business like
lightning.
NOminally, he is the representative
of the Dockbuilders' union, which is
connected with the Brotherhood Of
Carpenters and Joiners, part Of the
American Federation of Labor, and
from that organization he draws his
large salary. voted to him unanimously
over his veto. Those who compose
this well-establishel union were get
ting $500 day before the war, i. e.
in 1918, and now they have $3.50, which
is a gain Of slightly more than 100 per
cent.
They are giving, therefore, less than
one days work Il year to the salary Of
their representative. In return for
this he keeps things running smoothly,
and sees that work is as regular and
steady as possible and gets what they
consider fair wages for them without
their having to lose heavily by strikes
in getting it. He is as willing to order
strike as any labor leader, but he
regards it as last resort. Neither
does he believe in stopping work for
days and weeks on important jobs
while some detail of Jurisdiction is
being considered.
His salary is more than that Of Sam
uel Gompers, the president of the
American Federation of Labor, whose
stipend is now $4,000 year. 1t was
for a long period $780, and before
that it had been advanced from $4,000
shortly before the European war. The
veteran leader accepted this amount
under protest, saying that it was more
than he needed to live on, and that
the fact 1t had been raised to so large
an amount might be used against or
gained labor.
So far nobody has used it very
much, for the consensus is that, con-
sidering the duties, Mr.. Gompers earns
that much and probably a great deal
more. For practically forty consecu-
tive times this veteran leader has been
chosen for high post in the organiza-
ton against all corners. Now nearing
the age Of three score and ten he is
still considered at the height of his
powers as an executive.
Gompers' Long Hours.
Judged on the basis of the number
Of hours he works a day Mr. Gompers
is the equivalent Of several men, He
carries q heavy burden at the Offices
of the federation, which, by the way,
owns it's building and has an elaborate
organization to maintain. AS the grand
supervisor Of the federation he directs
it's policies and also makes frequent
Journeys throughout the country. AS
speaker on public occasions he is
heard often in cities far from Wash
lngton. He is also the editor of the
To1o CT thn 1A1 mi