New-York tribune., 1922-12-31
Gompers Sees No Wage Cuts

Republic that after TIE var "
should not 20 back 70 ths h.ut1
and the autocrstic practices tE.th
existed prior 70 the war.
During the year now closing ssf
people have been divided among tksn'
selves in a tremendous struggle % L.
termine whether the vIr.iins spirit 4
progress and freedom could Iuriu
Ny judgment is that the issue is rev
sufficiently determined 10 permit ~
assertion that it viii survive. We afi
by no means assured that al q ne
good things which We promised ear
selves during the war are 70 ntltnh'
iEe, but We are AZ least assured IAii
the spirit OF reaction, Which hai bees
seeking q resurrection Of he realities
Of reaction, has been stopped ard thn
. gratifying measure Of progFsss IA
been achieved.
There are yet many dishssrtsairf
nanlfestations Of reaction ana :
many Of our institutions resetos =
vigorous IL not actually dominant Ihs
does not alter the fact that the frfa
Of the country as a Shole Is nov =.
spirit Of progress and the ipins q
freedom.
In all Of this the trade unions ~
particularly concerned. They els'H
avoid being concerned. For his ~,
are many reasons. First, the ms
unions are composed Of working 80
and women. The visitstions Of ~
reactionary spirit infict thensslw
hrst Of al upon those who coll AZ
take their toll first Of all from tfs'
who toll. The most crushing nif'
festations Of autocraey are no lorrh
in the political world. We fnd shs5
to-day In the industrial world lnfis,e
Second, the trade unions, esisg sI'
CARNATIONS Of the working psople
must resist any reaetioaary. issesnsI
which affects working peoplf. tns,
fore. those who favor fesenoa.y
measures and ideas must y tns ni IN
Of things come 20 grips nis. "
with the organ nizationt Of aooi -.
Is il now clear that l.sei ia.
most intimately the siofy Of the N'' ns.
struggles Of the past year -
experience trust Z - ....lfs
Let me particulsrite " !" '
measures and proposals. ...d.,,
During the year me ~ A.
drive Of organized empleyysi. x.ishi
rupt the trade unions reaento y. ...fsl
and began is decline. Employers .ts,i
this autocratie drive the opsa 49,
movement. For a time tAey &c., -.
some people, but Il soon oeean'
parent 20 al thinking peisfeii' s.,r
when organized employers sac
shop" they meant anti-uhlol M
the shop closed 70 umon woI.....5 tis
moment that became '......r,,1.
failure Of the moyemert va, s-i,sls
A great many hired prop.s'..sr.r ~ Ar.
were i'm the field in the seryies = 40
ganlaed employers, and ! pfess...-....'
% sore extent our prcsenf ..., Il
ment figures include a - esi
these propagandists who are
Of work -, uts
Al the beginning Of is.2 ;,.r .'', ssr
a good deal Of surface pop'.'sorts,
various forms Of peonage v,s,ss
including such measures as ~ ss.tins
Industrial Relations Act snt 49,, -, Il
the proposal Of compalscp
the mines and on the fal,i ,,esey
Employers who spent ihsI ssop'
lEv!shly In the So.callcd ,le,,,s II
drive also worked for ht '-W M thsJ
compulsory labor measures. ,-or sAs
could but banish the uhions ..surri
places Of employment 90 ps ~ y
that WORKERS would be cor 49, AZ
the state 10 remain al their ~ ~
felt that indeed they No''s u b
preaching the pearly gates "
dustrial heaven. 1ofirs
II is safe 70 say that psrhsPs . .,,,s.
the entire hrst half Of 1877 Ins "a
ganda Of reaetionary employs. ,ssi
lts own. The last half OF ~ ,..5sy
found the tide turning, ana ~
there Is about as much chance /" "a,
success Of the compulsory 49, hslts
as there is for restoration %
slavery. - q
In these two proposals thefs ..l.esr ss
labor felt, the heart o. the fe,....s-sior
philosophy. II in these two s1 s,'eul
reaction could have succeeded y -
indeed have triumphed. ! am s.ssi
requires no bill Of details % 49,,
the contention that In regard 70
two important matters the 1oh1.ssds
reaction has failed. i u had sasllx, -,
we should bo able 20 hnd tas
n,sthua - - 80