Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1924-12-19
B, W. c. AYE. Associate Edlror

samuel Gompers, forty-two years
s4ssa of the American Federation of
Iahrr. suecumbed to the call of death
s- saturday following a brief illness
II which the nation was scarcely ap-
missed before the end came.
one of the greatest Americans Is
dead. but hi memory will follow him
f-r centuries with other great lead
er-.
F5e gospel had its apostles. Every
great mcxe men. in world history has
Fad the same. Samuel Gompers may
r.cstIy be called the Apostle of Labor.
Hs hsa for nearly half a century been
rementing bond of Labor, and has
welded an influence over the laboring
man - we'll a. the entire nation that
ba. been benefcient and JUS.
A. leader at his death he was
respeeted by all CLASSES, rich and poor
alike. In the councils of Labor as
well as in his controversial councils
With capital, he was respected, and his
word carried weight. His opinions
we're asked by the leading statesmen
of the nation, and he was frequently
called into councils of statesmen when
questions pertaining to Labor were
considered.
Samuel Gompers was one of few
men who lived to realize his hope.
John b. Cough, apostle of temper
arce. died when the saloon was at its
height Not an apostle of the gospel
lived to see the church achieve sue
cess. Christian martyrs by the score
have died in apparent defeat. Wood
row Wilson suffered the humiliation
of seeing the cause for which he
fought, apparently defeated by the
petty leaders of many nations. Even
the great Lincoln died bv the hand of
an assassin when the nation was in
the thrces Of agony following the civil
war.
But when Samuel Gompers died the
American Federation of Labor had
achieved its greatest success in con-
fiet of more than fifty years. The
credit is largely due to the high
quality of his leadership.
Fight For Increased Wages.
~tfUnpers fighr for Increased wages
was a long and bitter struggle. Dur
ing his career in the eighties the
government did not recognize Labor's
right of collective bargaining when
the struggle commenced. Labor was
in constant litigation in an effort to
establish its rights. Time and again
Gompers was sentenced to Jail for
contempt of court, and for his disre-
gard Of injunctions. But he was a
fighter and always in the end won his
point and labor's cause advanced with
him.
Under his leadership with the able
assistance of many other outstanding
figures the wages of the laboring
man are generally. throughout the
nation, at the peak. A phenomenal
success has been achieved.
What Will Labor Do?
Naturally the question arises i'm
mediately. Has Labor a Leader who,
with the same magnetism of Samuel
Gompers, hold the army of American
workmen together? Or does Labor
now require such a leader?
There is a menace to every success
full movement that is largely credit
ed TO one outstanding leader, who
dies leaving contending forces fighting
for leadership. If Labor finds its or
CARNATIONS in this situation it faces
a danger
The future success of Labor de-
pends upon a central organization of
forces. Every brotherhood of the ma
ton respected Samuel Gompers who
was so highly thought of that he was
elected to serve forty-two years as
head of the amalgamated unions. No
other leader has approached him, and
his word throughout the nation has
been the keynote of every Labor
movement. That there is danger of
every Labor movementutpshrdluemfu
dlslntegration for want of an out
standing leader is a fact to be con-
Sldered by every Labor council.
Many great movements have been
built around one outstanding figure.
Men have built nations which after
wards perished, or disintegrated into
opposing factions for want of success
lul leadership, or because of the
jealousy of rival leaders. This need
not happen to Labor, for Labor is not
governing nation in which rival
factions may go to war with sword
and musket.
Probably Not A Menace.
Another factor which appears to
favor a continuance of the present
organization of the American Fedora
ton Of Labor is that while Samuel
Gompers lived he saw Labor separate
into opposing factions that were the
natural consequences of antagonistic
policies. The Socialist party has al
ready left to carry its own banner.
The more rabid labor organizations,
such as the Bolshevists have departed
On an independent porgram which
tnev call liberty. Other factions which
would naturally arise in such a ma
uonal movement are crystalized into
separate organizations. THE AMER
lCAN FEDERATION OF LABOR
STANDS ALONE AS THE ONE
RESPECTED ORGANIZATION OF
MORKMEN IN THE NATION. The
Federation is thoroughly organized
Into a law abiding. nation respecting,