Evening star., 1924-12-14

Samuel Gompers. dean Of Ameri-
can labor leaders," one OF the found
ers-and almost continuously since
1881 its president-of tho American
Federation Of Labor. which he saw
grow from q coterie Of small locals
to a national organization. with .
Of more than 5000. 900,
spent several Of the later years Of his
life in fighting autocracy abroad and
radicals SIN in organized labor at
home.
Before the United States entered
the world war he combated enemy
influences active among the nations
workers and, by refusing to send
delegates to peace conferences In
Sweden and Switzerland, kept Amer
lean labor free from entangling ne
gotiations with pacifst organizations
In countries which later became enc
mics of the United States. More than
a year before America took up arms
Mr.. Gompers pledged organized labor
to support Of national preparedness.
When the resumption of unrestrict-
ed submarine warfare. by Germany
early in 1917 brought the United
States to the verge OF war Mr.. Com
pers cabled the head of the German
Federation OF Trades Unions, urging
that he use his influence to prevail
upon his government to avoid break
with America
Three days after tho United States
declared war on Germany he. an
nounced, for the federation, 'futl and
unqualified support Of the govern
ment" on the part Of Americas work
labor would use their influence to
prevent any attempt to take ad-
vantage OF the war emergency to
press claims for changes in existing
industrial conditions. He exerted his
influence. through the heads Of
unions, in the settlement Of number
of strikes in manufactures through
out the country engaged in war work,
notably in the shipping industry.
Warns Russia Against Axftators.
Following the abdication of EN-
peror Nicholas OF Russia, Mr.. Com
Workmen and Soldiers Delegates at
Petrograd, warning them against
agttators, particularly those in the
In midsummer Of 1917 Mr.. Gompers
formed and headed the American al
marshaled the labor forces Of the
for active support of the gov
ernment in the war. Confidently he
announced various "peace councils" or
ganized in the United States as ..mask-
ing a nefarious propaganda Of
treachery in the name of democracy"
Later, speaking as he announced
for American labor, Mr.. Gompers de-
clared that 80 long as Germany is
ruled by an autocrat. so long as Ger
mans occupy one inch OF French,
to invite representatives of the work
ers of the United States to talk peace
across a conference table" He again
pledged American labor unreserved-
ly to winning the war. ,
Mr.. Gompers was intimately con-
with IL sh. thpey
years and he headed the labor forces
In numerous strikes.
In q career filled with persistent
and vigorous efforts from his, ht-
teenth year .'to improve the condi
tions OF workers. n,nna a MT. Gompers leer,es, be
public life. BY the force OF his eio
quence and patriotism he won over
the solid support of the American
Federation Of Labor for the United
States government In the war.
Paris, where. he helped to organize
the International labor congress:
Five OF its tenets were Incorporated
in the peace treaty. They were, &ll
Labor 10 not q commodity; CD IN
International eight-hour day; {O .
standard and ADEQUATE living wa9e:
equal work: (S) prohibition OF child
labor.
LeadersHip Settles Disputes. !.
Settlement of q number Of indus
trial disputes that threatened to or
did reach nationwide proportions
was attributed to his wise leadership,
his conservatism and the trust re-
posed in him by the rank and nie OF
American labor. He was stancn sd-
vocate Of democracy.
The worldwide unrest. which fol.
lowed the conclusion Of the great
war, did not spare American industry,
early lifted its head Ex-
planning Its menace, MI. Gompers
said: There has always been, .
radical element in the labor move
ment that has tried to destroy the
all these years. It fs this element
which makes It so hard for organized
labor to make its demands enectiVe.
These American bolsheviki have
earned for labor countless enemies
and have represented us in an un-
favorable light" six months aer aaser
than three hundred strikes in vari-
GUS parts of the United States. 1t
was reported that only 0lxty-two
were "authorized'' by the American
Federation Of Labor. 80:
.'Ultimateiy.. said Mr. GomosFs in
the same interview, the toilefs VIII
sec that. there is snothinG In the false
doctrines OF bolshevtsm. I have no
idea who. Ii supplying the radicals
with the money to carry on their
been certain enemfss to labor who
are eager to use any means to weaken
our organization" -.
In the national industrial confer
ence OF representatives OF labor, Gap.
washington on October 6, 1915 At
the calf Of President Wilson 70 and
q remedy for Industrial qtrf4A NE.
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