Evening star., 1924-01-01
END OF CHILDLABOR
GOMPERS' 1924 GOAL
Organized Workers to Take Part
in National Campaign, Declares
Federation Chief.
CURB ON JUDGES IS ASKED
American Toilers Have Reason for
Gratitude, He Says.

Labor union members during 1924
will, among other things, work for
amendment of the Constitution to
eliminate child labor, restriction of
usurpation Of power by judges" and
the carrying forward of our concept
or industrial democracy" Samuel
Gompers, president Of the American
Federation of Labor, said today in a
pubic New Years greeting.
while fighting its battles in the in
dustrial fields during the new year,
organized labor expects also to stay
in politics, participating mot only in
the final election, but in the selection
OF candidates in the primary elections
everywhere" Mr.. Gompers stated.
The year 1924 presents US with
tremendous issues" Mr.. Gompers con-
tinued. During 1928 We have met
great issues, and many of them sue
cessfully AS labor sees the outlook.
the following is partial enumera-
ton of the political issues of the COM
ing year:
Issues Are Outlined.
'The injunction abuse, the child
labor amendment to the Constitution
made necessary by the adverse deci-
stons of the United States Supreme
Court on two child labor laws, the
railroad question, involving the rail-
road labor board, the usurpation Of
power by Judges in contempt cases
as well as in injunction cases, the
question of whether laws may con-
tinue to be killed by court decisions.
and efforts to enact antf-strike and
compulsory arbitration laws,
I'm addition to these legislative is
sues there. is in the political field the
overshadowing matter of the national
election. Labor confronts this great
struggle with the determination to carry
forward the banner of progress, justice
and democracy and to record in broad
er terms victory such as was won
last year. Labor will participate not
only in the final election. but in the Sc
lection of candidates in the primary
elections everywhere.
On the Industrial field there will be
great issues. We look back upon 1928
with qualification. We have achieved
much for which all wage earners may
be thankful: much that means for
greater freedom and better life in the
future. But the future is not the past
and the future brings its fresh struggles.
New Goals Are Fixed.
80 long as there are men who think
and act only in terms of profit. labor
wage-earner unorganized labor must
organize. Rights that have been won
must be held. American labor has
abundantly justified its organized ex-
istence. The wage-earners of America
enjoy higher standards of living than
those of any other country. They
have a fuller. better life in every re-
spect They labor with the mighty
machinery of our land and produce
more per man and in the aggregate
than the toilerS of any other land; they
come nearer to being masters of the
machines with which they work than
do the workers in any other land. And,
in addition. they do not have their
hands at the throat of their govern
ment, as is the. unhappy case in so
many other countries
During 1924 we shall seek to per-
feet our organizations, to increase
our solidarity, TO improve our stand
ards, to come one step nearer to our
ideal. We shall seek to carry forward
racy, which means freedom of man
kind in industry through the exercise
of an effective voice in the councils
of industry-the building of an in
desrructible and glorious industrial
life shall make America great be-
yond dreams. But, in going forward,
we shall, as in the past. keep our feet
upon the ground. having before us
the facts OF lie as they present them
selves.
Finally, the labor movement-the
American Federation Of Labor-ex-
tends to all the sincere greetings of
the season; may thsre be for all
Americans a happy New Year. bet
ter 1924 and may it be SO for all the
world"