The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-12-13
UNION LEADERS
MOURN PASSING
Of LABOR CHIEF
James M. Lynch, ], w, Hays
and Hugo Miller
Comment.


Comment.
Thousands Of labor union mem
hers feel the loss of a personal friend
I'm the death of Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Fedora
ton of Labor. said James VI. Lynch,
president of the international Typo
graphical Union. al headquarters
here today.
THE American labor movement
and the American people have suf-
fered a tremendous loss" said
Lynch. ITO every leader in the la
bor movement sam Gompers was a
powerful inspiration and a pillar OF
support"
j. W. Hays. secretary-treasurer
Of the Union Label Trades Depart
ment OF the American Federation Of
Labor. said:
The labor movement VIII find
81 difficult to fill the vacancy left
by the death Of Mr. Gompers and
his friends viii find it impossible to
fiji the void left in their hearts.
The unselfishness of his life work
viii give Mr. Gompers a place in
American history beside such leaders
as Franklin, Washington and
Lincoln"
Hugo Miller. seCretary-treasurer
of the German Typographical, sad:
II first met Samuel GOmpers N
1852. when he attended the C1eve-
land convention OF the Federation Of
Trades as a delegate Of the Inter
national Cigar Makers Union.
have observed his leadership Of the
iabor movement since with affection
and admiration. and 7 believe II
would be impossible 70 Overstate the
loss caused by his death"
Gompers was the author of hun
Greds Of pamphlets. editorials and
newspaper articIes-as well as more
pretenuous ks-advocatng the
eight hour day. the closed shop and
Industrial justice. He Instituted
Labor day in 1890 and was in
strumental in obtaining passage Of
legislative acts for the benefit OF
labor in many States.
Pledged Labor
During the war GOmpers spent
much time in conferences with gov
.rnment officials. both in America
and in Europe. pledging the aid OF
labor in the conduct of the war.
When the treaty was signed the
veteran leader went TO Paris. where
he was prominent in the discussions
that led 10 the framing Of labor pro
visions in the treaty of peace.
He attended the international la
bor congress at Amsterdam in 1915
and the Pan-American Labor Con
Eress at Laredo. Texas. the same
year.
Prominent wherever a labor fight
was on. hut taking a medium stand.
Gompers was the symbol Of mOdera-
ton In labor circles Challenging
the cause of the worker and seeking
10 gain whatever concessions would
improve the workingman's con
dition. no man IN history can be
credited with having done more for
the Identifying Of toll and joining
the hands Of employer and employe.
GOmpers was a frequent and pro
life writer and speaker. During his
later years ne lived IN Washington.
directing personally the work Of the
American Federation Of Labor.
Ellis Searles. editor of the United
Mine Workers Journal, said:
After the motion TO adjourn Yves
passed at the recent labor Conven-
ton at e Paso. the crowd began to
20 away. and Sam sat down In his
chair. While there. tears began
running down his cheeks. Finally
several persons noticed him and led
him lettering out Of the room"
Naturally Kind
J. c. Shanessy. president Of the
Iourneymsn BARRIERS International
Union Of America. said.
Samuel Gompers was a courtly
man, digTifed and self-possessed IN
der all circumstances. He was genial.
courteous and most companiOnable
our lamented colleague was natural
" kind I do not think he had It In
his nature to speak Il harsh or IN
kind word. Possessing such quail
ties. he filled with honor. ability and
fidelity. the presidency Of the Aneri-
can labor movement"
William Green. surer
Of mine workers and vice president
American Federation of Labor:
He was in truth the greatest rep
resentative Of labor In chat ne served
as its devoted friend and spokesman
for almost half q century lie was
great in intellect and statesmaEsbip
and his capacity to comprehend
labor's needs and labOr's problems. d"
William L. Hutches0n. president
United Brotherhood Of Carpenters:
The death Of Samuel GOmpers is
a great loss. not only to the labor
movement, but the public as well,
as his efforts were not directed sole
~ in the interest Of the working
people. but for the advancement of
the world at large"
Daniel J. Tobin. treasurer Amer
lean Federation Of Labor:
The death Of Samuel Gompers is
a great shock to the men who have
worked with him for many years.
and a great loss TO the great rank
and file Of the people Of our coun-
try. for ne was not only friend of
the workers, organized and morgan
lied. bur also a great American citi-
zen
indiana Dinner at Chicago