The Washington times., 1924-01-01
MUST Be
. V|G|LANT, SAYS
G0|NPERS
President Of A. r. of I. Tells Of
Issues That Will Be Faced
This Year.
By SAMUEL GOMPERs,

BY SAMUEL GOMPEKS,
President, American Federation Of Labor.
written for International News service.)
The year 1924 presents US with
tremendous issues. During 1923 we
have met great issues and many of
them have been successfully met.
4 The coming year presents great
political issues, among others. AS
labor sees the outlook, the following
is a partial enumeration OF the politi.
cal issues:
The injunction abuse, the child
labor amendment to the Constitution
made necessary by the adverse deci.
sions 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 az in injunction cases, the ques.
ton OF whether laws may continue to
be killed by court decisions, efforts
to enact anti-strike and compulsory
arbitration laws.
LabOr's Part in Election.
In addition to these legislative is
sues there is in the political field
the overshadowing matter of the ma
tlonal election. Labor confronts this
great struggle with the determine.
ton to carry forward the banner of
progress, justice and democracy and
to record in broader terms q victory
such as was won last year. Labor
will participate not only in the final
election. but In the selection of can
ldidates 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
eafners may be thankful; much that
means for greater freedom and q
better life in the future. But the
future is not the past and the .u-
ture brings its fresh struggles.
Labor Must Organize.
So long as there are men who
think and act only in terms of profit
labor must be vigilant. And while
there is wage Garner unorganized
labor must organize. Rights that
have been won must be held. Ameri-
can labor has abundantly justified
tits organized existence. The wage
earners of America enjoy higher
standards of living than those of
any other country. They have a
fuller, better life in every respect.
They labor with the mighty machin-
cry 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
| in so many other countries.
During 1924 we shall seek to per-
| feet our organization. to increase our
solidarity, to improve our standards,
to come one step nearer to our
ideal. We shall seek to carry for
ward our great concept OF indus
trial democracy, which means free
dom Of mankind In, industry
through the exercise Of an effective
voice in the councils of industry
the building of an indestructible
and glorious industrial life that
shah make, America great beyond
dreams. But. in going forward, we
shall, as in the past, keep our feet
upon the ground, having before us
the facts Of life a. they present
themselves.
Finally. the labor movement-the
American Federation of Labor-ex-
tends to all the sincere greetings of
the season; may there be for all
Americans happy New Year, a
better 1924. and may it be so for
all the world.