Evening star., 1938-09-04

part OF the me-
mortal erected in
honor Of the first -
president Of the S3
American Feder- ~. ss.,.
alton OF Labor.
Gazing on the bronze statue one won
ders what Samuel Gompers, the old
man of labor, would think were he
living today.
For Samuel Gompers undoubtedly
did more to promote the organized la
Dor movement in this country than
any other man. Where other men
had failed, he succeeded because he
seemed to have an inner sense, an
intuition Of the wise and smart thing
to do. In his long years Of strug-
Cling on behalf of labor, he won the
respect and admiration of a great
part Of the country. He brought to
the American Federation OF Labor
a moral prestige which in later years
proved to be its greatest asset.
Stunned Partisan Politics.
1t was Gompers' wisdom and great
vision which steered the American
Federation Of Labor away from the
shoals Of partisan politics. In 1894
he risked his prestige and bis stand
ing within the A. F. Of L. to battle
successfully against the adoption by
the Federation of socialistic pro-
gram of political action. Indeed,
fhnlIuh ha fhot hn q
battle for he was ousted for one year
from the presidency of the A. F. Of
L. because he made the fight.
Although Gompers kept the A. F.
OF l.. aloof from taking sides in par
tisan politics, he realized the neces-
itself with governmental action to
protect its economic interest. He in
spired In 1906 the Federation's policy
OF rewarding its friends and Furnishing
its enemies-a policy which today
remains the A. F. OF L. policy.
Gompers would not have been in
sympathy with the political activities
Of John L. Lewis and his c. I. o.
cohorts. Were he living he would
have been shocked over the members
Of organized labor being assessed to
place approximately s50O,000 in the
campaign warchest of a political par
ty. Had he been living, without doubt
he would be wrathful over sit-down
strikes, attacks on the Supreme Court,
regimentation Of labor by Govern
ment board with powers to compel
observance Of its DEGREES.
Thus William Green, now presi-
dent Of the A. F. OF L., in expressing
his opposition to such events is act
ing in the Gompers tradition He,
like his illustrious predecessor. is fol-
lowing q path of economic states
manship. rather than one of demago-
gic. partisan politics. In the years
ahead he will be remembered for saw
ing the organized labor movement at
this time, just as Gompers is remem-
bered for saving 1t in the o0s.
How do we know what Gompers
would think about all this were he
alive? Inscribed IN the bronze on his
memorial are three quotations ex-
pressing the Gompers philosophy.
Compulsion Gains Nothing.
mo lasting gain" reads the first
OF these quotations. has ever come
from compulsion. If we seek to force,
We but tear apart that which, united,
is invincible. There is no way where
by our labor movement may be assured
sustained progress in determining its
policies and its plans other than by
sincere democratic deliberation until
a unanimous decision is reached. This
may seem a cumbrous, slow method
to the impatient but the impatient
are more concerned for immediate
triumph than for the education of
constructive development"
The second of these quotations reads
thusly:
so long as We have held fast to
voluntary principles and have been
actuated and inspired by the spirit
Of service, We have sustained our for
ward progress and we have made our
labor movement something to be re-
spected and accorded d place in the
councils Of our Republic. Where we
have blundered into trying to force
a policy or a decision, even though
wise and right, we have impeded, If
not interrupted, the realization of our
aims"
And the third quotation reads:
Say to the organized workers Of
America that as have kept the faith
I expect that they will keep the faith
They must carry on. Say to them
that = union man carrying q card is
not good citizen unless he upholds
the institutions of our country and
poor citizen of our country if he
upholds the institutions Of our coun-
try and forgets the obligations OF his
trade associations"
John l.. Lewis is not the only man
who, on this habor Day, should read
and ponder those words. Franklin
Delano Roosevelt also might read
them with profit.