Evening star., 1950-01-06
AFL honors Gompers,
Hears Truman Laud
Founder at Banquet

iVunuei ol DonqueI
The AFL today started a year
long centennial celebration for
Samuel Gompers with the blessing
OF President Truman-a year in
which the federation hopes to
elect a pro-labor Congress.
Mr.. Truman, Vice President
Barkley. AFL President William
Green and other AFL leaders were
.peakers at banquet last night,
honoring the AFL's founder. Five
cabinet members also were among
the more than 1000 guests at
tending.
Mr.. Gompers. a cigar maker
Immigrant from England, who be-
came the best known labor leader
OF his day In this country, was
warmly lauded by the speakers.
He was president of the AFL for
almost 10 years until his death
In 1924. Mr.. Gompers was hon.
ored on the Tooth anniversary of
his birth.
The President was a surprise
visitor during the speech-making
end OF the evening and said he
had been working on several mes
sages to Congress but couldn't
stay away"
Was Labor Statesman"
II want you to understand that
remember him CMr. Gompers)
distinctly as the originator Of the
great movement which set labor
Free" Mr.. Truman told the wildly
applauding audience. II was one
OF Samuel Gompers' great ad-
mirers when I was a young man
on the farm. Everybody in that
day and age considered him q
labor statesman. He was not only
labor statesman in a bipartisan
sense. but he was just as good a
Democrat as I ever was
The President added that he
could remember quite well when
MIR. Gompers died. He recalled
that it was IN "the year in which
I was defeated for reelection j..
and they never succeeded in doing
that to me since" Mr.. Truman
referred to his failure to win re-
election as a judge to the Jack
son County (Mo) Court.
The Gompers' dinner marked the
first Washington public appear
ance of Vice President Barkley
and his bride. They drew nearly
as much applause as the Presi-
dent. Mr.. Barkley was also
warmly received as one OF the
speakers of the evening.
Samuel Gompers dedicated his
life to the working man and wom-
an" Mr.. Barkley said. II learned
early, away back in my career
in Congress, to love and revere
MIR. Gompers and Woodrow VIII
son. President Wilson leaned on
Mr.. Gompers for help"
Noticeable absentees from the
Gumpers banquet were several
leaders of the CIO who were as
sociated with Mr.. Gompers in the
early days of the American labor
movement. Also missing was John
L. Lewis. head. of the United
Mine Workers, long time friend
OF Mr.. Gompers, who once op-
posed him unsuccessfully for pres
ident of the AFL.
AFL President Green, who sue
ceeded Mr.. Gompers 25 years ago,
praised the federation founder for
having built an organization
which "has withstood the grilling
tests OF business prosperity and
depression.
At another point in his ad-
dress, Mr.. Green said that, I'VE
(the AFL), as 100000 loyal
Americans. as long as we live, will |
never let Communism make in
roads in this country
Only the AFL can stop it." he
declared. Neither the NAM (Na-
tional Association OF Manufac-
turers), the civic clubs nor the
churches can stop it."
Matthew Woll. a vice presi-
dent of the AFL. also spoke,
recommending that Mr.. Gompers'
birthday be set aside as a national
holiday. AFL Secretary-Treas-
urer George Meany served as
toaStma Ster-