American Flint Glass Workers' Union

GOMPERS TALKED

TO GLASSWORKERS

Says Labor Must Realize Present

Grand Opportunities for

It's Cause.

$1,000 MORE VOTED STRIKERS

Labor Leader Sees No Danger of

Setback to Present Era of

Prosperity.

SAMUEL GOMPERS President of the American Federation of Labor

The coming to town of President Samuel Gompers, of the A. F. of L., interested all the glassblower delegates yesterday. He arrived on the morning train from Zanesville, and, after a few hours' rest at the Dennison, went in the afternoon to address the convention of the bottle blowers in G. A. R. Hall. He was given a rousing welcome by the assembled delegates, some three hundred in number, when he was introduced by President Denis Hayes.

His address to the convention was taken up with the present labor situation in this country and the work of the American Federation of Labor. Matters are highly favorable at the present time to the task of advancing the labor cause, Mr. Gompers said, and of improving the condition of the American working people. The opportunities for this, he said, are present, and it needs but wisdom and prudence to seize and utilize them.

He referred specially to the efforts of the A. F. of L. in averting strikes and settling differences between workers and employers without loss of time or production. This he considered one of the best results accomplished for the labor cause. Harmony and good will between workers and their employers are to be desired and promoted, Mr. Gompers said, wherever there is disposition to be fair and equitable, and strikes and lock-outs are, and should be, the very last resort when differences get to be hopeless.

Urged Unions Standing Together.

Mr. Gompers complimented the bottle blowers on the signs of success evident in their organization, its growth, and substantial standing. He urged them to sink all petty feelings in coming to a good understanding with the other branch of the craft — the flint glassworkers. While not toughing on the question of consolidation of the two organizations, he urged them to maintain close relations and to stand together for their mutual interests wherever they can do so.

Mr. Gompers was heard with much interest by the convention, and he received the personal greetings of a number of his friends among the delegates at the close.

Following his address the convention voted $1,000 to the striking glassworkers of Great Britain and Ireland, to aid them in maintaining the contest with those employers who have barred out the union workmen.

Action was taken on a number of matters relating to union internal regulations. The convention accepted an invitation to be the guests of the Hibernian Society at its outing at Woodsdale Island next Sunday.

The flint glassblowers' convention consumed the day in various detail matters bearing upon the wage scale for the coming year.

It had been expected that Mr. Gompers would address the flint workers' convention, but, as their organization is at outs with the American Federation of Labor, from which it withdrew last year, nothing was done to have him appear before the delegates at Odd Fellows' Temple.

Think Prosperity Will Continue.

"I do not think that the flurry or slump in stocks will affect the general business and industrial conditions of the country," said Mr. Gompers, in answer to a question by a Commercial Tribune reporter, "I do not think that these present conditions of prosperity will be changed for the worse for another year, at least. In fact, I do not believe there will come such a change inside of two years, if then. My opinion in this connection is not founded on surmise. Times are now prosperous and shops and factories are running full time, with plenty of orders ahead, as a rule. In addition to these conditions which certainly, combined with the prevailing state of affairs, seem to guarantee a continuance of good times for a long period to come."

"Among the extraordinary movements or uncommon works of improvement are the preparations for the World's Fair in St. Louis; the building of battle ships; deepening of the State canals of New York, which alone involves an expenditure of $100,000,000, the building of the great subways in New York City; the construction of the Pennsylvania Railroad's great bridge and tunnel in New York, and many other almost equally gigantic undertakings. All of this means, of course, the employment of labor, the consumption of goods and supplies of all kinds — or, in other words, good times."

"I am sorry my stay in Cincinnati has to be so short. They make it pleasant for me always and coming here is pleasure, but, several important matters have to be attended to. Conditions here are satisfactory to the A. F. of L., and we are not looking for trouble. No, I can not say anything on politics, the subject is out of my line."

Previous to Mr. Gompers' departure from the city he was the guest of the Executive Board of the Brewery Workers' Union, now in session here, at a lunch at the Faust Café. A pleasant feature of the occasion was the presentation of testimonials from the Brewery Workers' National Union to Organizer Rist, President Hubert Marshall, and the President Joseph Valentine, of the Ironworkers' Union, in recognition of their services in behalf of the Brewery Workers. The testimonials are handsomely illuminated and framed, and are very artistic in get-up and appearance. Mr. Gompers made the presentation speech.