"FROM A SEVERE COLD & OVERWORKED CONDITION"

SAMUEL GOMPERS REPORTED DEAD

El Paso, Texas (JFK+50) On December 11, 1924, the death of the president of the American Federation of Labor, Samuel Gompers, was reported by The Evening Star.

The source of the famed labor leader's passing was a dispatch to El Internacional, a Spanish language daily published here in El Paso.

Cause of death was given as the result of a "severe cold and...overworked condition."  He also had a "heart condition" which had been aggravated by being in "high altitude."

Mr. Gompers had been in Mexico City attending the Pan-American Labor Conference when he became severely ill on December 6.  He had requested to be taken back into the United States to die.

He was 74 years old.

JFK+50 NOTE

Samuel Gompers actually died on December 13, 1924.  The front-page story citing his death published in The Evening Star on December 11, 1924 was obviously premature although the headline does describe the death as a "report."

Apparently the source of the story, El Internacional, is now a popular bar in downtown El Paso.

*Samuel Gompers (1850-1924) was born in London, England & emigrated to the United States where he founded the AFL & served as president 1886-1894, 1895-1924.  

SG promoted collective bargaining between workers & employers & secured higher wages & shorter hours for members of the AFL. 

SOURCE

"Gompers Expires On Train Speeding To U.S., Is Report," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., December 11, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Samuel Gompers

Photo by James E. Purdy

Library of Congress

"LABOR HAS ALWAYS ADVOCATED DISARMAMENT"

PRESIDENT SUPPORTS IDEA OF LABOR DELEGATE AT DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE

Atlantic City, New Jersey (JFK+50) On August 22, 1921, the Evening Star reported that President Warren G. Harding was looking "with favor on labor's request for representation in the disarmament conference" to be held here in the Nation's Capital.

The Star's source was Samuel Gompers* who was speaking at the opening of the meeting of the executive council of the American Federation of Labor.

Mr. Gompers said...

"Labor has always been an advocate of disarmament and the full force of organized labor...backs President Harding in his move to bring about world peace through disarmament."

*Samuel Gompers (1850-1924) was born in London, England & became an American cigar maker, labor union leader & an important figure in American labor history.  SG founded the American Federation of Labor & served as president all but one year from 1886 to 1924.

SOURCE

"President Favors Labor Delegate," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., August 23, 1921, www.chroniclingamerica.com/

   

 

Samuel Gompers

Library of Congress (1902)

"EVEN LABOR'S ENEMIES ARE FEARFUL OF THE FUTURE"

AFL CALLS FOR LAW TO PROTECT LABOR FROM EXCESS IMMIGRATION

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 27, 1920, the Washington Star published a front page story stating that according to the legislative committee of the American Federation of Labor*, immigration legislation would be  "the most important problem" facing the new session of Congress.

The following quote was taken from the most recent issue of the American Federationist**...

"With 2,000,000 idle and thousands of immigrants pouring into the country every day, the dangers ahead...are so severe...even the enemies of labor are fearful of the future."

According to the Federationist, in the passage of suitable immigration legislation American labor could be protected from "the menace of excess immigration."

The Federationist also stated...

"Not a moment should be lost in launching a campaign in favor of restricting all immigrants for at least two years." 

*American Federation of Labor (AFL) was founded in 1886.  Samuel Gompers served as president of the organization all but one year between 1886 and 1924.

**The American Federationist was the official organ of the American Federation of Labor. 

SOURCE

"Halt Immigrants, Is Appeal Of Labor," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., November 27, 1920, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

 

 

"The Union Man's Burden"

The American Federationist (1922)