"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

"EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN INCREASED 36%"

COOLIDGE 'RECEPTIVE & IN SYMPATHY' WITH EFFORTS TO RESTRICT CHILD LABOR

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On September 20, 1923, American Federation of Labor president Samuel Gompers discussed "the need for legislation to restrict child labor in the United States" with President Calvin Coolidge at the White House.

According to The Evening Star, Mr. Gompers said the President was "entirely receptive" and "in sympathy" with efforts to restrict child labor.

The AFL chief will leave Washington, D.C. tomorrow to attend the annual AFL Convention in Portland, Oregon.

JFK+50 NOTE

Since the US Supreme Court declared the last child labor law unconstitutional employment of children in the country had increased 36%.

According to Monthly Labor Review, in the post Civil War period children as young as 10 worked in factories, cotton mills, mines, retail stores, and on farms.  Reformers MLR argues faced a "long, uphill battle" in securing child labor reform.

SOURCES

"Coolidge Favors Child Labor Curb," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., September 20, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"History of child labor in U.S.--Part 1: little children working," January 2017, Monthly Labor Review, www.bis.gov/

 

 

 Child Labor in Georgia

1909

Preus Museum

www.flickr.com/

"MEANS NOTHING MORE TO WORKERS THAN OTHER AMERICANS"

SAMUEL GOMPERS COMMENTS ON MAY DAY OBSERVANCE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 1, 1923, the Alaska Daily Empire of Juneau reports American Federation of Labor president Samuel Gompers* said, last evening, that "May Day means nothing more to workers than to any other Americans."

The labor leader was commenting on today's observance of May Day**. 

*Samuel Gompers (1850-1924) was born in London, U.K. & founded the A.F.L. & served as president 1886-1894, 1895-1924.

**May Day, a.k.a. International Workers Day, celebrated May 1st, commemorates the struggles & gains made by workers in the labor movement.

SOURCE

"May Day Means Nothing To Workers Says Gompers," The Alaska Daily Empire, Juneau, May 1, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

JFK+50 COMMENT

It appears the headline in the Empire is misleading.  According to its own reporting, Mr. Gompers did not say that May Day "means nothing to workers."  He did say that May Day holds the same importance to workers as it does to other Americans.

 

 

Bob La Follette & Samuel Gompers

1924

Bain News Service Photo

Library of Congress

"WON UNANIMOUSLY AS HE HAD NO OPPOSITION"

SAMUEL GOMPERS WINS RE-ELECTION AS AFL HEAD

Cincinnati, Ohio (JFK+50) On June 23, 1922, Samuel Gompers* won re-election as president of the American Federation of Labor**.  Mr. Gompers won unanimously as he had no opposition.

There were also eight incumbent vice-presidents who were also re-elected.

The only real contest in the labor organization vote was between the representative of the postal clerks union, the incumbent, and the representative of the barber's union.   The challenger lost.

*Samuel Gompers (1850-1924) was born in London, U.K. & came to America in 1863 settling in New York City.  SG founded the A.F.L. & served as president 1886-1894 & 1895-1924.  He promoted harmony among the various craft unions which made up the labor group.

**American Federation of Labor--a national federation of U.S. labor unions founded in Columbus, Ohio in 1886.  AFL was formed from an alliance of craft unions that broke away from the Knights of Labor. 

SOURCE

"Sam Gompers Is Re-elected In Convention," The Evening Herald, Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 23, 1922, University of New Mexico Digital Repository, www.digitalrepository.unm,edu/ 

   

 

Samuel Gompers

American Labor Leader

1902

Library of Congress

"REPUBLICANS PRAISE, DEMOCRATS OFFER CRITICISM"

HARDING DELIVERS FIRST ADDRESS TO CONGRESS IN PERSON

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On December 6, 1921, President Warren G. Harding delivered his first address to Congress in person.  The speech was given in the House of Representatives Hall.

The President "outlined a plan for regulation of labor."  Samuel Gompers*, president of the American Federation of Labor, later said this plan would carry "the history of the labor movement back 400 years."

Carter Field writes...

"As always is the case...(Republicans) praised (the Republican POTUS while Democrats)...had nothing but criticism to offer."^

^JFK+50 Note

I have rephrased Mr. Field's sentence.  He is saying it is always the case that the party of the POTUS praises while the opposition party criticizes.  Things certainly have not changed 100 years later.  

*Samuel Gompers (1850-1924) was born in Spitalfields, England & became a cigar manufacturer in the U.S.  SG served as president of the AFL 1886-1924.

SOURCE

"Labor Regulation and Flexible Tariff Urged in Harding's Message," by Carter Field, The New York Tribune, December 7, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

   

 

Warren G. Harding

POTUS 

1921-1923

Harris & Ewing Photo

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)

TR & GOMPERS CLASH OVER E. ST. LOUIS RIOTS

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2362

TEDDY ROOSEVELT & SAM GOMPERS CLASH OVER EAST ST. LOUIS RIOTS

New York City (JFK+50) One hundred years ago tonight, July 6, 1917, at the welcoming ceremonies of the Russian war mission held at a packed Carnegie Hall, former President Theodore Roosevelt and Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, clashed on the subject of the recent East St. Louis riots*.

After a speech by new Russian ambassador Boris A. Bakhmetieff, both TR and Mr. Gompers addressed the audience.  TR demanded the government "stop murder" while Mr. Gompers argued organized labor was "innocent" and that it was capital that was guilty.


*East St. Louis Riots of May & July 1917 was an outbreak of labor & race relations violence resulting in death & property damage.  It is said to be the worst case of labor-related violence in 20th century U.S. history.  A congressional investigation estimated 39 blacks & 8 whites died in the riots.

SOURCE

"Col. Roosevelt & Gompers Clash on Riot,"  The Chicago Daily Tribune, July 7, 1917.

Silent Parade in New York City

organized by NAACP (1917)

New York Public Library Photo