AMERICAN LABOUR MISSION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 293, 30 August 1918, Page 5

AMERICAN LABOUR MISSION

VISIT TO THE WAR ZONE. CRec. August 29, 1.30 p.m.) London, Auaust 28. The American Labour Mission, headed by Mr. Samuel Gorapers, has arrived, and will attend the Labour Union Congress. The mission will also visit Franco and Italy, and stimulate unity of war spirit among the workers of tho thrco countries.—"Tho Timos."

THE WORLD'S GREAT LABOURIST Samuol Gompers, states a recent appreciation, is tho greatest Labourist in the world to-day, and one of the oldest trades unionists, in terms of years of association with unionism. In 1864 ho organised the union of tho men of bis own craft—cigar-makers—and _ 17 years later he organised tho American Federation of Labour, one of the largest and most powerful organisations Of the kind in tho world. Li 1877 he was nominated for tho Senate, and in tho following year for a seat in Congress. He declined the promotion in oach instance. Throughout his whole association with Labour, Gompers has shown that he was not in tho game for what was in it. A staunch democrat, ho believed that ho could eerve the pconlo better out of Parliament than in it— and so stayed out. Yet that he would have succeeded as a politician has been evidenced in the courso of the last fow weeks. To him came the call—as it has to the Acting Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, the call uncommon—to address tho.legislators of the Parliament of tho Dominion of Canada on matters of great moment in connection with tho war. And this great democrat who, born in London in 1850, attached iust so much of education as lie could gathor between sis and ten years of age, held the House.

Of his speech a Montreal paper writes: His clear-cut ringing sentences charmed the Canadian Parliament not unaccustomed to good speaking. . . . His address, exhibited his power of clear thinking and of strong yet pleasing and eloquent expression., . . . His stand throughout tho war is proof of his statesmanlike insight into the overshadowing world-problem of the day, of the soundness of his heart and tho staunchness of his devotion to the

cause of democracy Ability, industry, strength of character, and devotion 'lo a worthy cause have led him to the position of national importnnce and national service ho now worthily occupies." He is the editor of tho "Federationist." His official organ of Labour in the "United States. He has written a number of ,fuio works on the labour problems of the times—one of tho finest of them is: "Labour; Its Struggles, Its Enemies, and Its Fool Friends." This should bo given a wide circulation in .Australia just now, when the fool frionds of Labour are driving it down the steep place that leads to the sea of destruction. In one of his later deliverances he said: "This is not a capitalist war. ... It is a free men's war. . . ■ And we must strip the mask from those who, in the names of democracy and anti-militarism and peace, are encnsrhiß in lipfnrimis treachery to civilisation and Christianity."

CROP AREAS IN BRITAIN ' SPLENDID IMCRWASE OF ACREAGE. London, Aupust 2P. Tlio Hoard of Agriculture reports that the arable area in Enplnnti is 12,400,000 acres, mi increase of 1,1-50,000 as compared with 1917, and <i record for twenty years. Tho wheat acreairo has increased by 638,000, oats hy 23 per cent., and potatoes by 25.—H'outer. RECORD RRITIRn HARVEST PREDICTED BIGGEST FoTfIFTY YEARS. (Rec. August 29, 7.30 p.m.) London, August 28. Some agricultural exports predict that tho present will bo the largest British harvest for fifty years.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.