ANCIENT& not so ancient WISDOM
offering a weekly positive perspective

August 14, 2003

The worst crime against working people is a company which fails to operate at a profit. 

- Samuel Gompers (1850 - 1924)

Gompers was born in London but immigrated to New York in 1863, becoming a naturalized citizen in 1872. He was elected president of American Federation of Labor during the year of its inception, 1888. He was a moderate trade unionist, believing that employee relations could best be encouraged through an effective dialogue between management and workers. He campaigned tirelessly for the basic trade union rights to picket, organize boycotts, and strike. His views led the AFL to be associated in the minds of many with the Democratic Party.  In 1908, the AFL supported Democratic presidential candidate, William Jennings Bryan, because of his pro-union policies.

Gompers worked closely with U.S. propagandist George Creel to encourage domestic support for the war effort before President Wilson formally declared hostilities in April 1917 even though he felt that a U.S. declaration of war would lead to a marked political swing to the right, with a consequent blow to trade union influence.  This proved to be the case and once war was underway public sentiment moved against union leaders, who found their influence notably weakened after the war had come to a close: Gompers being one of those leaders.

Gompers felt that leadership was a responsibility demanding tough choices and personal sacrifice. Gompers died in 1924 having retained the presidency of the AFL until his death.

Wishing you great and continued success!

Sincerely,