Samuel Gompers, American Federation of Labor
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Series P-30-50
Samuel Gompers, American Labor Leader, was born in London, England, January 27th, 1850. Apprenticed to the trade of cigbar making, he came to the United States in 1863 and in 1864 became the first registered member of the Cighar-Makers' International Union, of which he was secretary and president. He was elected vice-president of the American Federation of Labor, which he helped organize in 1881, and fron 1882, with the exception of the year 1894, he was it President. He consistantly opposed soialistic tendencies in the labor movement. He served as the first Vice President of the National Civic Federation, in 1907, Gompers and other officers of the A.F. of L. were enjoined by a federal court from publishing the name of the Buck Stove *& Range Co. in the list of unfair concerns in the organ of the federation. In consequence of failure to observe the injunction, he was tried for contempt and sentanced to a term in prison. From the years 1917 thru 1924 he served in many national and international conferences, and official capacities authorized by the President of the U.S. In addition, he held the Presidency of the Pan-American Federation of Labor. In 1921, he was elected President of the A.F. of L for the fortieth time. He died at the age of 74 in 1924. From the Darlene Thorne Collection |
