Samuel Gompers Memorial

Samuel Gompers Memorial

Quick Facts

Location:

Washington, DC

Amenities

3 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Public Transit, Wheelchair Accessible

Samuel Gompers (1850-1924) was an influential advocate of labor, and was the first and longest-serving president of the American Federation of Labor (AFL). He advocated for trade unionism, economic reform, and political nonpartisanship. Over the course of his leadership at the AFL it grew from an organization of 50,000 members to 3,000,000.

Inscriptions

Left wall
"So long as we have held fast to voluntary principles and have been actuated and inspired by the spirit of service, we have sustained our forward progress and we have made our labor movement something to be respected and accorded a place in the councils of our republic. Where we have blundered into trying to force a policy or a decision, even though wise and right, we have impeded, if not interrupted the realization of our own arms."
Right wall
"No lasting gain has ever come from compulsion. If we seek to force, we but tear apart that which united is invincible. There is no way whereby our labor movement may be assured sustained progress in determining its policies and its plans other than sincere democratic deliberation until a unanimous decision is reached. This may seem a cumbrous, slow method to the impatient but the impatient are more concerned for immediate triumph than for the education of constructive development."
Pedestal
"Say to the organized workers of America that as I have kept the faith I expect that they will keep the faith. They must carry on. Say to them that a union man carrying a card is not a good citizen unless he upholds the institutions of our country and a poor citizen of our country if he upholds the institutions of our country and forgets the obligations of his trade associations."
Banner inner border
Labor Omnia Vincit
Banner outer border
American Federation of Labor
Organized November 15, 1881
bottom left corner of the statue base
R. AITKEN N.A.
SCULPTOR