. The National Civic Federation review . s it does insist that there shall be better protection againstmachinery; that there shall be better sanitation; thatthere shall be better hygienic conditions; and shorterhours of labor, giving us liberty and more leisure andtime for the recuperation of our health and of ourstrength; and that we shall have higher wages withwhich we may buy the things that contribute to ourhealth and our strength, physical, mental, and moral. I want to approach the subject of the Panama Canaland in its construction in the light of that thoughtthat I have tried to e
. The National Civic Federation review . s it does insist that there shall be better protection againstmachinery; that there shall be better sanitation; thatthere shall be better hygienic conditions; and shorterhours of labor, giving us liberty and more leisure andtime for the recuperation of our health and of ourstrength; and that we shall have higher wages withwhich we may buy the things that contribute to ourhealth and our strength, physical, mental, and moral. I want to approach the subject of the Panama Canaland in its construction in the light of that thoughtthat I have tried to express. We want the canal; weare agreed upon that. At this time, there is no choiceas to the route. The Panama route has been are committed to that. And as long as there is,I suppose, a fair chance for the prosecution of thework, though under adverse influences, there will beno change in the route. In Panama, and throughoutthat great miasmatic country through which this canalhas to be dug, life is not congenial. The conditions. SAMUEL GOMPERS,President American Federation of Labor. are not such as contribute to health and comfort; arenot such, I imagine, as would allow one to regard itas a health resort. In the Convention of the AmericanFederation of Labor two years ago, a resolution was^passed, and I think unanimously, declaring that theconstruction of the canal is a great worlds benefit;and then it was declared that the preference shouldbe given to the laborers of America. Now, if we wantthe work, I take it that we shall be compelled to sub-mit to some of the privations, some of the difficul-ties, and that we shall also enjoy some of the ad-vantages and pleasures that come from organizedsociety and civilized labor. No man has the right toassume to take employment on the Panama Canaland expect that every Sunday he can visit ConevIsland. It wont do for our men who may take thiswork to expect to go to a roof garden in the man who undertakes work of that so
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