The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-06-20
SAMUEL GOMPERS IS.
FOR WILSON POLICY.
Declined To Take Part IN New York
Anfi-War Meeting Last Night.
SOME THINGS WORSE THAN WAR
Prefers to Fight Than to he Robbed
Of Bartnright OF Freedom, Justice.
Safety and Character.

washington, June lS.-SAmuei
Gompers. president OF the American
Federation OF Labor, Is opposed TO
the principle of peace at any price.
In a statement OF his views on the
subject today he declared there were
things more abhorrent than war, and
that war ia justified under certain cir
cumstances. Significance Is attached
TO Mr.. Gompers' declaration in view
OF the effort of Representative Buch-
anan, of Illinois, and other labor
leaders TO further n movement TO pre-
vent war except In case of INVASION
Mr.. Gompers' statement is accepted
as an endorsement OF the attitude
taken by President Wilson in his
negotia tons with Germany.
Mr. Gompers' observations relative to
wa rare embodied ina letter forwarded
to New York, in which he declined TO
take part in the peace meeting at New
York tonight, at which former Secre-
tary Of State Bryan was the principal
speaker. The letter was addressed to
Ernest Bohm. secretary Of the Central
Federated Union. In this letter Mr..
Gompers suggested there are Things
dearer TO the hearts of organized labor
than peace at any price"
Considered in connection with pre-
vious expression on the question, Mr..
Gompers' letter liz taken to mean that
he is opposed to the Buchanan move
ment. and that as leader of labor
he intends 10 uphold the foreign policy
OF the Wilson administration.
After explaining that he could not be
present, Mr.. Gompers wrote TO Ernest
Bohm. secretary of the Central FEEDER
ated Union, as follows:
| II have no hesitancy in saying to
you that in my judgment there are
! ~ hat n
! horrent than war, that Is. 10 be
robbed of the birthright of freedom,
| Justice, safety and character. Against
any attempt of any person. or group
! of persons, or nation, or nations who
may be engaged In an effort to UNI
dermine Or destroy these tunda-
mentals of normal, human existence
and development. I would not only
! fight TO defeat It, but prevail upon
every red -blooded, liberty and hu-
mainly loving man to resist TO the last
degree Who depiores the struggles
which resulted in the wnnging from
an unwilling king the Magma Charta :
Who is there who has one harsh word
to utter against the men WHOM ere
engaged in the revolution to make
the Declaration OF Independence and
the Republic OF the United States ac-
Qualities? who now condemns Abra-
ham Lincoln In the fight which ne
and the men of his time contested TOT
the abolition OF human slavery. and
the maintenance OF the Union? How
few are there who have word OF
unkindness to any Of the people OF
the United States in the struggle with
Spain 10 secure Justice, freedom and
Independence for the Republic OF
Cuba7
The lessons which these struggles
teach have their application also upor
the industrial field where tyranny
wrong. injustice and unfreedom ar
; ATTEMPTED to be imposed upon tn
workers. and who will deny to th'
toilera the right to enter upon rh'
industrial struggle with all or tn
sacriflces which they may entail ii
u order 30 maintain the degree Of free
J dom and standards which we haV'
already secured, and In the constan
ever pressing yearning hope and de
mand OF the organized labor move
J ment which the toilers make upol
employers and society for a better re
turn and reward for the service
which the workers give to society.
."rhe American Federation OF La
Dor as a great group representing IN
workers of America and l as an ON
Ger and a man. have done somethini
for the maintenance of peace, and an
willing to go TO the fullest iengtn
4 for. It's maintenance. A reading or TN
cahlegrams from Paris in this morn
: ing's newspapers shows that one Ell
ropean nation has already declared
its endorsement of the American FED
: Grafton of Labor proposition for peac'
fasssa. a conservative poiicy' OF perrna
nent peace werlich the Philadelphia
convention OF the American Fedora
ton OF Labor by unanimous vot'
adopted.
At am not willing to have eithe:
, the labor movement or our men anc
women placed In false position. The
United States will not voluntarily en-
ter into tho present European war
OF that am confident. We shall Keef
y out OF Il II we possibly can with any
!, degree of faithfulness to the funda
mental principles of Justice. freedom
and safety. II, despite our reserve
and seH-control. we shall be DRAGGED
into II whether we like II or not, there
will he but one position for us to take
ana that 10 to be true to ourselves
true TO our fellows, true TO the high
est ideals OF humanity for which ou'
movement stands"