The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-18
Washington Is Flooded
With Runors of Plots
Philippine Sedition Fostered by Teutons Unverified
Report-Other Developments May Lead to Dip
lomatic Exchanges With Germany.

of munitions to the Allies. Mr.. Gompers
said
"If an inquiry were directed to what
/ pointed out, that Is, to the efforts TO
corruptly induce labor mel to all strikes
among l~ongshoremen ~ seamen, n
would be fruitful i'm results. For several
months at times l could scarcely avoid
having people try to come In contact
with me upon the scheme to call strikes
which would affec' the situation regard
ing the handling of products intended
for European countries. In my opinion.
a diltgent inquiry should be made into
this entire matter. Without regard OF
any sympathy for the one or the other
side of the nations involved in the war,
had It not been for the honesty OF the
men at the head Of some OF these or
ganizations primarily In interest there
would have been great strikes inaugu-
rated at tho instance Of the agents OF
foreign Governments.
Gompers's strike. Policy.
"All my life I have tried, and will con-
tinue TO try, TO ecure the very best pos
sible conditions and wages and hours
for the workers of our country. IL these
ann be accomplished without strikes
I have no hesitancy in encouragins
strikes for their attainment, but such
strikes will have to be undertaken for
these specific direct purposes and MOI
FOR any Interior purposes. and an i'm
proper purpose. and particularly when
undertaken by corrupt or other means In
the interests OF another. Ours is an
the interests " one nation as agains.
American labor movement and will be
conducted by the rank and file and the
officers Of the American labor move
ment.'
While the published reports OF a Ger
man plot to cause trouble in the Philip
pines were discredited on all sides, the
disclosure was made that the British
Embassy had called to the attention OF
United States officials the activities OF
two Germans in the Philippines and the
presence near one Of the islands of a
suspicious vessel. This occurred some
time ago was in no way related 70
any suspected plot against the United
States.
The British agents In this country had
information hat shipments Of arms had
been made from the Pacific coast for
Asiatic ports by Germans with a view
to smuggling these munitions into India
and fomenting uprisings there. The
British suspected that Germans in the
Philippines were having something to dc
with that plot and they called the mat.
ter to the attention OF his Government
This perhaps gave rise to the lates,
charge that Germans were trying to
cause trouble in the Philippines. but 1
Is apparent that the case related merely
to a suspicion of neutrality violations
So far as has been learned, nothing
came Of the matter.
At the Department Of Justice Il was
said to-day that nothing has been pub.
lished as yet to warrant the law Off.
GERS In initiating criminal proceedings
on the other hand the allegations con.
corning pernicious activity on the par,
of German diplomatic officials are such
that they may lead to development.
which will cause Inc State Department
to take the matter up with German,
through diplomatic channels.