New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-18
Gompers Had to Dodge
Schemers Wanting Strikes
(From The Tribune Bureau.l

Washington, Aug. 17.-How he had
to dodge persons who wished TO have
him arrange strikes where they would
do the most good in preventing the
handling of products bound for Euro
pean countries was described tonight
by Samuel Gompers, president Of the
American Federation of Labor. In the
early days of the Bridgeport strike he
charged that agents of foreign coun-
tries were scheming to prevent the
export of munitions. Tonight he pre-
pared a signed statement on the let
tiers substantiating his charge, which
reads:
81 have read the expose in The New
York World Of Sunday and Monday,
and while ! am interested in the first
instalment | am particularly interest
ed in the second, because it deals with
the situation TO which it was necessary
for me to refer few weeks ago. II
the inquiry were directed to what /
pointed out-that is, in so far as the
efforts to corruptly induce labor men
10 call strikes among longshoremen
and seamen-it would be fruitful of
results.
For several months, at times, could
scarcely avoid having people try to
come in contact with me upon the
scheme to call strikes which would
affect the situation regarding the
handling of products intended for
European countries. In my opinion,
a diligent 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 il not been for the honesty
of the men at the head of some of
these organizations primarily in in
terest there would have been great
strikes inaugurated at the instance Of
the agents of foreign governments.
All my life | have tried and will con-
tinue to try to secure the very best
possible conditions of wages and hours
for the workers of our country.
"If these cannot be accomplished
without strikes, | have no hesltancy
in encouraging strikes for their at
tainment. but such strikes will have to
be undertaken for these specific direct
purposes and not for any Interior pur-
pose. and an improper purpose, and
particularly when undertaken by cor
rupt or other means in the interests
of one nation as against the interests
Of another. Ours is an American labor
movement, and will be conducted by
the rank and file and the officers of the
American labor movement"
An amazing story of German plot
to encourage rebellion in the Philip
pines, in the course of which a Stand
ard Oil tank ship was purchased and
used to send munitions TO the Fill
pinos. was unfolded in "The Washing
ton Star" this afternoon. The paper
also described a wireless outfit in
Washington which, since the govern
ment took over the Sayville wireless
station, has been listening" to all
messages sent to and from Arlington.
The statement that knowledge Of this
was in the possession of the Navy De-
partment. and that the Department OF
Justice knew Of the Philippine plot
was vigorously denied by officials OF
those branches.
The story on the Philippine plot as
serts that German officials two months
ago sent a tank steamer. from San
Francisco ostensibly 10 point in Java.
and that this ship carried munitions
intended for the use of seditious Fill
pinos The charge is made that Ger
mans in the Philippines had been in
structed to receive the shipment and
foment an uprising. so that the United
States government might be distracted
from the negotiations with Germany on
the Lusitania disaster and submarine
warfare.
at is stated that the captain Of this
ship" the story goes on, knowing
that he was concerned in a venture
against the laws of the United States,
which Is severely punishable. lost his
courage before he reached the Javan
port to which he had sailed. and dis
embarked his arms and ammunition
upon an island in the Malay Archipel-
ago.
Information as to this cargo of arms
and ammunition. it was charged to-
dav. had been furnished TO the Dutch
government. Java being dependency
of Holland. and a Dutch warship met
the tank steamship aad searched it..
finding no arms"