Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-15
"PM FOR AMERICA
FIRST" DECLARES
/ "SAM" GOMPERS
President of Labor Fedora
tion Interviewed During
Visit Here
with THE PRESIDENT"
Declares Wilson's Neutrality Is
Real-Workman's Out
look Bright

The neutrality Of the United states, the
conditions which will confront the work
Ingman after the war and what would
happen II Congress listened to the pleas
of peace" advocates who insist upon
stopping the shipment Of munitions Of
var to the belllgerent nations. were dis
oussed by Samuel Gompers. president or
the American Federation Of Labor, In
f5-minute interview in the Hotel Walton
before he left for Washington.
Mr.. Gompers conferred with several
labor leaders yesterday with respect to
organization matters and labor legisla-
ton The conference was similar to that
held with labor leaders in New York city
Monday. Mr.. Gompers consented to talk
a few moments before going into the
labor conferences.
IL must have a cigar first he said
going to the cigar stand in the hotel. I'VE
can talk better"
Mr. Gompers asked for his favorite
brand of cigar and was advised that It
was not in stock Let me have an ina
ported cigar of some kind he said. The
clerk handed over a box of very dark
looking Havanas and announced that they
were the best in stock. price 81 each.
WHAT exclaimed Mr.. Gompers. "a
worlkingman can't AFFORD anything like
that. Haven't you one for a quarter
The clerk presented another box. cigar
was selected and Mr.. Gompers, with "A
That's better" led the way to the writ
ing room for the interview
Now fire away" he invited as he set
tied back in his chair and blew cloud
of smoke toward the ceiling.
REFUSES TO DISCUSS DISCLOSURES.
do the recent passport frauds and ex-
plosions, attributed to sympathy with bel
ligerent nations. have anything to do with
your visit here?" he was asked.
Most assuredly not" was the prompt
reply. II have nothing TO do with the
state and Treasury Departments matters.
j am not seeking any diplomatic infor-
nation nor have ! any that Is not al
ready known. I would not care to go into
these disclosures, for they are most un-
happy Incidents. and what / might say
would not materially aid the Govern
ment's investigation.
"It is only natural that certain people
should be in sympathy with their mother
countries, but l am for America and
American workmen, and believe that our
neutrality should be preserved for the
dignity and respect OF other nations as
well as for ourselves. Only recently a
man asked me what side l was on. 1
told him the side Of the United States
He insisted that must have sympathies
on either side, and that he himself
favored Germany.
II replied again that | was Tor America
My people came from Europe, | admit,
but what of that? l live here, my sons
and daughters live here my father lives
here and my brothers and sisters are
here. We are all citizens of the United
States we get our bread and butter in
the United States. we vote here and en-
JOY many liberties. Then why should
we take sides against our own country?
U. S. DOES NOT FAVOR ALLIES.
Unfortunately. from the present con-
ditions IL would appear as though the
United States favors the Allies This Is
not true We are shipping to England
and France and other countries, and
We would ship to Germany, too, II 1t
were possible. That's where the troubl
lies. Germany does not have the ships