The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-08
LABOR MAY LEAD
WAR PROTEST IN US.
Congressman Buchanan to
Urge Conference of Union
Men at Once for Peace.
WILL SEE BRYAN TO-DAY
No Conflict Unless Invasion, Is
Plea-Rumor of Carnegie
Backing.

Backing.
WAsHINoroN. June IA conference
OF organized labor from all sections OF
the United States to protest against
war, except in case OF invasion. H. one
OF the probabilities OF the near future.
The question will have consideration
at the hands of the executive commit
tee OF the Federation OF Labor at a
meeting to be held in Atlantic City
this week
The author of the idea. Representa-
tive Buchanan of Illinois. one of the
labor leaders in Congress. arrived in
Washington to-day. He hopes TO
have a talk tomorrow with Secretary
of State Bryan. After a call at the
State Department Mr.. Buchanan will
proceed to Atlantic City. where he will
meet Samuel Gompers and other
members OF the executive committee
of the federation
Mr.. Buchanan will urge that labor
meet In a great conference and pro-
test against war with Germany or any
other nation on the ground that con-
flicts between nations are waged pri-
marily for commercial or territorial
ACKNOWLEDGMENT and that the workers
nf hA .lr
ferers.
The Illinois member. who represents
what is known as the labor group"
in Congress. declared tonight that he
would urge Mr.. Gompers and the
other federation leaders in Atlantic
City to decide Immediately on ma
tional conference, expressing the be-
lief that any delay in the matter would
only play into the hands OF what he
described as the war party" in the
United States.
bryan Not Aware.
Asked IL the Secretary OF State had
any knowledge Of the movement he 4.
trying to further. Mr.. Buchanan replied
> Not that I am aware"
Reports preceded Mr. Buchanar's ar.
rival IN Washington that he had become
anlliated with certain organizations
financed by Andrew Carnegie. with , ,.iev
to persuading organized labor, particu.
larry the federation. to take action
aga inst war.
MT. buchanan made IL clear that a,
'his time In the worlds affairs he did
not believe the United States should talk,
up arms except TO repel invasion H..
was OF the opinion that labor leaders
generally shared this view of the situa.
''oh' MI buchanan insisted that there
We're no questions in controversy he.
iween the United States and ,;ermanv
nat would Justify a recourse 10 arms
lie Insisted that commercial greed
prompted men to send ships across tba
1ceah. II was his opinion that Ameri-
cans and American ships should keen
out OF the war zone
Ihere Is no justification for war ex-
1'i' 10 stop INVASION declared Mr.
nucnahah The Colorado strike struck
deeper az the fundamental PRINCIPLES OF
cur republic than the sinking OF the
I.us'tania. ! do not. of course. iustify
'h' attack on the Lusitania. but (, 40
Oh" or those acts that we must cxnec,
"heh nations descend q the harhsrism
OF war. We must keep ou~ shins and
oar people out Of the war zones IL we
would avoid trouble They would No,
expose themselves T. such hazards were
~ nor for the desire for gain. At
east that is the case In the majority
If instances.
biames Nunition Makers.
I'm my opinion the people lnterested
IN the manufacture OF armaments arc /
~ great part responsible for war sentl. ,
meht' TO some extent this interest
seems 10 be centred in and around what
IS known as the armor plate trust. In
me last Congress and in preceding ses-
'"iiS e'"rts wer" made 20 secure largo
authorizations for submarines. All the
'.rcumstances suggest that the aruor
plate people did not want submarines
ana they had their own way To a CON
siderable extent II is the very same
people who would profit by wa, and .
'"u may be sure that they have taken
lo steps to avert war"
Mr. Buchanan denied that he had Co.
operated with any other organizations
han labor unions and labor leaders in
urthering his peace ideas.
Every labor organization that has
net since the beginning of the war has
'assed resolutions expressing the hone
hat the United States would not become
involved In the trouble" said Mr..
Buchanan "The laborinE people feel
Ieeply on this subject. They know that
var enriches only a few and that II re-
cts on the many"
Mr.. Buchanan said that for some
weeks he has been making trips in an
Mort to arouse the labor world to the
larm that would come to them If the
'nited states entered the war with Ger.
many. He said he had found the work.
RS entirely ir sympathy. Following his
rip to Atlantic city Mr. Buchanan will
% to New York for conferences there.
May Get BryRn's Aid.
The Illinois member is not certain
hat Mr Gompers and the other fedora.
ion leaders viii agree with him that his
roposed nationwide conference should
e held at once. 1t was inferred from
lr Buchanans remarks that he hoped
D obtain from Mr.. Bryan tomorrow
ONE Information that might help him
\ his efforts
Mr, Buchanan declined to Indicate 10
hat extent the movement he had
Iarted had already been countenancca
y labor leaders. lie has the support
cx-Representatve Robert NJ Fowler
( Illinois, an eN-labor leader. II is
ndcrstood that Mr.. Fowler will arrive
ere tomorrow in time to sec Mr..
before he departs for Atlantic
iiy, Mr.. Fowler has an engagement, ,
,is week 10 meet members Of Congress
len'ificd with the labor group, lie il
)ming here to talk peace with them. ,
There is no doubt in my mind where
In. Bryan stands on tho pelce mas ,