The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-06-21

ment of his views on the subject yes
terday he declared there were things
more abhorrent than war and that war
is justified under certain circumstances.
! Significance is attached to Mr.. Com
pers declaration in view of the effort
of Representative Buchanan of Illinois
and other labor leaders to further
movement to prevent war except in case
OF invasion. Apparently Mr.. Gompers
has no sympathy with this movement.
Mr.. Gompers' statement is accepted as
a slap at the peace propaganda of Will
liam j. Bryan and an Endorsement of the
attitude taken by President Wilson in
his negotiations with Germany.
Mr.. Gompers's observations relative
to war are embodied in a letter forward
ed to New York, in which he declined to
take part in the peace meeting there last
night at which Mr.. Bryan was the prin-
ciple attraction. The letter was adj
dressed to Ernest Bohm, secretary of
the Central Federated union.
In the letter Mr.. Gompers suggested
that there are things dearer to the hearts
of organized labor than peace at any
price, The letter to Secretary Bohm, in
part, follows:
81 have no hesitancy in saying to you
that in my judgment there are some
things that are even more abhorrent
than war, that is, to be robbed of the
birthright of freedom, justice, safety
and character Against any attempt of
any person or group of persons, or ma
ton or nations, who may be engaged in
an effort to undermine or destroy these
fundamentals of normal human existence /
and development, | would not only fight !
to defeat it but prevail upon every red !
blooded, liberty and humanity loving !
man to resist in the last degree. /
"Who deplores the struggles which .
esulted in the wringing from an UNI
willing king the Magma charter? Who
is there who has one harsh word to ut (
ter against the men who were engaged
in the Revolution to make the Decara-
ton of Independence and the republic of
the United States actualities Who now
condemns Abraham Lincoln in the fight
which he and the men of his time con-
tested for the abolition of human slav-
cry and the maintenance of the Union'
How few are those who have a word of
unkindness to say of the people of the
United States in the struggle with Spain
10 secure justice, freedom and independ-
ence for the republic of Cuba.
"The lessons which these struggles
each have their application also upon
The industrial field where tyranny wrong,
injustice and unfreedom are attempted
o be imposed upon the workers. And
Who will deny to the toilers the right
o enter the industrial struggle with
III of the sacrifices which they may
ntail in order TO maintain the degree
# freedom and standards which we
ave already secured, and in the con-,
tant, ever pleasing yearning hope and
emand of the organized labor movement
which the toilers made upon employers
nd society for a better return and re-
Tard for the service which the workers
i've TO society
"The American Federation of Labor,
$ a great group representing the work.
RS of America, and | a. an officer and
man, have done something for the
maintenance OF peace, and are willing
, 20 to the fullest lengths for It's main
snance. A reading OF the eablegrams
'om Paris in this mornings newspapers
bows that one European nation has all
sady declared it, Endorsement of the
meriean Federation of Labor PROPOSE
on for peace and a constructive policy
permanent peace which the Philadel-
his convention of the American Fed
alton of Labor by unanimous vote
iopted.
Il am not willing 10 have either tina
Dor movement or our men and women
aced in a false position. The Unitedl
.ates will not voluntarily enter into
.e present European war. OF that /,
n confident. We shall keep out Of IL
we possibly can with any degree 81
ithfuluess 90 the fundamental prin'
pies of justice. freedom aud safety.
IF, despite our reserve and self-con-
Of. We shall h. dragged into Il, whether,
3 like 10 or not. there viii BE- but one
sition for us 20 take. and that il. 20
true 20 ourselves, true 90 our fellows.
ne 20 the highest ideals IT humanity,
r which our movement stands"