The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-11-08
Customs, Institutions and
Relationships Are Be-
ing Swept Away
LABOR HAS FROWNED
ON INDUSTRIAL PLOTS
Annual Report Of Executive
Council Presented to the
A. f. of L. Convention

Dan TihIclscu, ldili., NOV. o.--ITebeI
tation of the annual report of the execll
tive council featured the opening day D
the 35th annual convention of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor, which opene
here to-day for two weeks session
President Samuel Gompers presented tn
report, which pronounced the year pas
the most momentous in the history o
organized labor and one of extraordi
nary stress for the labor movement
testing as it had it's very existence
There is not a country, and there il
scarcely relation in the common life,
says the councils report, that does MOI
show some effect of the terrible war thai
is being waged in Europe. From ON
present viewpoint, these effects are pri
marily destructive. Whatever of con
structive value shall come out of it all
win depend upon the wisdom, the ability
and the craftsmanship of the real states.
men of the nations. But at present WI
see customs, institutions, and the rela
tionship that are the result of years OF
struggle and persistent effort to realize
ideals, swept away by the great tide OF
destruction and lost in the clash Of arms
the smoke of the battlefield, and in the
terrors of naval warfare
| Describing the effects of the war upon
organized labor and American customs
and institutions, the report deals at
length with attempts by interests OF
belligerent European nations to interfere
with the peaceful pursuit of American
industries.
Some of these movements" it says,
have been genuine, Others have been
created by individuals and interests that
were really unneutral. These move.
ments have taken various forms; some
have tried to influence the policies of the
state and governmental authorities of
our country; Others have tried to work
upon public opinion, and still others have
sought to use the good name of our labor
movement to further the interests of
some foreign country"
High tribute was paid the working men
of the nation through whose patriotism,
the report says. these plans have per
ished and the movements so far have
been futile.
'The efforts TO use the workingmen
of our country have been of two kinds,
the report continues, zone to get through
them the endorsement of the foreign
policy to place an embargo upon so-called
munitions Of war, the other has been TO
stir up industrial contentious and dis
putes and thus interfere with the actual
process Of production so that products to
be sent abroad may be stopped Foreign
agencies have been trying TO eorruptly
reach some of the organizations of the
workers, but they have not succeeded.
There is nothing touching the industrial
and commercial life of America that is
not Of interest TO the warning nations"
The holding of a worlds labor congress
at the same time and place that peace
delegates meet when the war is ended is
in the report as "neces- |
sary in order to infuse the spirit of |
and democracy into this polit.
cal conference" In order that the posi-
ion Of the United States working men |
N this regard may be fully representa-
live Of the oountryis unanimous voice Of
abor, the report recommends that al
International unions be urged TO give the
,lan their support.
The report covers the recent investi-
sstion by labor leaders Of the Dick mill
AIRY law. In that connection, il says:
Up 20 the present We have received
10 complaint nor have we learned Of any
ct in which the military arm Of the gov.
rnment had misused the Dick law 20
fleet or curb the aspirations Of the
working people Of the land.
Ne refer particularly 10 the situation in
'olorado last year. The cor.
had practically coeroed and in
Undated the officials Of the state and
ad over-ridden the laws Of the state.
There 4 not nearly 70 grave
danger in the Dick law a. there il In
be menace threatening our Institutions
through the private detective agencies
nd the private army Of gunner"
Attention y also called IN the report
b the work Of the United states com
lission u Industrial relations. Chair
ian Walsh and the labor Representatives,
Iessrs. ONonnail, Lennon and Garret
~. are praised for their Judgment and
termination. which brought - light
ANY wrongs and iujusticos that might =