New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-20
Labor Chief Refuses to Sit
on Platform with
w. J. Bryan.
TELLS OF THINGS
WORSE THAN WAR
Instances Robbery of Birthright
of Freedom-None To-day
Blames Lincoln, He Says.
From The Tribune Bureau

Washington. June ly.-Declaring that
war and bioodshed are often JUSTINE
HE. and in fact constitute the only
curse which can be pursued, Presi-
don't Samuel Gompers Of the Fedora
ton Of Labor declined to DC a speaker
on the same platform with Secretary
Brvan at the peace meeting in New
York tonight. In forceful letter 70
Secretary Ernest Bohm. Of the Cen
trail Federated Union, Mr. Gompers
nointcd out his reasons for refusing
! 70 sneak. After mentioning the press
Of his duties here, Mr. Gompers said:
This much | may say: mat you
know that as far back as my young
manhood | have always stood for peace
and have had an adherence OF war
with all the brutality which 1t entaiied.
I have no hesitancy in saying to you
that in my judgment there are some
things that are even more abhorrenI
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
tion or nations, who may be engaged
in an fort to undermine or destroy
those fundamentals of normal, human
existence and development | would not
onIy fight to defeat it, but prevail upon
every red blooded, liberty and human
ity loving man to resist to the last
degree.
Who deplores the struggles which re-
suited in the wringing from an unwiIi-
ing king the Magma Charta! VINO Is
there who has one harsh word to utter
against the men who were engaged IN
The Revolution to make the Declare
ton of INDEPENDENCE and the Republic
Of the United States actualitles! VINO
now condemns Abraham Lincoln IN the
fight which he and the men OF his time
contested for the abolition OF human
slavery and the maintenance OF the
Union? How few are there who nave
a word of unkindness TO say OF the peo-
pie of the United States in the struggle
with Spain to secure justice, freedom
and independence for the Republic OF
Cuba.
"The lessons which these struggles
teach have their application also upon
the industrial field where tyranny,
wrong, injustice and unfreedom are at
tempted to be imposed upon the work
ers. And who will deny to the tollers
the right to enter upon the industrial
| struggle, with all the sacrifices when
they may entail. in order TO MAINTAIN
! the degree Of freedom and standards
/ which we have already secured, and in
| the constant, everpressing. yearning
hope and demand of the organized la
| Dor movement which the toilers make
upon employers and society for bet
| ter return and reward for the services
/ which the workers give to society!
"The American Federation Of Labor,
as great group representing the
workers of America, and |, as an ofhcer
and a man, have done something for
! the maintenance of peace, and are will
| ING TO 20 to the fullest lengths for its
maintenance. A reading of the cable
/ grams from Paris in this mornings
/ newspapers shows that one European
/ nation has already declared its in
! dorsement of the American Federation
/ of Labor's proposition for peace and
constructive policy Of permanent peace.
which the Philadelphia convention OF
/ the American Federation OF Labor by
unanimous vote adopted.
/ 81 am not willing to have either the
( labor movement or our men and women
placed in a false position. The United
/ States will not voluntarily enter into
the present European War. OF that
am confident. We shall keep out OF IT
| If we possibly can with any degree OF
faithfulness to the fundamental prlnci-
Piles of justice, freedom and safety. H.