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 Birthrlght
of Freedom-None To-day
Blames Lincoln, He Says.
from The Tribune Bureau. J

Washington. June l9.-Declaring that
war and bloodshed are often )ustlla-
bic. and in fact constitute the only
course which can be pursued, Presl-
dent Samuel Gompers of the Federa-
ton of Labor declined to be a speaker
on the same platform with Secretary
BRYAN at the peace meeting in New
York tonight. In a forceful letter TO
Secretary Ernest Bohm, Of the Cen
trail Federated Union, Mr.. Gompers
pointed out his reasons for refusing
: to speak. After mentioning the press
of his duties here, Mr.. Gompers said:
This much | may say: That 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 entaheo'
| have no hesitancy in saying to you
that in my judgment there are some
things that are even more aohorreht
than war, that is to be robbed OF the
birthright of freedom, justice, safety
and character. Against any attempt OF
anv person or group of persons, or ma,
tion or nations, who may be engaged
in an effort 10 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 human
ity loving man to resist to the ias'
degree.
Who deplores the struggles which re-
suited in the wringing from an unwlii-
ing king the Magma Charta? VINO is
there who has one harsh word 10 utter
against the men who were engaged IN
the Revolution to make the Deciara-
ton Of independence and the kepuDilc
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 have
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 toilers
the right TO enter upon the industrial
struggle, with all the sacrifices which
tneV may cUldll' III W
the degree of freedom and standards
which we have already secured, and IN
the constant, everpressing, yearninG
hope and demand of the organized la
bor 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 a great group representing the
workers of America, and !, as an officer
and a man, have done something Tor
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.
II 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. or that !
am confident. We shall keep out OF II
if we possibly can with any degree OF
faithfulness 10 the fundamental princl-
Piles Of justice, freedom and safety. H.