The sun., 1916-12-17
GAINS WAR BUT NOT FOR M~CONCLUSIVE PEACE
American Federation Head Says the Result Must LIE
termine Whether Rule of Future Is to Be of Autocracy
and Militarism or of Democracy and Humanity

be defeated, and II Prussian mi1itarism
no defeatable no militarism can live.
Toward this end 1t is my belief that
every American, of whatever original
blood, should work INCREASINGLY"
do you say that as head Of the
American Federation Of Labor" !
asked Mr.. Gompers.
Il say that to all men In the most
impressive way that one man may
address another" Mr.. Gompers an
swered. IL say 1t as man to man-as
the expression Of my deepest personal
conviction. founded upon my lifelong
study OF human rights and the best
mean Of conserving them
What do you regard as the most
impressive essons OF this war for the
study OF ~workingmen?' I asked.
"They are obvious said he, land
can be crystallized into two words:
efficient organization The Govern
ments OF all the nations at war have
recognized the value not only of in
dividual workers but Of organized labor
and have called upon the best Or
gan!Zers among the workers to serve
the State. These men have done so
willingly and their ability has been
freely and continually acknowledged by
those who have failed to recognize 1t
in the past.
at the close OF the war none Of the
Governments can recede from the po-
sition it has AIKEN. This will near
that In the future the worker will be
an integral part of all Governments
not only locally in every way. but In.
ternationally.
THE introduction Of this new ele.
ment into European governmental
matters will be Of immense service II
the efforts which everywhere will fol
low the war to find solutions Of tn
vast human problems which will bt
found to have arisen.
although the United States IL no
actually at war this fact already Il
recognized here and its recognition
here Is Of immense importance. for
will tend toward inducing this countr!
TO exercise such beneficent %influenc'
as II can WELD. That thought ha
been pressed home upon the Govern
ment OF the United States by labor
! and although my country has no
gone as far "a We might wish alonl
these suggested lines. there still ha
been a vast contrast between tn
course of the present Admin;stratio
and that OF those which preceded IT.
mo class has more TO lose and les
to gain in war than the workers: l
war the workers suffer most. Wa
diverts the minds OF peoples from til
constructive work Of humanizing an
democratizing the relations Of mar
Labor, therefore. should hold as enc
mics those who cause war.
THE worker. more than everybod
. else. would gain through permaner
international peace and when til
smoke Of this conflict clears away
believe the workers of the world wi
= begin anew to lay foundations thi
will universally safeguard and minis
ter TO the interests Of justice, demo'
racy and uninterrupted larger oppol
3 tunity for all.
= IL personally am impressed by III
: belief that labor will nav a muc
louder voice in international affairs
I the future than 1t has had in the pas
= | have said that tho Willingness
Teutonic labor to bow to the will
those debating war surprised me.
y would surprise me more n. after tn
e war into which 1t has been force
Teutonic or any other labor should 10