New-York tribune., 1916-02-28
iomperSD
on Use of Guard
Against Strikes.
3URDEN MUST
BE DISTRIBUTED
'nion Leader Declares
Costs of Armament
Must Be Divided.

Washington, Feb. p Organized Ia
bor. i'm a message 20 the nation through
The Tribune. made public tonight
6y Samuel Gompers, president OF
the American Federation of Labor, laid
down the fiat terms on which 1t would
accept the Administration defence pro-
eramme. These conditions are;
That the plan to "federalize' the
state militia must also include pro
hibition Of its further use in the sup
preston Of strikes,
That the burden Of costs for increas-
ing armament must be distributed
equally among all classes, instead Of
bearing most heavily on the wage earn
,.. and consumers, as heretofore.
This statement was given 10 The
Tribune ~ tho conclusion of six-day
conference Of labor leaders from all
sections Of the country, one Of the most
Important ever held at the capital. 1t
is thc FIRST intimation that Mr.. Com
ror on organized labor viii support
amy plan providing in any way for the
"federalziug' OF the national guard.
1ir Gompcrs left no room for doubt
ne % labcr's attitude toward the pacifst
agitation aud the need OF defence. "a
people unwilling 10 defend the institu-
tions o. self-eoyernment are not worthy
of % rcpu0lic' he declared.
Defence an Economic Problem.
"rhc fact that We have chosen 70
,all our system OF government in the
United States "a republic" Mr. Com
rcrs said, "does not insure US either
protection or peace. Preparedness is
an economic as we'll as civic and mill
tary problem. The principles of hu-
man welfare cannot be ignored in plans
ior national defence any more than
incy can be ignored in industry or
commerce. The safeguarding Of hui
man rights and freedom arc Of funda-
mental importance. and are correlated
with national defence. They must not
bc sacrificed TO any false concept OF
national defence
"To what end" exclaimed Mr. Com
rcrs. with intense earnestness. will
nation be saved if the citizens are de-
nicd that which gives life value and
purpose"
The preparedness favored by labor
must be genuine, Mr. Gompcrs de-
carcd. There must be no sham. no
prctences. no halfway measures.
"We must have a preparation that
means comprehensive development
Of al the powers ana resources of all
oar citizens he said. "In Switzer-
land every man is a soldier not nee
ossarily 10 90 20 war but he has the
phys cal and manual training necessary
20 defend himself. his family and his
country. Under that system the Swiss
have developed manhood, character.
thar challenges the admiration Of the
world We viii be satisfied with moth
ing less in America"
Labor Seeks Preparedness.
In he cooperation in all fields OF ac-
t'vity 20 secure adequate defence Mr.
Gompers declared organized labor must
play big part.
There must be industrial, CONNER
cal, political, social. moral as we'll as
military defence" the labor leader
SAID. Citizen SOldiery must be estab-
hshed and extended. II must be demo-
cratically organized. Differed and con-
trolled. We must put an end TO the
present wastcful and unfair admin
istration Of our military affairs"
With preparedness embracing such a
programme, he declared, the unions
were 300 full sympathy. "Some Of us
leaders are perhaps too old TO shoulder
the gum he said. but we can help r.
.ganizc; We can help TO lead and carry
out wcll-rounded plan which will
make for national unity"
It followed as part of such a scheme,
Mr. Gompers said. that industrial and
vocational training should be includ I'd
n the educational system of the states,
with financial aid from the Federal
government
Train Farmers and Workers.
We must see 10 it," said Mr.. Comp
tfs, THAT the great mass of the farm
eis and the workers i'm industry shall
ne thoroughly trained and organized.
We must see to 10 that the military and
naval forces Of the country are con-
uoiled m the interests of peace. Of JUS
nee, of democracy and Of humanity.
o say that we will leave the ad-
,,ninlstration of such powers IN the
hands of the privileged few is TO sur
render ~ in advance. II can only be in
,, ,ne hands OF the democracy Of America
~ . 80 4
sent. there the accompanying evil of
miitarlsm fastens its deadly clutches
upon freedom and civic opportunity.
Just as. conversely. where the spirit OF
democracy obtains it is TO the abolition
pI military castles and the vicious dan
sers oi militarism."
Unless organized labor received as
.ufances that the army in which the
Adfinis'rstion proposed to incorporate
Continued ON page .. column 4