The sun., 1916-12-17
Bv EDWARD MARSHALL,

By EDWARD MARSHALL.
THE wal and the workers Of the
World-what will be its effect
on them?
Samuel Gompers, at the head Of the
American Federation Of Labor. q FIRE.
ouent visitor to European labor fields
and thoroughly familiar with world
wide conditions, Is perhaps qualified
70 speak with as much wisdom az any
one could display upon this very Vital
topic. I have talked with him in
Washington and elsewhere and his
careful revision Of the manuscript re-
sulting has reached me In London.
II is worth reading. II very clearly
shows exactly where American labor
as a whole places the responsibility
for bloodshed, for I asked him es-
pecially to discuss with me the reaa-
ton Of the wal to the workers of the
world.
"In the last analysis" said Mr.. Com
pers. 1.-THE interest OF the workingman
in this wal Is more vital than hat
Of any one else. Not only must he do
the work of fighting and the fitting Of
others for their fighting, but he must
nay the greater portion of the bills.
for the major sums Of the worlds
taxation are drawn from the pockets
Of its workers.
"The war was inaugurated by Ger
many and against the wishes and pro-
tests Of her workers. While they have
no heart in It they must bear the brunt
Of It's effort. for they compose the
greater part Of her great military ma
chine. 1t was because they were so
much a part of It that when var came
they were forced to go into It against
their wills. They could not hold out
against it.
when the situation c~rystallized into
one which through the false political
system in force demanded war. they
either had to Join the lighting forces
or be destroyed-they had TO kill
or be killed. although a feeling OF
distinct fellowship. Of human kinsh.p
had begun to grow between them and
the workers Of all the other nations
involved. An era Of visiting delega.
tons OF workingmen, passing across
the artificial boundary lines Of the
European map. had begun to create an
actual sense Of brotherhood.
Having been thrust into the war
they have shown a wonderful ability
at warfare. as they have shown
wonderful ability at everything they
ever have undertaken. But wal worh
with them is physical and mental. moi
Of the heart.
Il know that the workers Of Ger
many did not want this a l know
although every effort was made t
suppress the news. that great protes
meetings. which really voiced the sen
t.mcnt Of the German workers. wcr'
held in Berlin and elsewhere.
But the Government was a Govern
ment especially organized for the pur
pose OF making war. and the worker
were not organized for the purpose o
keeping peace. The organization o
the Government prevailed, as the or
SANITATION Of governments usual.
does.
"The workers Of Europe had moth
ing TO gain from the a Worker
seldom gain through physical war
fare. I remember a great gatherin
In Paris In 1899 which I attended a
the representative Of the workers q
America. Delegates from the othe
great countries were present and a
addressed the mass assembled.
Every reference to internation'
peace was greeted with the wildes
enthusiasm. not only by the French
men, the Englishmen, the Italians. &c
hut by the Germans and the Austrian
II really was the hope Of those VIII
went away from this great gatherin
that any one OF the Government
which might assume an aggressiS
attitude. either declaring war or pre-
voking others to such q declaration
might nnd itself instantly c~onfrontt
by internal revolt.
1T was because or this well know
feeling among the workers that tho,
sands, among them myself. were dii
appointed when no revolt followed II
declaration of war in Germany ar
Austria. 1 fully expected that II sue
contingency should arise the WORKER
would rebel at nce
~ hoped for this NOTWITHSTANDING
my certainty that such an evcntu'
ton would be followed by a sanguinaI
and dreadful conflict between Il
workers and their Governments. b.
assumed. and rightly, that such
contest. while 1t might result in Il
sacrifice of thousands Of lives, Won
not sacrifice one-hundredth as ma
az would he certain to be sacrificed
international a
"This belief has been confirmed
subsequent events. n Teutonic lab