Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-11-20
LABOR BACKS UP
AMERICA AT WAR
Only Is Delegates Fail to Sup
port Vote of Confidence
in Government.
GOMPERS PRAISES PRESIDENT
Denies Single Militarist Holds
Position in High Councils
of State.

BUFFALO, n. Y. Nov. 19.--Union
labor today put its stamp Of approval
on the attitude of Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Federation
of Labor in working hand in hand
with President Wilson and placing
the needs Of the nation above all other
considerations in questions involving
the workingmant part in vigorous
prosecution Of the war against Ger
many.
The vote Of confidence came after
more than three hours of debate, in
which the pacifist element at the
thirty-seventh annual convention Of
the federation was given ample op-
portunity to express itself. out of a
total OF 450 delegates only IS were
recorded in opposition. The garment
workers Of New York, under the lead
ership of Rose Sha apirO, was the only
organization refusing to 20 on record
on the roll call.
The test OF strength came upon a
report from the committee on resolu
tiOns. The committee reported favor
ably a resolution endorsing the pa
NllOAlC " Olh VI Lilt dllldIlit LOT ldbtli
and democracy which Mr.. Gompers
took an active part i'm organizing
as an offset TO the peoples council. a
pacifist organization.
GOmpcrs Makes Stirring Speech.
President Gompers closed the de-
bate in a ringing speech I'm defense of
the alliance and his own position.
by those who have opposed the re-
port and the recommendation of this
committee" he said. my naree was
not always mentioned, but my position
was and there is no difference be
tween the two. For instance, | may
recall that insnuations were made of
my hobnobbing with the enemies of
labor. Now | have always said this:
I will go anywhere to bring the mes
sage of hope to labor-even into the
camp of the enemy
IF there is anyone who can bring
one utterance of mine made anywhere
that was not in the defense of the
rights of the laboring people, let him
do so. | dare youi / challenge you"
Il do not know how many of you
feel toward me-" said President
Gompers in conclusion. IF | am to
continue as president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor it will be by
your votes. You may vote against
me II you WISH, Dul L must continue
on good terms with myself
II am not neutral in this war. Pa
cifst as l have been all my life, when
l find there is a band Of murderers
abroad and I fail to defend my chill
dren, | am not a pacifist but a cow
ard.
President Wilson and the mem
bers of his cabinet were peace-loving
men. | know of no miltarist in their
number. But now they are fighting
men, and | publicly declare now that
| am a fighting man and will con-
tinue to fight for the country to
which | owe all, the country which
love ard in which my hopes and as
pirations are bound up.
81 propose to do a mans duty in
helping to make this war the last
war of the world. All my energies
shall be laid at the feet Of America
and of our allies to do what l can
toward the establishment of democ-
racy even in Germany"
The first vote was taken on an
offered by the opposition
to table the report. 1t was offered
by Delegate Cannon, who said the
alliance was no concern of the fedora
tion. 1t was defeated. The roll was
then called on the adoption OF the
committees recommendation result
ing: Yeas 21,579; noes 4O2.