Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-09-07
.GONPERS ELECTED AS
HEAD OF ALLIANCE
Convention Pledges Loyal
Support to Government
and Worlds Democracy

Minneapolis, Mimi, Sept Sam
uel Gompers,' president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, was elected
president of the American Alliance for
Labor and Democracy this morning.
Other Officers elected were:
Secretary, Frank Morrison, who is
secretary of the American Federation
of Labor; vice presidents, Mrs. Ger
trude II. b. Fuller, Pittsburg; James
Duncan, Massachusetts; W. r. Gill,
Milwaukee; executive committee, Frank
R. Walsh, Missouri; w. G. Ghent, Cali
fornia; John Walker, Illinois; John
Spargo, Vermont; William Edlin, New
York; c. Lanelle, Missouri; Matthew
Vol, Illinois; Jacob D. Shepherd, Cal
ifornia; James G. Holland New Jer-
sey and David J. Barry, Pennsylvania
Resolutions were adopted pledging
the support of loyal labor to the cause
of democracy, denouncing pacifist enc
mics of the republic and calling on the
worker unanimously to support the
president. Unity Of action was declar-
ed the Fundamental necessity of the
hour
A committee of five was ordered ap-
pointed to communicate with the lead
ers of the Russian democracy and to
convey the greetings of the conference
to the Russian workers; In the resolu-
tion giving these directions, the aims
of the United States are declared to be
identical with those of the Russian de-
mocracy.
Champions Small Nations
''Loyal American labor and social
ism dedicates itself to the support of
the Russian democracy says the pro-
nouneement. Another declaration cham
pions the cause of small nationalities.
While declaring for free speech, the
conference gave small comfort to those
who would use their democratic liber-
ties for the destruction of democracy
Enemies of the republic who falsely as
sumed to speak for socialism and de-
mocracy were strongly denounced in Il
resolution, which said:
"In misrcpresenting the govern
ment $ purposes in traducing the char
acter of the president, in stealthily at
tempting to incite sediton and in open
ly ,or impliedly counselling resistance
to reinforcement OF the laws enacted
for the national defense, they abuse
the rights of free sneech. free assem-
blage and free press"
The industrial policy adopted by the
conference favored a sturdy defense
of labor s interests, as not in the least
Incompatible with supreme loyalty to
the Government. Conscription of wealth
was demanded and taxation of land
values.
Government Must Control
Industrial enterprises, the confer
ence declared, should be the servants
and not the masters of the people. In
cases where differences between own
ers and workers threaten discontin-
uance of production necessary for the
war, the government should assume
control of the industries affected.
Government action to check speeula.
tion was recommended. To increase the
food supply, the government should
commander all land necessary for such
purposes and should tax idle land pri-
vately held up to its full rental vaue,
the conference held
A resolution was adopted declaring
the right of collective action to be nee
essary for the workers. Wage earners
are declared also to have the right to
determine conditions under which they
must work, through representation on
councils authorized to conduct the war
work. The declarations of the American
Federation of Labor with regard to in
dustrial conditions during the war were
affirmed Universal suffrage was af-
firmed.