The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-09-29
LABOR UNIONS TO
END MILITAR|SM
Workers Of United States and
South America In Movement.
PLAN A GREAT CONGRESS-

American Federation Of Labor Not Al.
lied With Peace Propasandists, bua
10 Warmly Supporting Preparedness
In Defense of Nation--Idea Of Move.
ment 10 Pan American Federation.
Committed to program Of prepared
ness for the defense Of the United
States, the American Federation Of La.
Dor has embarked upon movement to
band the working men of the western
hemisphere into pan-American fedef-
alton to resist in their respective coun-
tries dominance of militarism.
Endorsement of the project has been
obtained from all Of the Latin Amer1-
can countries, and correspondence 10
now being carried on with these ma
lions by conference committee located
In Washington looking to the holding
In Washington In the near future Of q
great congress, at which every country
In the Americas would be represented
and permanent organization would
be effected.
The proposed federation will have %
its nucleus the 3,OO0,OOO organized la-
borers of the United States and the
more than 100000 enrolled In the fed
erations Of the Latin American coun-
tries.
While the federal ton now contemplate
ed would include only organized labor
In North, South and Central America
and the islands of the West Indies,
this move is the first step toward
world federation that would embrace
all nations and strive for common
/ aims. This truly international devel
opment must wait, however, for the
restoration Of peace In Europe.
Resistance to military dominance Of
any one Of the pan-American countries
over any other is the primary purpose
Of the proposed federation. 1t has
other aims, however, that look to pro
motion Of material benefits under
policy of peace.
Through its efforts Its promoters
foresee not only an establishment Of
fraternal relations between the several
countries included, but a stimulation
of commerce and the establishment Of
closer trade relations generally.
The conference or provisional com.
mittee which Is now established In the
American Federation of Labor building,
Washington, is composed OF Samuel
Gompers, president Of the American
Federation OF Labor, chairman; John
Murray Of California, seereterp and
Santiago Iglesias. representing tie or
gained workers of Porto Rico, iand
Carlos Loveira, representing the organ.
lied workers of Yucatan, Mexico
In launching this movement the
American Federation Of Labor was not
allying itself with peace propagandists
and antipreparedness elements In the
United States. Reminded that the
declarations against militarism might
leave this impression, Mr.. Gompers said:
ANY inference drawn from the man
ifesto which we have issued setting
forth our plan that we are against pre-
paredness for defense is unwarranted.
/ am member of the advisory COM
mission Of the council Of national de-
Tense and spent every day of recent
week in conference with that council.
I'VE are taking every action for pre-
paredness In defense Of the rights and
interests Of the people and the nation.
I'VE hope by our organization of the
Pan-American Federation of Labor to
prevent the exercise Of military don't
nation Of any one Of the pan-American
countries over another. We hope to
give the peoples Of each of the Latin
American countries the opportunity of
working out their own problems and
developments so that the Latin Ameri
can republics may cooperate for the
common defense and have opportunity
of attainment Of the highest ideals OF
all our peoples"
Carlos Loveira and Baltasar Pages,
Mexican representatives of labor, have
toured all of the Latin American coun.
tries In the interest Ut the proposed
federation, and Mr.. Loveira said that
absolute assurances of cooperation had
been obtained from the heads of organ.
lied labor In each country visited.
| One Of the principal benefits which
will inure to the United States through
the establishment Of the federation
Mr.. Loveira believes, will be the eradi
cation of the impression held by many
Latin Americans, particularly the
masses, that the people of the United
States are obsessed with commercial
ism and dollar chasing" This impress,
sion, he added, has initiated strongly
against a permanent trade development
| with the Latin Americans. A closer
relationship, he declares, is necessary
TO promote trade between tho UnitAl
States and her sister republics.