The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-09-07
GOMPERS GIVES
COUNTRYPLEDGE.
THAT ORGANIZED.
LABOR IS TRUE.
As Chairman Of Convention
Leader Sounds Keynote and
Denounces Those Who Would
Split Labor On War Questions
CONVENTION HALL ROCKS
WITH WILD APPLAUSE
No More Faithful Citizens Or Bet
ter Patr lots Found Than
Among Those Of the Labor
Unions and They Must Show It


MINNEAPOLIS, September
Nl O. (hssociated Press -
United support Of organized
labor to the United States, its par
ticipation in the war and in the
preparations for greater army,
greater navy, greater merchant
marine. in brief, the patriotic and
unstinted support of the best ele-
ments of labor unionism in all
that may be demanded OF it, were
promised and pledged by Samuel
Gompers in speech which he de-
liyered last evening at the open.
ing session OF the conference Of
the American Alliance of Labor
and Democracy. He denounced
as futile the efforts and activities
of those who would split the
ranks Of labor on any question
arising in regard to the war. i
> SPEECH is KEYNOTE
" Samuel Gompers was elected
chairman of the conference which
opened here last evening and
which is attended by hundreds of
the leaders OF organized labor
who have come from all sections
of the land to attend and partici-
pate in its deliberations and deci-|
sions. His speech was the key.
note speech" Of the convention
and time and again he~brought
the great audience to its feet
while the convention hall rocked
and shook with the applause
which his words brought spon-
taneously forth, ....... =
I'm the midst OF this war there
can be no discussions among
those who have the guns of the
enemy trained upon them" said
the great labor leader. 81 hold
that the man who is a traitor to
his country is upon par with the
man who is scab to his trade.
and to his fellow workers. o..
May Express Opinions -
81 believe that the men who have
to fight have the natural and unalter-
able and inalienable right to express
their dissent. But an expression of dis
sent is one thing and the organizing of
any movement that would destroy the
will of the majority or tend to nullify
IL is quite another and different thing,
That is something that cannot be and
must not be tolerated. i
'The United States has entered this
war not of its own wishes but because
IL could not be avoided if the country
WINS TO be true to itself and to its
ideals, 20 your best ideals and to mine.
Under those circumstances, since IL is
war of democracy against autocracy,
q war for a rule Of the people of the
world against the individual monarch
and the armed forces that he com.
mands, there is nothing for every true
and honest member Of organized labor
to do but to give the government his
earnest, his best support. -
Must Show federation ~. Il rs !
In these times much must be over
looked that could not be so treated at
other times We all have to bear our
burdens and do our part. Aud organ
lied labor will not be found wanting.
/ pledge to the people of this country
and 70 our government the united sup.
port Of organized labor.
fThere are those who would dis
rupt our organization at this time. They
are traitors, nothing less than scabs
and TRAITORS, sdabs 10 the, country and
TO their Fellow citizens. They must not
be tolerated and they will not be toll
Grated. Their worst efforts will be
made futile by the honest and patriotic
working men Of the land, No where
IN the land are there better and truer
aud more patriot" citizens than are TO
be found in the ranks Of organized
labor. I"