The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-09-07
LABOR'S PART IN THE WAR
President Wilson Writes Samuel Com.
pers on the Industrial Side of the
Conflict

Wilson tonight made public restare-
ment of the war aims of the United
| States.
He coupled with it scathing sum-
! mary of the offenses of the imperial
German government. He sounded a
stirring call to labor in the United
! States, showing in letter to Samuel
Gompers the way in which this war
for democracy is peculiarly labor'5
war.
Though the letter given out tonight
was written several days ago, it was
pointed out tonight that it answers IN
a remarkable manner just the ob5ec-
tions to the presidents peace note
which today was cabled to Washing
! ton from the German press.
Further it challenges every agitator
against the war in the United States.
The letter was addressed to Mr.. Com
pers on the eve of the meeting of the
American Alliance for Labor and Dc
mocracy in Minneapolis TUESDAY.
While it is considered to contain a
word for this special gathering, It is
Interpreted in Washington tonight as
for a much wider consumption.
Speaks to Europe
1t is further considered that the
president has his shafts across the
water. The Minneapolis meeting IS
preparing to communicate with Brit
ish Iaboring men Thence it's dellbe-
rations Will undoubtedly filter into
the Stockholm conference
The Presidents letter. TO Mr.. Com
pers follows:
"My Dear Mr.. Gompers:
"I am sure that you understand that
my dnabfiity to accept the invitas'on
to address the Minneapolis conference
of the American Alliance for LABOR
and Democracy is due Only to official
necessity and not in any degree to
lack of appreciation of the occasion.
The cause you and your fellow patriots
uphold is one with the cause we ara
defending with arms. While our sc%
diers and sailors are doing their man
full work to hold back reaction In It's
most brutal and aggressive form, We
must oppose at home the organizec
and indiviual efforts Of those dan
gerous elements who hide d1sloyalry
behind screen specious and evastve
phrases.
.I have read with real pride the
names of the men and women who are
to take part in the Minneapolis con-
ference. Not one but has a record o.
devoted service to- fundamental democ"
racy; not one bat has fought the
long, hard fight for equal justice,
;braving every bitterness that the
humblest life might know a larger
measure of happiness.
with all my heart want them 20
feel that their devotion to country is
in no wise betrayal of principle, ana
shat in serving America today they are
serving their cause no less faithfully
than in the past. / myself have hao
sympathy with the fears of the work
ers Of the UNITED States; for the ten
dency of war is toward reaction an,
too often military necessities have
been made an excuse for the destruv-
ton of laboriousIy erected industrial
and social standards. Those fears,
happily, have proved to be base:ess.
Supports the Toiler
with quickened sympath1es ann
appreciation, with new sense of the
invasive and insidious dangers OF op-
preston, our people lave not only held
every inch of ground that has been
wo by years of struggle, but hav
won by years Of struggle, but have
added to the gains Of the twentieth
century along every line Of human
! betterment. Questions of wages and
! hours Of labor and industrial read
justment have found a solution which
gives to the toiler a new dignity and
a new sense Of social and economic
security. I beg you to feel that my
support has not been lacking and that
the government has not failed at any
point in granting every just reques,
advanced by you and your associates
! in the name of the American worker.
"No one who is not blind can fall
to see that the battle line of denloc-
racy for America stretches today from
the fields Of Flanders to every house
and workshop where toiling, upwarn
striving men and women arc cOuntine