New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-22
Germans Menace
Labor Movement,
Asserts Gompers
A. F. of L. Meets to Fight
efforts to UnAmerican-
ize" the Organization

The executive committee OF the Amert-
can Federation of Labor met at the
Hotel Continental yesterday TO combat
German influences in the labor move
ment. One matter particularly dis
cussed was the recently formed Peo-
pies Labor Conference.
Eve have met" said Mr.. Gompers
after the meeting, "to consider the best
means of fighting the efforts being
made 10 un-Americanize the labor
movement.
This meeting is the outcome Of my
address to the Central Federated Union
on June 10, when l called attention to
efforts being made to use labor for un-
worthy ends, or to make it appear that
in this crisis organized labor is other
than solidly American.
1.-THE Federated Union took the mat
ter up in the form of resolutions al its
last meeting, indorsing my position and
calling for united effort toward block
ing any attempt TO lead labor or any
considerable portion Of II into wrong
paths. On receipt Of the resolutions
the meeting to-day was called. Any
movement looking TO prostitute labor
in the interests Of Germany is bound
TO fail"
Leaders at Conference
At the conference were Frank Morri-
son, secretary of the Federation; H. B.
Perhamd, chief of the Order Of Rail-
way Telegraphers; ]. S. Berry, Of
Pittsburgh; Hugh Frayne, in charge
of the New York Office of the Fedora
ton; Ernest Boehm, secretary Of the
Central Federated Union and president
of the National Labor Publicity organi-
zstion, and various representatives Of
local trades, more particularly Of the
needle trades. New Jersey, where there
is a large pro-German element, was
represented by w. S. Small, of New
ark. secretary Of the Essex Trades
: Council.
The attempts Of German props-
gandists to use the labor movement,
and particularly the American Fedora
ton of Labor. were exposed soon after
the beginning Of the war, when an cpl
demic of strikes in munitions centres
was checked by Mr. Gompers. Subse-
ouently an effort was made TO bride
the Loncshoremen's Union TO tie up
shipping in this port, a movement
blocked by T. V. O'Connor, interna-
tional president, cooperating with
William ]. Flynn, chief Of the Secret
Later the efforts of the Labor Peace
Council were exposed by grand jury
action, and the conviction OF David
Lamar and Captain Won Rintelen fol-
lowed.
The present movement, against
which the energies Of labor leaders
are being directed. is coalition OF
the socialistic element in some of the
larger unions that for years have
fought the Gompers regime, and pro-
German interests allied with the
Labor Peace Council.
Peace Conference Accused
The Peoples Peace Conference, In
which many of these elements have
Joined, is the local organization that
has drawn the fire of the federation
leaders. Since its debut, more than a
month ago, il has been under fire OF
men high in the labor movement, who
declared it an attempt to embarrass
the administration and entangle the
labor movement in a pseudo-peace
movement that was actually in the H.
terests Of GrnEny.
1t was also charged that in the call
issued for the formation OF the confer
ence the names of important labor
unions, among them the Hebrew trades,
had been improperly used. 1t was also
charged that the demand that labor's
interests be protected in the changing
conditions Of the war were not maze
in good faith, the labor committee Of
the Council Of National Defence, Of
which Mr.. Gompers is the chairman,
having been formed for this specific
purpose.
Mr.. Boehm said last night that ac-
ton might be looked for within q