The Detroit times., 1917-11-17
Federation Votes To
Abandon Impartial
Attitude
KAISERITES BUSY
IN CONVENTION
Attempt To Give Pro-
German Twist To
War Program
RY GEORGE uARTIN.



BUFFALO, y. y. Nov i7.--By a
vote Of 2l5 10 FL the American Fed
GRAFTON OK Labor today determined
90 abandon its lifelong non.partisan
attitude. and actively enter Ameri-
can politics next year.
This action took the form OF a
resolution % change the federation's
constitution 20 provide for the an
nual convention In June OF each
year, few months prior To the cleo
tlons. instead of late In November.
after The elections
II Is said by labor leaders 10
change The entire complexion OF the
organized labor movement IN this
country, amounting virtually 10 he
organization OF third party. In op.
position 90 both lho old line Repub-
licsn and Democratic organizations
This vote assures strong labor
tiugc 90 the congressional elections
noxt fall Tho A r of l. conven.
tion hereafter it is expected, Will
BE- looked upon as almost as much
of q presidential nominating con
venfion as either The Republican or
Democratic conventions
4 plot 20 givo organized labor's
Official war program pro-German
twist was uncovered az he Fedora
tion convention here today
All that was available thru Presi-
dent gompers himself was rcpcti.
tion of The statement that German
spies and Teutonic agents honey
comb this convention
but from wcll informed members
n was learned that this proGerman
attack has taken definite form In
efforts 20 push thru insidious resolu-
tions originating in all parts OF the
country, 10 shape local labor Affairs
TO German ends
The unusual delay In getting down
80 concrete business 10 was learned.
Is because OF the exceptionally care
ful scrutiny 10 which each Of the
i6s resolutions O. being submitted
Some of the suspected resolutions
aim 70 stir MP violent factional
quarrels and split the convention
Others. So adopted. would pave the
way FOR disastrous prOGerman prop
aganda work In various parts Of the
country
No blame necessarily attaches 20
The avowcd epousors Of the resoln-
tions delegates 10 the convention.
because an resolutions appear inno
cent enough q first glance ana could
easily have been engineered by se-
Cret and sinister Influences playing
on local conditions and r-cludices. u
was pointei out
one rosmulion has been found
which pfcpcNes 90 give local orlan.
igatioDs of International unions the
night 90 s'Iil,c Whenever they sec
M, reEar1'o.l 81 what 'beir intcrna'
tonal officers think.
Opponents of this resolution say
that such change would give Ger.
man agents just hp kind Of fruitful
local conditions they want 10 work
undcr Hy stirring up a strike In
enc small local union. thoy say. all
tbc other locals there might be pre-.
vailed ON 90 join on the plea that by
romaininn neutral they were rctard.
ing their brothers strike success
Thus. 10 is claimed. entire eommu.
pitr. whose industries are vital tQ
the nation GO war WFhi he fiod 40
indefinitely There is feeling
amope tho rank ard Gle of delegates
Nth1f tlse ploGeVmans, The radical
Socialists and Che anti.war and
pncfst elements have taken 20 the
iN umhors" High officials OF the
federation know they have not They
lrp m r,iy camounaging under cover
IN t bomb proofs.