Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-10
SCORES. SLACKERS
|NPRESENT: CRISIS
Samuel Gompers' Address at
Meeting Held In Honor of
James Duncan.
LONG WAR is PREDICTED

many would be Of long duration. with
countless sacrifices to be made by the
American people, President Samuel Com
pers of the American Federation of Labor
told several hundred members of organ
lied labor last night that the time had ar
rived when the men OF this country had
to fight or die.
Mr. Gompers issued this warning at a
reception held at the Social oyster club
under the auspices of the Central Labor
Union, In honor Of James Duncan. first
vice president of the American Fedora
ton of Labor. who was the representa-
tive of organized labor on the American
commission. headed by Elihu Root, which
returned from Russia a few days ago.
President Compers was POSTMASTER.
Appeals to People of Country.
Before introducing the honor guest he
made an appeal to the people of the
country to respond toSthe call to arms,
that democracy might prevail VINO IN
this audience Is ashamed of the traditions
of his country he asked Who is
there among us that is not proud of the
ideals for which the American soldiers
in the revolutionary war. fought and who
is there that regrets the great Sacrifices
made by them in order that democracy
might live
Mr.. Gompers denounced the slackers
Of this country as persons unworthy
to enjoy the rights and privileges OF
he said. who would not fight for his
country is not worthy to live in the
country.
Il would gladly take up arms In the
cause of liberty were It not Tor me
fact that ] believe that a week or a
month in the trenches would make me
a burden on the government. In any
event, I will give all that is In me,
he said.
NIT al cot n
lied labor of this country We're riveted
together in one great movement-that
is. the downfall of autocracy. He be
lieves that the labor forces should
the government in which the working
classes are vitality concerned.
Address by Mr.. Duncan.
Introducing James Duncan. Mr..
Gompers said: NO one has contrib
uted more thought or spirit or ideals
in the cause of liberty and humanity
planned the causes that led up to the
revolution in Russia. He declared that
the working classes in Russia were re-
sponsible for the abdication OF the
car. notwithstanding the fact that Ia
Dor unions were not tolerated by the
government, but had to meet secretly.
About so per cent of the Russian peas
ants were illiterate, he said, but those
of them possessing an education gath
cred hundreds of the uniformed peas
ants together and told them the true
condition then existing in Russia. They
explained to them that whatever way
the army went the government went
also When the peasants were called
into the army they Informed their com
rades of these conditions, which
caused increased hatred among the
soldiers toward their government.
After the war had been going on for
some time. Mr.. Duncan said. the ear.
with the purpose of procuring a sep
arate peace with Germany. sent thou
sands of the peasant soldiers to the
front not properly armed and intend
ing that they should be killed in order
that the working people back home
would arise and demand an early peace.