The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-02-23

FEDERATION
OF LABOR


sed resolutions and gave authority to
its Exuctive Council whereby this, the
Pan-American Federation of Labor
Conference Comittee, is called into be-
ing.
In accordance with this action there
has been established in the building of
the American Federation of Labor in
Washington, D. c., an office in charge
of the Pan-American Federation of
Labor Conference Committee whose
mission it is to give form to the pro-
jected conference of bona fide labor
representatives from all Pan-Amer-
lean countries.
The Conference Committee is COM
posed of Samuel Gompers, Chairman,
representing the American Federation
of Labor; John Murray, Secretary,
and the following committeeman:
Santiago Iglesias, representing the
organized workers of Porto Rico, and
Carlos Loveira, representing the or
ganized workers of Yucatan, Mexico.
The comittee welcomes representatives
from the organized labor movements
of Latin-American countries to join
with us. All are urged to select their
representatives as soon as possible.
If an official selection can not be made
early, the name and address of some
one should be given the committee,
who will correspond with the Com
mittee and with whom it and others
can correspond.
By means of correspondence with
all the labor centers of the American
continent, and through the daily,
weekly and monthly press friendly to
Labor, the Conference Committee pro-
poses to carry on an active propa-
ganda for the attainment of practical,
immediate benefits as well as the
ideals of organized labor.
AS is we'll known, the capitalists
of North America and some European
countries are scattering millions and
millions of dollars through Latin
America acquiring concessions and
business properties which are disposed
of to them by Latin-American poll
ticians and spectators without taking
into consideration the rights of the
masses of the people, the masses of
the people who by these transactions
have their future endangered for de-
cades and perhaps centuries.
If the employers, the capitalists, of
Pan-America thus unite for the pro-
lection of their common advantage, it
becomes all the more evident that the
wage-earners of these countries must
also unite for their common protection
and betterment.
1t will be the duty of the Pan-Ameri-
can Federation of Labor to show to
the world that it's purpose is to per-
meate the Western Hemisphere with
humane influence. This influence
will more truly represent the senti-
ments of the American people than the
influence of all the corporations of the
United States, and is in strong con-
trast with those capitalists who are
eternally crying Business, business"
and Dollars, dollars"
Above all things, the Pan-American
Federation of Labor should stand as
a guard on watch to protect the West
ern Hemisphere from being overrun
by military domination from any quar-
ter.
The Conference Committee desires
to impress upon it's brother workers
throughout Pan-America that in it's
opinion each national organization
should be autonomous within the juris-
diction of its own country. The Con-
ference Committee stands for the right
of the workers of every American
country to work out their own prob
lens in accord with their ideals and
highest conceptions.
Authorized by the American FEEDER
alton of Labor, the Executive Council
held a most important conference in
Washington, during the month of July,
Americanism. 1t is hoped that the best
1916, with representatives of the or
ganized labor movement of Mexico. 1t
is generally conceded that this confer
ence was one of the main factors in
averting war between the two coun-
tries which at that very moment was
made imminent by the Carrizal affair.
Two of the Mexican delegates parti-
cipating in this conference, Baltasar
Pages and Carlos Loveira, left Wash
ington on a tour of propaganda and
study through South American count
tries. They carried with them creden-
tials from organized labor of the State
of Yucatan, Mexico, and from Presi-
lent Gompers of the American Fedora
tion of Labor. This prona oanda tour