Denver labor bulletin., 1917-11-24
FEW PACIFISTS OPPOSE
WING GOVERNMENT
FULL ENDORSEMENT.
Alliance of Labor and Democracy
Approved by Overwhelming
Vote, While Gompers De
livers Ringing Speech
Against Socialists.
Especial Corre.pondenoe.)

many respects this is the most har-
monious convention of the American
Federation Of Labor ever held. OPP
position TO the Gompers program of
giving loyal support to the govern
ment in the war crisis has faded away
IL il ever really existed.
Union labor Of the nation put its
stamp Of approval on the attitude Of
Samuel Gompers, president Of the
American Federation Of Labor. in
working hAnd-in-hand with President
Wilson and placing the nation above
all other considerations in questions
involving the workingman's part in a
vigorous prosecution Of the war
against Germany.
The vote Of confidence came Mon
day after more than three hours of
debate. in which the pacifist element
at the thirty-seventh annual convcn-
ton of the federation was given ample
opportunity to express itself. Out of
total of 500 delegates. only fifteen
were recorded in opposition. The gar
mcnt workers of New York was the
only organization refusing to 20 on
record on the roll call.
Pacifists Given Full Rein.
The test Of strength came on n res
olution indorsing "the patriotic work.
OF the American Alliance for Labor
and Democracy. which Mr.. Gompers
took an active part in organizing ns
IN offset to the Peoples Council.
pscifist organization.
The opposition discussed the high
cost of living. the Arizona miners
strike. the Pacific coast shipbuilders'
fight, the street railway strike Of
Springfield. Ill. and the suppression
OF foreign language newspapers. but
President Gompers gave them full
rein.
The supporters of the resolution lid
not mince words in condemning the
attitude Of the pacifists.
Gompcrs Scores Socialists.
President Gompers closed the de-
bate in n specch in defense Of the AL
lance and his own position.
He went into the history OF the
Peoples Council. which. he said, was
an outUrowth Of the Socialists. He
took full responsibility for the calling
Of the Minneapolis meeting Of the AL
lance.
"Thc situation demanded" he said,
"thHt there should be clear cut dis
tinction between what these people
represented and what the trades
unions stood for The fact is that the
Socialists. since the Detroit couven-
lion when they failed to break in.
have made war upon the American
Federation of Labor. They sought to
discredit II.
Not Neutral Now.
"Thcv started the Western Labor
union the American Labor union. and
thcv started the I. W W. and finally
they started the so-called Peoples
CORNELL In the one instance il was
rivalry to the American Federation of
Labor. and in the last IL was hostility
to the republic Of the United States.
al am not neutral in this war. Pa
cifist as have been all my life. when
I find there is band Of murdercrs
abroad and I fail to defend my chill
drcn. am not n pacifist but coward.
President Wilson and the members of
his cabinet were pcacc-loving men. i
know of no militarist in their number.
But now they are fighting men. And
I publiclv declare now that I am
fivhting man. and will continue to
all. the country which ] love and in
which my hope and aspirations are
bound up.
Pacifists Are Mum.
81 propose to do "a mans duty in
helping to make this war the last war
Of this world. All my energies shall
be laid at the feet Of America and Of
our allies to do what can toward the
establishment Of democracy, even in
Germany"
Later the convention. without dis
senting vote. affirmed its unswerving
loyalty to the country and n determi-
nation to stand behind the national
administration until peace comes. The
pacifist element, which previously had
mustered small minority against
President Gompers in support Of the
war. was silent.
The resolution containing the decla-
ration was reported favorably by the
resolutions committee. 1t was sweep
ing in scope. The course pursued by
President Gompers in calling con-
ference Of the national and interna-