Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-11-13
TRIBUTE TO GoMpERs.

TRIBUTE TO GoMPERS.
The president paid warm tribute tc
Samuel Gompers, president Of the
American Federation of Labor, and
virtually called upon the federation to
give him united support. He de-
nounced pacihsts and critics. He ap-
pealed for cooperation.
Discussing Germany, the president
declared, fatty that Germany had
started the war and that he was will
ing to await the verdict Of history on
that statement.
BETTER COOPERATION.
Ire creation Of instrumentalities
for better cooperation between labor
and capital was one suggestion by the
president which was of prime in
tercst to the delegates to the conven-
tion.
The president alluded to the pres
ent war as "the last decisive issue be-
tween the old principle of power and
the new principle of freedom"
II believe" he said, that the spirit
OF freedom can get into the hearts of
Germans and find as fine welcome
there as II can find in any other
hearts. But the spirit OF freedom
does not suit the plans OF the PAM
Germans Power cannot be used with
concentrated force against free peo-
pies II It Is used by free people"
Yassals Of Germany.
"You know" lie continued, ''how
many irtiinations come ITO US from
one OF the central powers that 1t is
more anxious for peace than the chief
central power and you know that it
means that the people in that central
power know that il the war ends as
1T stands they will, in effect, them
selves be vassais of Germany, not
withstanding that their populations
are compounded of ali the people of
that part of the world and notwith-
standing the fact that they do not
wish in their pride and proper spirit
OF nationality to be absorbed and
dominated"
Referring in another part OF his
speech to Russia, the president said:
May ! not say it is amazig to me
that any group of people should be so
ill-intormed as to suppose, as some
groups in Russia apparently suppose.
that any reforms planned in the in
terest Of the people can live in the
presence of Germany powerful
enough to undermine or overthrow
them by intrigue or force; any BODY
OF free men that compound with the
German government compounds for
its own destruction"
Wilson's Speech.
President Wilson delivered a mes.
sage to the worknen of the United
States in an address before the annual
convention OF the American Fedora
tion of Labor. His entrance to the
convention hall was the signal for a
tremendous outburst of cheers from
the 6,OO0 persons assembled to near
him.
Samuel Gompers, president Of the
American Federation of Labor, intro
ducing Mr.. Wilson. referred to him as
"the man of destiny, spokesman for
freedom, interpreter of the aims and
spirit of our time, leader of thought
and action among the nations of the
EARTH"
Mr.. Wilson began by saying he es-
teemed it a privilege and an honor to
be present, as it seemed TO him time
above all others for common counsel,
"a time for drawing the energies Of
the nation together"
Worlds Crisis.
The president referred to the prcs-
ent as a time more critical than the
world has yet known"
1t was important "in this moment
of counsel to remind ourselves how
the war came about, he said, and
continued: ~
!. This is the last decisive issue be-
tween the old principle of power and
the new principle Of freedom" he
said. The war was started by Ger
many. lis authorities deny it, but
am willing to await the verdict of his
tory on the statement / have just
made
Germany had place in the sun.
the president continued. why was
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