The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-09-05

Continued From rage one.
John spargo, one OF the former
leaders OF the Socialist party who
severed connection because OF the
party's stand on war, declared that
American labor bodies would de-
rand peace through the Peoples
council meeting.
Fargo, n. D., which barred the
Peoples Council after Governor
Frazier had said the peace confer
ence" would be given protection in
North Dakota, is represented at the
conference. by a delegation of six
labor leaders.
Mr.. Gompers' Address.
|, SarAuel Gompers, president Of the
American Federation of Labor out
lined the purpose of the organiza-
ton as the assembling for the sup
port of the government of 'alli the
moral and material power of the
working class of the no ton.
1T shall be our task, he said, ito
interpret Americas democratic spirit
and purpose in this conflict to our
fellow WORKERS. Especially those OF
foreign birth, and. to combat every
form of propaganda, no matter by
whom 1t may be carried on, which
tends to weaken the loyalty and de-
votion OF the masses, and their will
ingness to strive and sacrifice for
the nation and it's high purpose.
The complete declaration of prtn-
.ciples as announced by Mr.. Gompers
is as follows: ...... "
"As believers in the great and
splendid vision of democracy and in
the fraternalism and
solidarity of all peoples, we assert
at this time our unqualified loyalty
to the republic of the United States
Of America and our determination to
do all that lies in our power to win
the war in which IL lis engaged.
Loyalty to the ideals of freedom,
democracy and internationalism re-
quires loyalty to America.
"Disloyalty to America in this
crisis Is disioyalty to the cause OF
freedom. democracy and interna-
tionalism.
No Selfish Motives.
mo national selfshness impelled
this republic to enter the war. The
impelling motive was the CONSUMING
ideaIism. born with the establishment
Of this republic itself, to preserve
freedom not only for itself, but for
all nations, great and small, and the
body, Of International law which. all
the free. democratic nations of the
world respect and observe and only
the brutal autocracies seek to dis
honor and destroy. In such IL. con-
flict real standard bearers of democ-
racy and true internationalists can
have no hesitation in supporting our
republic, which has made its own the
cause and interests of all free peo-
pies. It is wherefore in truth not a
capitalists war, but a freemen's
war;
Fully impressed by these facts,
realizing that noble International
ism is implicit in our American con-
ception of national existence. it shall
be our purpose to bring to the sup
port. of the government all the moral
and material power of the working
class of the nation. It shall be our
task to interpret Americas democra-
tic spirit and purpose in this con-
fiict TO our fellow workers, especially
those of foreign birth, and to COM
bat. every form OF propaganda, no
matter by whom II may be carried
on, which tends to weaken the 10y
atty and devotion Of the masses and
their Willingness to strive and sacri-
nee for the nation and its high pur-
poses.
WI INOI. TEGS1NEGK6 IGp0Fa
I'VE shall strip the mask from
those who in the name of democracy.
anti-militarism and peace are en-
gagged in the nefarieus propaganda
Of treachery TO all that these noble
words represent. We indignantly
repudiatA the claim that this propa-
ganda--which, be It remembered,
brings Joy and comfort to German
autocfaey-has the support of the
labor movement OF America. Not
even at the behest of the so-called
Peoples Council will the organized
workers OF America prostitute the
labor movement to serve the brutal
power responsible for the infamous
rape of Belgium-the power that
would subject Russia to worse
despotism than that of the Roman
offs.
Democracy viii not be served by
the victory OF autocracy, by letting
the Declaration of Independence be
supplanted by the Kaiser's fiat.
"Militarism Will not be checked by
surrender to the power which has
organized all the resources of civil
ization to the end OF imposing its
brutaftiron rule on the world.
Peace will not be secured to the