The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-11-20
LABOR LINESUP
FOR WAR POLICY
Gompers Swings A. F. Of L. in
Test Of Loyalty to the
United States.
OPPOSITION VOTED DOWN
New York Garment Workers,
Led by Rose Shapiro. Refuse
to Go on Record.

BUFFALO, Nov. 19.--Samuel Gompers,
president ce the American Federation OF
Labor. and fighting coterie OF patriotic
labor unionists, swung the great labor
body behind the war policies OF the
jority in fight that placed the issue OF
patriotism squarely and without equivo-
cation before the assembled delegates at
the thirty-seventh annual convention OF
the federation.
The old labor leader carried his fight
boldly before the people who had hon
ored him. In a ringing speech he called
upon the unionists to face the issue o
standing with their country or against II.
II am not a neutral in this war;" he
declared. "Pacifist as have been all Of
my life, when / find that there Is band
OF muiderers abroad. and l fail to de-
fend my children. | am not pacifst
but a coward
And when the smoke cleared away
Gompers had won his hgnt by votes
representing 2l,579 un.onists to ioe in
surgent noes. or the $50 delegates on
the floor only fifteen were recorded in
opposition, while the New York Gar
ment Workers led by Rose Shapiro. de-
clined to go on record on the roll call.
The fight was precipitated upon a re-
port from the committee on resolutions,
which indorsed "the patriotic work" Of
the Alliance for Labor and Democracy.
the organization which Mr., Gompers and
other leaders had formed TO fight the
pacifst activities OF the Peoples Coun
Gil when that body sought. via the White
Rabbit Special. a place and opportunity
to plant its opposition to the war on
American soil.
~
Fail to sidetrack Issue.
There came first a motion to table the
report on the ground that the federation
had no concern in the alliance. That
motion was voted down. Then on the
main question Gompers and his support
ers went over the top for a victory that
stands preem!nent In the story of labors
part in the war. 1t was a. vote Of con-
fdence for Gompers: vote OF loyalty
for the federation; pledge of labor
union support for the President of the
United States.
Delegate Barnes of Philadelphia. sup
ported by Rose Shapiro. by Delegate
Burke of the Sulphite Workers. Joseph
p. Cannon OF the Mine Workers and a
few other radicals marshalled the fight
ON the resolution.
DeiesateS Waiker OIL i.liiols' brown OF
Washington Mat'heW wan VI we loto
Ehs'a,ers Neoiee De,,s ~. tne ,'sss,
men MAX . ii"!es oI ,ne iEposraiI,.oa'
lhioh anu res'"ei, JAMES i'u"-
'a,, ''e' ane'i "ene ~ ~, - ,a' 49,,
,,,,,a ,'u r.; T,ha, snn,,a -, ~.
i,a,,' 'o' s ,t,,,', ~ 80" -.
,tr,,,a ,ha pacitc noast shinhm,id.rs,
s,rii,a ,ho stro., rniIr,y .,r;La II,
Snr;n.eo,I n, and the s,,rnr.ss,or ~
fnreirn Ian.uay. news,aners To, nrce
a,d ,ha h,g chiaf s.aL to c,,rh proa d,.-
russIon no matter where il led hu, with
! his forces waited for the bour 10 strike
| for the big nuuch
! II was George Rerry OF the prassmen
who opened the battle for the loyalists.
,.,d W. Re-, w. na,ro, araua -.
place ourselves In such a position that
| we will be misunderstood. II the reso-
! luton Is rejected 1t will go abroad to the
! world that we have turned down the
| Government. II Is time we should stand
! up and be counted.
!
Would Eliminate Traitors.
.,, uo ,,vs traitors in opr ranks I,
not not take half way measures. We must