The Washington herald., 1917-05-16
WILSON warns LABOR
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

thOA RAGE ONE-
made early in the war by Crest Brit
ain and France and John D. Rookie
feller, jr., and Daniel Guggenheim,
members OF the committee, pledged
their cooperation with labor.
Rockefeller Speaks.
Mr.. Rockefeller thanked Samuel Com
pers, president OF the American Fedora
tiOn Of Labor, who is chairman of the
Committee. for being invited to serve.
He took a vital interest in the addresses
OF the British labor representatives and
urged that before they return, all their
suggestions be taken down in the form of
a report so that members of the COM
mittee may profit by them. Mr.. Gompers
said this would be done.
Realizing what We face" said Mr.
Rockefeller, I'VE should grasp at every
suggestion that these men who have been
through the fire, can make. 1 regret that
my lot was so cast that was not made
to make my way by the labor of my
hands, make my own way. as my father
did. would be closer to you If that had
been my lot, but" said one of the great
est employers of labor in the country,
turning to Mr.. Gompers, I want to do
what can and shall endeavor to aid in
every Dos ible way"
Mr.. Gugsenheim said he was glad the
war had interrupted his plans to retire
after forty-ive years of active work
Il had just arranged to quit and turn
over my work to my sons he said,
because thought had earned a rest
But when the call came from Mr.. Com
pers I felt 1t my duty to re-arrange my
house. 1 am back in harness, and have
arranged that my sons shall go to the
front. 1 am going to do their work and
my own, and look after their families
| can do all that, Mr.. Gompers, and still
have all the time needed for the work of
this committee. 1 will make time for it.
I offer my services to you and to the
President and the country
All must Work.
The President today made it plain that
We must all work. II we cannot work
in one way. we can in another Please
tell me what my task is
President Wilson in his address dwelt
on the fact that the war is a war for
democracy and pleaded that no action be
taken that would curtail any privilege
liberty. or safeguard.
This is a most welcome visit" the
President said, because it means a most
welcome thing, the spontaneous CO.
operation of men from all walks of life
interested to see that We do not forget
any of the principles of our lives in
meeting the great emergency that has
come upon US.
Mr. GOmpers has expressed already
one Of the things that has been very
much in mind of late. I have been very
much alarmed at one or two things that
have happened: at the apparent inclina-
ton OF the legislatures of one or two of
our States to set aside even temporarily
the laws which have safeguarded the
standards of labor and of life. I think
nothing would be more deplorable than
that
We are fighting in a cause which
means the lifting Of the standards of life
and we can fight in that cause best BY
voluntary cooperation. l do not doubt
that any body of men representing labor
in this country speaking for his fellows
will be willing to make any sacrifice that
Is necessary to carry this contest to a
successful issue, and in that confidence
I feel that it would be inexcusable IL we
deprived men and women of such a spirit
of any Of the existing safeguards of
law. Therefore l shall exercise my in
huence as far as il goes to see that that
does not happen and that the sacrifices
We make shall be made voluntarily and
not under the compulsion which mis-
tskenly is interpreted to mean a lowering
OF the standards which we have sought
through so many generations to bring t.
their present level
Case Not overstated.
MI OOmpeES mas not OVcrStated the
case in saying that we are lighting for
democracy in a larger sense than can be
expressed in any political terms. There
are many forms Of democratic govern
ment. and we are not fighting for any
particular form, but we are fighting for
the essential part of II all, namely, that
we are all equally interested in our So
cial and political life and all have a right
10 voice in the government under
which we live; and that when men and
women are equally admitted to those
rights, we have the best safeguards Of
Justice and of peace that the world af-
fords
There Is no other safeguard. Let any
group Of men, whatever their original in
tsntions. attempt to dictate 20 their fel-
low-men what their political fortunes
shall be. and the result is injustice and
hardship and wrong of the deepest sort.
Therefore. we are feeling, as we have
never felt before, out sense OF comrade-
ship. We shall feel II even more because
we have not yet made the sacrifices that
We are going to make; we have not yet
FELT the terrible pressure of suffering and