The Washington herald., 1917-11-13
PACIFIST LABOR
REVOLT BALkED
BY PRESIDENT
Wilson Stirs Federation
Convention to Patriotic
Unity by Address.

The threatened Pacifist revolt in the
ranks of organized labor, fomented
by agents Of the Kaiser, was nipped
in the bud by President Wilson, be-
fore the American Federation Of
Labor Convention today In the mas
terful appeal to American working
man to do a bigger bit in winning the
war.
There may be a peace resolution in
troducted by some individual Bolshe-
wiki, but 1t will not have the support
of more than a mere handful Of the
delegates.
Labor. as represented by the con-
vention, left no doubt tonight in the
minds of observers that It means to
back the administration to the last
ditch in carrying on the war to. COM
plete victory.
President Opens Session.
President Wilson'S ringing address
marked the opening Of the convention
as the most momentous meeting in
the history of the American working
man.
In his customary clear-cut and con-
else language, the President laid
down the policy of the government
in dealing with both capital and labor
in the conduct of the war. Leaving
no room for misinterpretation. the
President declared that he would
brook no interference In the highest
possible productivity in industry.
He called for the closest co-opera-
ton OF employees and employers and
made 1t clear that the government
would intervene to the limit of its
war powers to prevent the waste of
conflicts between labor and capital
But One Way to Peace.
His listeners perceived a vast
significance in his remark: Horses
that kieI; over the traces must be put
In the corral"
He handled the pacifists without
gloves. He told the delegates he
wanted peace, but insisted that the
only way to get it was by crushing
Germany.
what / am opposed to is not the
feeling OF the pacifsts, but their
stupidity" he said. ANY people that
compounds with the present German
government Is compounding with
their own destruction. ! want peace,
but / know how to get it."
At the same time the President
deeply deplored the spirit Of mob
violence against pacifists.
Arraignment Il scathinE.
st have been very much distressed
by the mob spirit that displayes itself
here and there In the country" he
said. IT have no sympathy with men
who take punishment into their own
hands. want to enter my earnest
protest against lawlessness anywhere.
In any cause. Democracy means,
first Of all, that we can govern our
selves. The man who takes the law
INTO his hands Is not the right sort
of man to cooperate in the develop
ment of free institutions"
Gov. Whitman, following the Presi-
dents speech, declared the people of
New York were supporting the ad-
ministration whole-heartedly in the
conduct of the war and would continue
to do so.
The opening sessions of the conven-
ton were taken up largely with the
customary preliminary formalities
and the transaction of real business
will not begin until tomorrow.
Secretary wilson's Message.
William B. Wilson, Secretary of La
Dor, himself a member of the Fedora
ton, telegraphed from San Francisco
his regret at being unable to be
present and urging his comrades in
labor to put aside all controversy
until the war Is over.
ITO me-" he wired, 1.-The prime
necessity is to lay aside our family
quarrels until we have disposed of the
enemy from without"
President Wilson stayed in Buffalo
just long enough to deliver his mes
sage to labor. He left the convention
hall Immediately after he had finished
speaking and went at once to the
train to return to Washington. Thir-
teen hundred student officers from
Fort Niagara, acting as his escort.
gave his visit in Buffalo a military
aspect.
The greatest precautions were MAIN
tanned by the local authorities to safe
guard the President. The hour of his
arrival was kept secret and the crowd
was not permitted to enter the hall
until after the Presidents party had
mounted the speakers platform.
1t was a dismal, gloomy day, but
nearly 5000 persons braved the rain
to hear the President.