Denver labor bulletin., 1917-05-12
CBy Associated Pressl


WASHINGTON, May IA plea
against a premature peace for Rus
sia and renewed assurance that Amer
lean wage earners and the American
people are in hearty sympathy with
the Russian democratic movement, are
included in long cablegram sent by
President Samuel Gompers of the
American Federation of Labor to the
executive committee of the council of
workmen's and soldiers deputies at
Petrograd.
/ Speaking for organized labor in this
country, Mr.. Gompers also expresses
complete confidence in the purposes
and opinions of the American war
mission soon to go to Russia.
DenOunces Punitive Indemnities.
! Forcible annexations are condemned,
but Mr.. Gompers pleads that every
people affected by the war should in
the end be free to choose their al
b legiance.
| Punitive indemnities also are de-
nounced, and hope is expressed that
leaders of the working classes of the
central empires will cease plotting for
an abortive peace and will bring a
real peace by overthrowing the autoc-
racies of Hohenzollern and Hapsburg.
The measure, timed to aid in COM
parent during the last few days in
Russia, was cabled yesterday.
Full Text of Message.
! Its text made public tonight is as
follows:
"The gravest crisis in the worlds
history is now hanging in the balance
and the course which Russia will pur-
sue may have a determining influence
whether democracy or autocracy shall
prevail.
"That democracy and freedom will
finally prevail there can be no doubt
in the minds of men who know, but
the cost, the time lost and the sacri-
fees which would ensue from lack of
united action may be appalling. 1t
is to avoid this that / address you.
I'm view of the grave crisis thru
which the Russian people are passing
we assure you that you can rely abso-
lutely upon the whole-hearted support
and cooperation of the American peo-
pie in the great war against our COM
mon enemy, kaiserism. In the full
fillment of that cause the present
American government has the sup
port of 80 per cent of the American
people including the working class of
both the cities and the agricultural
sections.
"In free America as in free Russia
the agitators for a peace favorable
to Prussian militarism have been al
lowed to express their opinions so that
the conscious and unconscious tools
of the kaiser appear more influential
than they really are.
"You should realize the truth of the
situation. There are but few in Amer
lea willing to allow kaiserism and it's
allies to continue their rule over those
nom German peoples who wish to be
free from their domination.
Opposes Pro-K aiser Peace Plea.
"Should we not protest against the
the demand for mo annexation
namely, that all oppressed non-Ger-
man peoples shall be compelled to
remain under the dominion of Prussia
and her lackeyes, Austria and Turkey.
"Should we rather not accept the
better Interpretation that there must
be no forcible annexations, but that
every people must be free to choose
any allegiance it chooses, as demand
ed by the council of workmen's and
soldiers deputies.
Like yourself, we are opposed to
all punitive and improper indemnities.
We denounce the onerous punitive in
IDENTITIES already imposed by the kai-
ser upon the people of Serbia, Belgium
and Poland.
"America's workers share the view
of the council of workmen and SOL
diers' deputies that the only way in
which the German people can bring
the war to an early end is by imitat-
ing the glorious example of the Rus
sian people, COMPELLING the abdica-
ton of the Hohenzollerns and the
Hapsburgs, and driving the tyrannous
nobility, bureaucracy and the military
caste from power.
Advice to German Socialists.
"Let the German Socialists attend
to this, and cease their false pre-
lenses and underground plotting to
bring about an abortive peace in the
interest of kaiserism and the ruling