The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1917-06-08
GOMPERS REJECTS
PEACE SCHEME
Refuses Dutch Proposal For La
Dor Congress at Stockholm.
BERLIN BLAMED FOR MOVE

Believe Plan Was Originated at Be.
hest of the German Government
Conference Called Without Consuta-
tion With American Unions.
Having failed in their efforts to get
representative Socialists from the Unit
ed States, Great Britain and France
to attend the peace conference to be
held In Stockholm IN June, the pro-
German promoters OF the plan have
taken a new tack
A labor union conference has been
called to be held at Stockholm at the
same time The so called international
labor conference, like the proposed So
cialist conference, is to discuss sub
jects related to peace.
The labor conference was called with.
out any consultation whatever with
American labor unions Although its
official inception appears to have taken
place in Holland, there is a strong sus-
piciOn In the minds Of American labor
leaders that it actually originated In
man Socialist leader, had leading
part In the movement As a result Of
this suspicion the American Fedora
ton of Labor has turned down fatty
a request to send delegates TO the meet
ing
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation Of Labor, on May
"A received the following invitation,
cabled from Amsterdam:
am charged by the International Fed
GRAFTON Of Trade Unions to invite you to
assist at au international congress Of
trade union centers, which is to be held ia
Stockholm F0lkshus ON juno 8 Agenda,
discussion and establishment OF claims OF
trade unionists AZ peace negotiations.
beg information by wire OF the names Of
your delegates. The Dutch Federation Of
Trade Unions in charge
OUDEGEEST
Mr.. Gompers promptly cabled the
following reply:
Long before United States entered
the war American Federation Of La
Dor proposed an international confer
ence after the war and at the time and
place where the representatives Of edch
government were to meet to determine
the treaties and international relations.
That proposition was rejected
snow after United States Is In the
war you propose conference be held
In Stockholm at same time and place
when the SO called international So
cialist conference Is to be held at
Stockholm, and this proposition, too,
without consultation with trade union
centers Of United States and other
countries.
There is no time by which American
organized labor could select delegates
to attend the Stockholm conference,
June s, and cannot see how any good
could come from our participation In
such a congress at this time"
1t was explained ut the state depart
ment that the Logan act would not be
invoked against persons attending con-
ventIons either in this country or
abroad, where the al stract question Of
peace after the war but having nothing
to do with the final terms Of peace Of
the present war, is discussed.
Passports will not be denied to per
sons desiring to 80 abroad to attend
and participate III such conventions
The reason the government was with
holding passports TO the American So
cialists elected to represent this coun-
try's Socialist party at the Stockholm
conference was because, 1t was declar-
ed, information had been obtained which
indicated that some OF the delegates
were acting as the agents of their re
spectiYe governments. These agents
were believed to be German and Aus
trian, chief among whom is Schelde-
mann.