The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-07-07
COMPERS REJECTS
PEACE SCHEME.
Refuses Dutch Proposal For La
Dor Congress at Stockholm.
BERLIN BLAMED FOR MOVE

American Federation of Labor Officials
Believe Plan Was Originated at Be-
hest of the German Government.
Conference Called Without ConsuIta-
ton 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 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-
pISlOH Ill llC VI <1lhCIlNab lobOk
leaders that II actually originated in
Berlin and that Scheidemann, the Ger
man Socialist leader, had leading
part In the movement. AS 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 an international congress of
trade union centers, which is to be held In
Stockholm Folkshus on June s. Agenda,
discussion and establishment of claims Of
| trade unionists at peace negotiations. /
| beg Information by wire of the names of
your delegates. The Eutch 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 each
! government were to meet to determine
/ the treaties aud international relations.
That proposition was rejected
"Now 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
eialist 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 congress at this time"
1t was explained at the state depart
ment chat the Logan act would not be
I invoked against persons attending con-
ventions, either in this country or
| abroad, where the abstract 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 go abroad to attend
and participate in 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, it was declar-
ed, information had been obtained which
indicated that some of the delegates
were acting as the agents of their re-
spective governments. These agents
were believed to be German and Aus
trian, chief among whom is Scheide-
mann.
Shin Carpenters Win Strike