The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-19

PROPACANDkIS
PLAN OF LABOR
To Offset PrO-German Intrigue
in Ranks of Workers.
Labor Leaders Will ''Stump" Q.
s. Industrial Centers.
USE SECRET AGENTS, TOO
These Will Run Down German
Strike AgitatOrs.
British Labor Delegate to Ad-
dress Ship Builders.
USE SECRET AGENTS, TOO
BY GEORGE MARTIN.

Buffalo. n. Y, Nov ia nation
wide pro-American propaganda cam
paign to offset the secret pro-German
propaganda in the ranks of American
workers is being planned by the
American Federation of Labor, it was
learned today.
The quiet preparation of this cam
Daign. which has been goinG on for a
week. is looked upon by President
Gompers as one of the most important
developments of the federation con-
vention.
This DIan is expected to smooth out
much of the labor tangle in govern
ment shipyards, to have soothing
effect on the coal mine situation and,
tho the brotherhoods are not affll1-
ated with the federation, to help put
down the strike and disaffection spirit
in the railroad group. The outward
and visible signs of this propaganda
will be speechmaking by labor lead
ers who will make carefully mapped
tours among the different classes OF
labor. explaining the federation's pro-
government attitude, warning labor
against the influence of German
sympathizers and impressing upon ii
the urgent war need of full and un-
interrupted production.
Britisher First Speaker.
The first speaker in this list will
start his work within a few days
after the convention ends here Sat
urdav He is John Hill, fraternal
delegate to the convention from the
British trades union congress.
He will make speeches before the
ship yard labor groups on both coasts
Hill has been a pro-government Ia
Dor leader in England since the wal
began. One of his four enlisted sons
has been killed and the other three
are still fighting.
In addition to this there will be ar
army of secret labor agents Theil
task will be to watch their respective
local friends for German agents, tC
keep federation and government Off
Gals at Washington informed of loca
labor conditions and to head off trou-
BILE in their local ranks by wedding
out anti-American individuals and
| throttling their whispered machina-
lions before they can stir up seriou:
| trouble.
Trace Trouble to Pro-Germans.
President Gompers feels that prac
| ticaIly all labor troubles since Amer
| lea entered the war are traceable tt
! German agents and that this govern.
ments attitude is broad and fail
! enough to permit speedy and satisfac
| tory settlement of all disputes if sin
| lister influences can be kept from be
! Jogging the atmosphere. Not a daI
! has passed at the present convention
that Gompers has not re-Voiced the
| conviction that the ranks of labor are
full of German propagandists ant
agents and that they constitute a yer,
real and serious menace to America.
! industrial war progress. He pointed
| today's to the navy's recently reiter
| ated spy warning as proof of his con
| tention.
The convention is expected thi
week to adopt the executive councils
report which outlines it's behind tn,
| government" war policy and its grea
| pro-labor after the war reconstruction
policy. These events probably will b,
/ preceded by President Gompers's an
nual address. 1t is considered a fore
| gone conclusion that Gompers will b,
reelected president and Frank Morri
son secretary of the federation.