The Mena weekly star., 1917-09-13
LABOR IN WAR
 FOR DEMOCRACY
Samuel Gompers, Head Of American Federation of Labor. Issues Dec Iaration of principies-Free-
 dom or kaiScrism.

Minneapolis, Minn- Sept ] sam uel Gompers. president of tho Amrr- ican Federation of Labor and chair man If Che American Alliance for Labor and Democracy which opened its national conference here today. outlined the purpose Of The organl- zation as Co the assembling for the support of the government of all the moral and material power of the working class of the nation
 Tt shall be our task he said" to interpret Americas democratic spirit and purpose in this conflict to our fellow workers, especially those cf foreign birth, and to combat every form of propaganda, no matter by whom it may be carried on, which tends to weaken the loyalty and de- yotion of the masses and their will ingness to strive and sacrifice for the nation and it's high purpose
 To Win the War.
 The complete declaration of prin- ciples as announced by Mr Gompers IS as follows:
 As believers in the great and splendid vision of Democracy and internationalism the fraternalism and solidarity of all peoples. we assert at this time our unqualified loyalty tO the republic of the United States of America and our determ- ination 10 do all that lies in our power to win the war in which it is engaged.
 Loyalty and Disioyalty.
 Loyalty to the ideals of freedom. democracy and internationalism re- quires loyalty to America.
 "Disloyaty to America in this cri- sis is disloyalty to the cause of free dom. democracy and international ism.
 A Consuming Ideaiism.
 ''No national selflshness impelled this republic to enter the war The impelling motive was the consuming idealism born with the establishment of the republic itself, to preserve freedom not only for itself but for all nations, great and small. and the body of international law which all the free democratic nations of the world respect and observe and only the brutal autocracies seek to dis honor and destroy.
 "In such a conflict real standard bearers supporting our republic which has made it's own cause and interests of all free peoples.
 It is, therefore. in truth not a capitalists war, but freeman's war Fully impressed by these facts, real izing that noble internationalism is of national existence, it shall be our purpose to bring 10 the support of the government of all the moral and material power of the working class of the nation. II shall be our task to interpret Americas democratic spirit and purpose in this conflict to our fellow-workers, especially those of foreign birth and to combat every form of propaganda, no matter by whom it may be carried on. which tends to weaken the loyalty and de- v0tion of the masses and their will inSness to strive and sacrifice for the nation and it's high purposes.
 Strip Masks From PaciisSts.
 We shall strip the masks from those who in the name of demoera- cy, anti-militarism, and peace, are engaged in the nefarious propaganda of treaehery to all that these noble .l~ .,.4 ,,N Nlx- repudiate the claim that this propa- ganda, which, be it remembered. brings comfort to German autOcracy. has the support of the labor move has the support of the labor move ment of America Not even at the hehest of the so-called Peoples s Council will the organized workers of America prostitute the labor movement tO serve the brutal power responsible for the infamous rape of Belgium the power that would ab- ject Russia Co a worse diSpptism than that of the Romanohs.
 Freedom or kaiSeriSm?
 Democracy will not be served by the victory of autocracy, hy letting the Declaration of Independence be supplanted by the kaiser's fiat
 "Militarism will not be checked by surrender to the power which has organized all the resources of ciVili- zation Co the end of imposing its brutal iron rule on the world
 Peace will not be secured te the world thru the subiection of the free and democratic nations.
 We shall he as loyal to the strug- gle for freedom and democracy at home as to the struggle for freedom and democracy in international re- lations.
 ''To the men and women of the American labor movement. and to all sincere friends of democracy and internationalism, we call for loyal support to America and her allies in this great struggle. Lei us make our beloved republic slronc and victorious for the sake of hu- manity. and thus insure for our children and their children thc priceless heritage of liberty and de- mocFaey Let us. al the same time, stand shoulder to shoulder in the fight against the foes of democracy within our own borders. resolved never to rest until the goal of de mocfaey industrial, political and international has been attained