New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-06
Labor Men Meet
To Fight Gompers
And Consumption
A Country Wide Battle
Against Draft Planned
by Conference

Twenty-Five labor leaders. headed by
Jacob Panken, Socialist lawyer and agi-
tator, met yesterday as the organizers
Of the Conference for the Maintenance
of Workers Rights and Standards, at
Forward Hall. 175 East Broadway, to
lay plans for fighting consumption and
the Conservation attitude" of Samuel
Gompers, head Of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor.
The meeting was held in answer to
the denunciaton of the newly created
organization, delivered by Mr.. Gompers
last week at a conference of the Cen
trail Federated Union. Mr. Gompers
then announced that the Conference
for the Maintenance of Workers Rights
and Standards was designed TO sup
plant the activities OF the American
Federation of Labor. The union lead
ers present at the meeting yesterday
partlv admitted the charge, but DE,
Tended the organization on the grouhu
that Mr.. Gompers was not any longer
representing the interests OF the LABOR
or, that he chad betrayed labors rights
and smiled on capital
Funds to Fight CONSUMPTION
Mr.. Panken, as president, announced
that the organization would extend its
ramifcations into every industriai,
community in the country. he auoed
That funds would not be lacking 70
fight attempts at conscription OF men
who believed their constitutional rights
were being violated.
When informed OF the purposes 81
the organization last nlght', Halolu
A. Content, Assistant United states
District Attorney. sounded the warning
80 env ATTEMPT TO contravene the
la,,,s would be closely watched by the
Denartment Of Justice and that SUIT
abIe action would be taken as each Sit
uation arose.
eve shall not try to violate any
Laws" said Mr.. Panken, but we nave
organized TO defend constitutional
rights and the welfare of labor. ANA
one of the most important rights TINS
organization is pledged to guard Is
the right to resist conscrlption.
"In a short time we will send ag-
i,ators into every industrial commu-
nifty in the country. They VIII form
committees. These committees VIII
furnish the funds with which individ-
uals NAV defend their rights. THESE
committees will join with one another
in a great national body. IL is our
plan TO summon Congressman home by
a referendum vote of the men and
women in their districts, and when they
return TO their home districts these
personalities will be told that they
must fight for an early peace. They
must carry this fight TO Washington.
Radicals Oppose Gompers
"The radical element in the labor
movement feels that Mr.. Gompers's at
titude since the severance of diplo-
matte relations with Germany has been
in the direction Of maintaining peace
between labor and capital, even
though labor be forced TO surrender
it's rights. The labor movement does
not intend TO do any such thing. II
there is 70 be peace between labor
and capital it must be accomplished
by capitals surrender of some OF its
excess profits"
Max b. Pine, general secretary of
the United Hebrew Trades. declared
that attempts had been made to in
terest the local branches Of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor in joining
the new organization. but that thus
far they had refused.
Among the labor leaders present
yesterday were Abraham Epstein,
president of the Workmen's Circle !;
Abraham Baroff. general secretary OF
the international Ladies' Garment
Workers Union; Steven Bircher, of
the Brotherhood Of Metal Workers, and
l.. LANCER, secretary OF the Joint
Board Of the Cloakmakers' Union.
Officers OF the organization de-
clared that should the need require
strikes will be called and prosecuted
a.