The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-05-15
British Delegates and Officials of
American Federation Visit the
White House; Place Approval
on U. s. War Program.
CONFLICT MUST NOT LOWER
woRKINoMEN's STANDARDS
Mr.. Wilson Says We Are Fight
ing in a Cause Which Means
the Lifting of the Standards Of
Life and Must Cooperate.
by Associated Pres.

ny Associated Press
Washington May ss--PresGdent
Wilson today addressed the British
labor delegates and officials OF the
American Federation Of Labor when
they visited the White House headed
by President Gompcrs % the fedora
tion.
The president In bfief speech ex-
pressed the hope that the standards
set for labor through many years OF
legislative effort would not be lowered
as consequence OF the war. MIR
Gompers assured the presldent that
labor was united in standing behind
him.
The president spoke In part as fol-
lows.
This is a most welcome visit be-
cause II mcaus n most welcome thing.
the spontaneous cooperation of men
from all walks OF life interested to SEQ
that we do not forget any af the arin-
ciples Of our lives in meeting the great
emergency that has come upon US.
Il have been very much alarmed at
one or two things that have happened
at the apparent incimatinn OF the legis-
latures of one or two of oar states to
set aside even temporarily the laws
which have safeguaried standards of
labor and Of life. I think nothing
could be moro deplorable than that.
We are trying To flEht In, n cnusc
which means the iifting uf the stand
ards of life and we can fight In that
cause best by voluntary co-opention.
I do not doubt that any body OF men
representing labor in this country
speaking for their fellows. Will DO
willing 10 make any sacrifice that ~
necessary In order to carry this contest
90 successful issue and In that con-
fidence | feel that Il would be mex
! cusahle IL we deprived men and wom-
en- of such a spirit on any of the ex-
istlng safeguards Of law. therefore /
shall exercise my Influence so far as
II goes to see that that does not hap
pen and that the sacrifices We make
shall be made voluntarily ana not un-
der the compnlsi0n which mistakenw
| Is interpreted 60 mean n lowering OF
the standards which We have sought
through so many generations TO hrins
10 their present lever.
1--WE are lighting for Democracy IN
| n larger sense than can be expressed
in any political term. There are many
forms OF Democratic government ana
we are not fighting for ans particular
form. but we are fighting for the es-
sentlal part of IL all, namely. that we
! are an equally interested In our social
and political lie aud all have righ'
| to the voice In the government under
which we live and that when men ana
women are equally admitted To those
rights we have the best safeguard ol
| Justice and OF peace that the world
affords There il no other safeguard.
Of any group OF men. whatever their
| original intention. attempt to dictate
10 their fellow men what their pol',i-
cal fortunes shall he and the result ~
lpinsticc and hardship ana wrong OF
the deepest sort. Therefore. we arc
lust now feeling as we have never te't
before out of sense OF comradcsh'r'
| We shall feel Il even more, necans'
we have not yet made the sacrifices
that We are going To make, 50 We nave
not vet felt the terrible pressure OF
suffering and pain ~ war and We are
going presently to feel II, and nave
every confidence that as ~ pressure
lcomes upon us our spirit viii not tai-
ter hut rise and be STRENGTHENED ana
ltbnt i'm the last We shall have ma
ltionnl feeling and national unity
such as never gladdened our hearts
before. -.
II want TO thank you for tho com
pliment OF this visit ana say II 'heI'
is any way in which ] can co-opeii',
lwith the purpose % this commh.es "
with those with whom you are lhp"'
ing Il viii afford me a sense oil P'N'
Iiegc and of pleasure