The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-09-18
From Other
Editorial Pages
or A DIFFERENT sTAMp

| Council, so recently and so ingloriouslv
toiled in its seditious projects. was to
! undertake to prove that organized labor
in the United States was opposed TO
the draft and to other war policies of
, the government and in favor of a peace
without annexations or indemnities; that
is, such peace as would be welcome
to Germany. The promoters and man.
ayers of the undertaking claimed TO
have won over TO the Workmen's Coun.
cil organized especially for the accom-.
mediation of secessionists from the Am.
erican Federation of Labor, thousands
of men who had been, but were no
longer, followers and supporters Of
Samuel Gompers These thousands. the
pacifists asserted, were no longer fol.
lowers Of Samuel Gompers because that
| leader favored both the prosecution and
the winning Of the war in which the
country was engaged, and was adverse
to peace on any terms save those which
the United States and its allies might
regard as satisfactory. The Peoples
Council, with the accomplishment of its
purposes in view, proposed to hold a
great national convention of its mem.
bers and sympathizers in MINNEAPOLIS
during the first four days Of this month.
The governor Of Minnesota warned il
to keep out Of the state The organiza-
tion sought hospitality elsewhere, and
was everywhere save in an obscure
corner of Chicago's west side. denied
a refuge. Its boasted thousands dwin-
died to dozens. It's boasted influence
vanished into thin air.
But, at a time when it was using
money and printers ink freely. and
when it was threatening to attract a
goodly percentage Of the professional
malcontents of the country it was deem.
ed wise by loyalists in the ranks Of
organized labor, and in soclalistic and
radical movements, to meet it with a
counterblast The result was the for
nation of the American Alliance for
Labor and Democracy and the decision
to hold convention in Minneapolis
Immediately following that of the Pe,,-
pies Council. The program of the lat
ter went all awry; as may be seen by
the news reports. the program of the
former is being carried out smoothly
and successfully,
The character Of the respective or.
ganizatiOns has made the difference in
the public attitude toward each inev.
liable. The one was pro-Gsrman. the
other is pro-American; the one was dis
loyal in its aims and purposes: the other
is loyal; the one was looking mainly
to the advantage of the country's enc
mics; the other places the interests Of
the United States and its allies above
every other consideration; the one
wants the war brought 90 a close so
that those responsible for il may escape
their just deserts the other wants the
war won by those upon whom it was
imposed, so that the settlement may be
equitable and complete.
The Peoples Council should be thank.
ed for the great service il has uninten.
tionally rendered the nation in arous!ng
the latent patriotism of a great body Of
Americans heretofore apparently so alb
sorbed in trade or class controversy as
20 be forsetful of the larger obligations
OF citizenship In Minneapolis, as
consequence of the recent awakening
is body of men az variance. i'm many
respects. with the conservative opinion
OF the times, but heartily i'm sympathy
with the national cause. and determined
that nothing shall come between them
and duty TO their country until the war
for democracy is won. Among them.
assuredIy may be found many differ.
ences Of opinion ON social. economic
and industrial subjects. but they are
as one ON the paramount question Of
the hour
The government can look confidently
90 the great element ot the industrial
population that was represented in the
Minneapolis convention for an the moral
and material aiI IL may require in car.
rying To successful conclusion the
campaign upon which q has Just en-.
tered for the suppression OF sedition
In the /. w. ". and in other organiza.
tions subject tu pro.German Influences
The overwhelming majority of the wage
earners in the United states are loyal TO
the nation, ami are completely out of
sympathy with every form of treason.
able conspiracy They are as free from
the taiut of seition now as they We're
free from the uint OF anarchy thirty
years ago They have nothing In com.
mon, sentimeuta'ly or otherwise. with
those who, ON the pretense OF devotion
20 the interests of the worker. or ON the
pretense OF devotion 20 peace. or ON any
proterse whatsoever, would strike az the
roots OF free government. or attempt
.to undermine the foundations of the
republic
While, 10 common with AN good citt
zens and progressive thinkers. they are
Ear from accepting I'm compmcent con.
tentment certain existing economic and
industrial conditions. they realize that
in the United states every reform es.
sential 20 human happiness is possible
through legitimate agitation and legal
process, and that social wrong can exist
within the borders OF the country only
50 long as &c is accepted or tolerated
by the malority
This attitude of the industrial class
OF the nation was reflected clearly by
Samuel Gompers. In his speech al Min.
neapolis pledging the united support
OF the American Federation Of Labor 70
the government The conspiracy To ere.
ate disaifection among the wage earners
of the United states has failed ignomi.
nOusly IL will hs fnupa ,,-h,r tt. ..,