Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-03
MUST END POLICY
OF BLOOD AND IRON
Equal Justice, Says President.
Which Is Heart of Democracy,
Shall Rule in It's Stead.
WRITES LETTER TO GoMPERs
Approves Conference at Mime
apolis Which Will Undertake
to Suppress Disloyalty.
WRITES LETTER TO GoMPERs
TBy Associated Press1

to be held at Minneapolis next Tues
day. and the task it will undertake of
supprcssing disloyalty, has been given
by President Wilson in a letter to
Samuel Gompers. president of the
American Federation of Labor and
chairman of the alliance.
The letter. made public here to-day,
denounces those who seek to ignore
Americas grievance against Germany
and insist that a nation whose citi-
zens have been foully murdered under
their own hag: whose neighbors have
been invited to join in making con-
quest of its territory. and whose pa
thence in pressing the claims of JUS
tice and humanity has been met with
the most shameful policy of truculenc=
and treachery. does not know It's o~n
mind, and has no comprehensive rca-
son for defending itself.
while our soldiers and sailors are
doing their manful work to hold back
reaction in it's most brutal and aggres-
sivc FORM" the President wrote "we
must oppose at home the organized and
individual efforts Of those dangerous
elements who hide disloyalty behind a
screen of specious and evasive phrases"
MUST OPPOSE EFFORTS
OF DANGEROUS ELEMENTS
The letter follows:
My dear Mr.. Gompers:
Il am sure that you understand that
my inability to accept the invitation
to address the Minneapolis conference
Of the American Alliance for Labor and
Democracy is due only to official ne
cessity. and not in any degree to lack
OF appreciation of the Importance of
the occasion. The cause you and your
fellow-patriots uphold is one with the
cause we are defending with arms.
While our soldiers and sailors are doing
their manful work to hold back reac-
ton in its most brutal and aggressive
form, we must oppose at home the or
ganized and Individual efforts OF those
dangerous elements who hide disloyalty
behind a screen Of specious and evasive
phrases.
Il have read with real pride the
names of the men and women who are
to take part in the Minneapolis con-
ference. Not one but has record of
devoted service to fundamental democ-
racy; not one but has fought the long.
hard fight for equal justice, Drawing
every bitterness that the humbles
life might know a larger measure OF
happiness.
With all my heart I want them to
feel that their devotion TO country is
In no wise betrayal OF principle. and
that In serving America to-day they
are serving their cause no less faith
iuiiy than in the past. I myself have
mad sympathy with the fears Of the
workers Of the United States; for tn
tendency OF war is toward reaction, and
100 often military necessities have
oeen made an .&cuse for the destruc-
tion or laboriously erected industrial
and social standards. These fears, hap-
pily' nave pl owed to be baseless With
qulckened synipathies and appreciation,
with new sense Of the invasive and
iheioious dangers of oppression, our
people have not only held every inch
OF ground that has been won by years
OF struggle. but have added to the
gains OF the twentieth century along
every line Of human betterment. Cues
lions or wages and hours of labor and
industrial readjustment have found a
soiution which gives to the toiler q new
aisnity and new sense of social and
economic security. i beg you to feel
thd. my support has not been lacking.
anu lhat the government has not failed
d! any point IN granting every just re-
gust advanced by you and your asso-
Gates in the Lame Of the American
worker
BATTLE LINE sTRETCHEY
TO EVERY HOUSE AND SHOP
NO one who is not blind can fai,
10 see that tn. battle line Of democ-
facy Ior America stretches to-day from,
.ne heids or Flanders to every house
ana workshop where toiiing. upward
a.r'Vihs men and women are counting
the treasures Of right and justice and
itpefty' which are being threatened by
our present enemies.
mas not been matter of sur
Prise TO me that the leaders In certain
eroups nave sought to ignore our
grievances against the mon who have
equally mlsied the German people.
Iheir insistence that a nation whose
fish's nave been grossly violated,
whose citizens have been foully mur.
oereo under their own flag. whose
neighbors have been invited 10 ioin
IN making conquest Of its territory.
whose patience in pressing the claims
oi justice and humanity has boen met
win the most shameful policy of true
uience and treachery. their insistence
that nation so outraged does not
know Its own mind, that It has not
comprehensive reason for defending
itself, or for joining with all is might
In. maintaining a free future for itself
and It's ideals. Is Of a piece with their
deafness to the oft-repeated statement
Of our national purposes
Us it. perhaps. that these forces of
antagonism have not yet learned to
know the voice OF that America we
love and serve? 1t may we'll be that
those among US who stand ready to
forward the plans OF aggression bred
in secret do not understand the lam
guage Of democracy when 1t proclaims
CONTINUED on Second Page.)
TRAVEL. BY BoAr TO BAI.TIMORE.
YORK RIVER -LIEE luxurioIaL Az b. nj ers