New-York tribune., 1918-09-08

spokesman, it's unfailing leader
Over in London he is telling them
that American labor stands for. what
:. means to accomplish.
Labor Day this year was felt on all
.des to be something more than similar
holidays of previous years. 1t was the
srst Labor Day since the United States
rot actively into the war and began to
wake its power felt at the battlefront
II was further signallized by special
,,sssaqe from President Wilson ad-
dressed to the organized labor of the
country. And at the same time Samuel
f,ompers. president Of the American
Federation of Labor. had recently ar
rved in London at the head of mission
Of that organization to organized labor
IN Allied countries. and the press Of the
country was printing lengthy reports
describing the warm reception he had
met with at the hands of the British
government and British labor.
The purpose of the mission in visiting
Europe is well understood on this side
In matter given out by Mr.. Gompcrs's
bureau it was declared that he was going
20 Europe ito oppose the radicals under
Arthur Henderson and the Socialists de-
string an immediate peace" His object
also was "to win as many supporters as
nossbe for the Wilson plan to defeat
Germany entirely and thus prevent a
rooro orraop1o,,t
Mr.. Gompers and his party met with
reception of unusual heartiness in
London. and his visit was treated as an
important public event. A London dis
patch of August so to The Associated
Press described his reception thus:
NO similar event during the war has
commanded half the interest here that is
being displayed over the visit of Samuel
Gompers and other American labor leaders.
The newspapers all print editorials welcom-
ing the Americans. and give marked promi-
pence to the declaration of Mr.. Gompers
that the labor men of the United States are
in favor OF a war to the finish without
compromise, and will have no part in un-
official negotiations with Socialists OF
enemy countries.
The above passage was the introduce
ton to an account of luncheon given
by the British government in honor of
Mr.. Gompers At this function the main
address was delivered by Premier Lloyd
George himself. After saying that he
welcomed Mr.. Gompers and his friends
for the country which they represented.
Lloyd George continued:
We welcome Mr.. Gompers and his
friends for their sake. Gompers is a
name as we'll known in every country as in
his own. We have fully prepared to CO.
operate to secure the ideals which we have
always held
''lr. Gompers is lighting the same demo
cratic battle that this country has been
ashting and is lighting to-day
In his reply Mr.. Gompers declared that
he shared the deep feeling and high
ideals of President Wilson that the
United States was with Great Britain
and her allies to a victorious end of the
var Referring to the position Of Amer
ican labor he said:
we found ourselves in the position as to
whether it we're possible for the labor
movement to live in a world dominated by
kaiserism and militarism. American labor
found it impossible We dare not lose We
cannot lose. We will win.
I'VE realize that nothing is so important
now winning the war. 1t has ceased to
be war; it is crusade for right, justice
and liberty