The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-11-16
DRAMATIC seen {
AS MOYER SHOWS
UP CUSSEDNESS
WITHIN THEI. WV.
Man Saved From Death by
Gompers' Organization
Paying Debt

Paying DepT
Laredo. Texas, Nov. 16.--The Pan
American conference, after a day OF
heated debate yesterday during
which the American Federation or
Labor announced the Industrial
Workers OF the World as enemies
of the government everywhere, ex-
pected to end its discussions To-Day.
The conference before adjourn
ment planned to take up the peace
prograrn of organized labor in the
| United States as submitted In the
resolution by Samuel Gompers, pres
ident of the American Federation Oh
Labor. >
Laredo. Tezaa. Nov. 16.-An at
tempt by Mexican delegates to tne
Pan American labor conference 10
have adopted a resolution aiming at
the release from prison of Industrial
workers of the world, today brought
forth an attack on that organization
bv American labor leaders who de"
feated the plan.
Meyer Leads Opposition
The opposition to the Mexican res
olution offered sa result OF l; w:
w. influence in Mexico. was led by
Chas. n. Meyer. who as president OF
| the Western Federation Of Miners
several years ago, had associated
with him as secretary OF that organ
| ization VIM. D. Haywood, now secre-
tary and treasurer of the L w. W.
who is serving sentence under the
espionage act. a.
Gofnpers Exposes Game
Samuel Gompers, after the reso-.
| tuition had been introduced, drew out
| the fact that it was intended to ala
| imprisoned Industrial Workers OF the
| World and at once all the executive
council of the American Federation
of Labor attacked the movement
which was warmly defended by some
of the Mexican delegates.
." Dramatic Scene
Meyer, who is now president or tne
| Miners, previously had taken no part
! in the conference proceedings. He
! arose to answer a statement by
| Mexican delegate that the ]. W. w.
had convinced many Mexican work
men that the American Federation
OF Labor fought the Haywood organ
| ization merely because the two or
| ganizations were seeking the same
1 end by different means. Moyer, VINO
with Haywood, had been charged
i with the murder of Governor Frank
1 EoI6uSuDBIB 4hehtAIs ~
dramatic figure when he arose.
Saved by a. r. of KS
f.Nfy name is Moyer.' he said. "Re-
member that name and go back TO
| Mexico and tell them what say.
! Twelve years ago Meyer, Haywood
and Pettibone were on trial for their
lives and although we were not af-
filiated with the American Fedora
ton Of Labor. that organization con-
| tributed the funds which enabled us
to prove our innocence and saved
our lives.
Nv. w. Build to Destroy
'Pettibone died. and on his death
bed he gave thanks to the A. F. Of
| L. for the help it had given him,
] Meyer lived and served and has
tried to be true to the organization
/ to which he owes his life. He is
now paying part Of the debt he owes
Them. Haywood was false, he
started at once an organization to
undermine the factors and to in
! jure his country. warn you to go
back to Mexico and tell the miners
that you have learned from Meyer
| to look and be careful, and when you
find a man representing the l. w.
| w. to know he is there not to organ
ize you to better your conditions but
he is doing there what he is trying
to do in the United States, to organ
| ize you to destroy you.
4 Resolution Made Harmless
The resolution which brought out
the debate was amended to provide
THAT the executive council of the
American Federation OF Labor should
/ investigate any report of men i'm
| properly imprisoned and take what
acton its members saw At.
The Charges
| The arguments presented by vari.
! Gus Mexican speakers included the
contention that the /. w. w. and the
American Federation OF Labor were
rival organizations, animated by
jealousy, that the American union
had planned to put into jail all work.
| ingmen who would not belong to 1t
and finally ended with the plea that
| the federation should forgive the
convicted men their past offesses and
: obtain their release.
Gompers Explains
President Gompers related to the
delegates the part organized labor
had played in aiding the people Of
Mexico in years past, including its
protests which helped induce the
American government to refuse to
return Mexican political refugees
who had fed to the United States at
the time of the revolution against
President Diaz.
What Labor Has Done
"The American labor movemeni
supported Madero," Mr.. Gompers
said. 1.-THE American labor move.
ment, opposed the assassin Huerta;
the American labor movement did
everything in its power to prevent
conflict between the United States
and Mexico. Whether in Russia or
in Ireland or in Mexico or I'm any
country where the people are en-.
deaEoring to find freedom and Jus.
tice. the American Federation of La.
bo T will put forth its best efforts to
help secure them.
Are American BoIshevil<s
"The I. w. w. in the United States
Is just exactly what the BoIsheviki
Is in Russia. and we have seen wIat
they have done to the working people
In Russia where the people have no
security no peace no land and nc
bread.
American Labor Will Help Mexica
The American Federation of La
Dor is going to continue to work for
the best interests In the United
States in Russia and in the far east.
and 1T is going to help Mexico II |
Mexico viii let 1t. We can't do auv. |
thing to help you In your country. III |
you don't want us.
The American resolution was
adopted with only four Opposing |
votes,