New-York tribune., 1918-05-31
Returns From European
Trip; Chairman Wilson
Praises French and
British Spirit
Says Consumption
Will Win in Ireland
Next Trade Union Congress
Expected to Oppose Con-
ference With Enemy

The American Labor Mission, select
ed two months ago by Samuel Gomper
to go to England and France and ther,
present to members of labor unions
the attitude of their brethren in Amer
ica in regard to the war, returned yes
terday. Their vessel reached port las
evening, and most of the member.
were brought to New York by revenu.
cutter.
At the Hotel Continental last nigh
James A. Wilson, of Cincinnati, presi
dent of the Pattern Makers Union ant
chairman of the mission, said the re
suits of the body's work abroad hae
been most satisfactory. British ant
French labor organizations, he said
were at one accord with American
unions in the determination to refuse
to confer with enemy labor representa-
tives until the war had been brought
to a successful conclusion.
Labor Out to Win War
The mission visited all of the Brit
ish Isles and France, holding four
meetings in Britain and three in our
sister republic. All of these showed
members said last night, the almost
unanimous intention of labor to do its
part in the war and to keep its hands
off spheres of activity belonging by
rights to the heads of the government
"British labor is working for just
one thing" said Mr.. Wilson, "and that
is to bring the war to successful con-
clusion as soon as possible. When
speak of labor | mean the actual work
ers of Britain. There is, OF course, a
Labor party, which'is is purely politi-
cal organization, headed by Ramsey
Macdonald. Arthur Henderson and
Philip Snowden.
"These men and their followers ad-
vocate conferences with German work
ers, but | heard no such opinion
voiced by any If the thousands of
workers in shipbuilding, munition and
other plants with whom we talked. All
of these approved the policy advanced
by the American Federation of Labor
to have no dealings whatever with en-
envy workers until the end of the war
and cheered loudly when we referred
to it.
British Labor Undaunted
Mr.. Wilson said the spirit of the
British was magnificent and that they
were undaunted by the years of horror
war with Germany has meant. He and
other members of the mission visited
Whitechapel, the slum district of Lon
don, shortly after the last air raid, in
which many were killed and wounded.
"No one was down hearted" he re-
lated. "All seemed to feel that if
their sons had to bear this sort of
thing constantly at the front, there
was no cause for them to protest be-
cause it was visited upon them occa-
sionally at home"
The British workers, members of the
mission, said, are intending to form an
actual labor party of their own, and
will hold convention for this purpose
next month, at which no delegate will
be seated unless he is an actual
worker.
"We also expect" said Mr.. Wilson
shat when the British Trade Union
Congress convenes in September, it
will resolve to strike out the resolution
adopted in 1917 whereby it was urget
that conferences be held with repre-
sentatives from enemy countries"
Talked With Plunkett
subcommittee Of the mission Wis
tied Ireland shortly after the arrest Of
the leaders in the latest Sim Fein plot
These were disinclined to say much
concerning their findings there. but
contented themselves with saying they
had talked with Sir Horace Plunkett
and that they believed conscriptior
could eventually be pat into effect with
out any trouble.
"The majority of French Socialists =
Mr.. Wilson said, 1--WE found to be In
perfect accord with our views con.
corning conferences with the enemy
OF course there is a small party which
advocates these conferences, but we
believe that. whether consciously or
not, they are under the influence OF
German agents. In general the work
ers of France are for the war to q
victorious end, however far off that
may be-"
The mission visited Admiral Sims
and also were received aboard an
American dreadnought now attach ed
20 the British Grand Fleet They like
wise interviewed our men in France
and said last night that they were
more than satisfied with what thew had
seen.
To Make Lengthy Report
A lengthy report has been prepared
which, Mr.. Wilson said last night, will
De submitted to Mr.. Gompers at once.
The members of the mission are, be-
sides Mr. Wilson, f. o. Mccormick. vice
president of the Southern Pacific Rail.
way, San Francisco; George l.. Berry
Of Tennessee; William II. Johnston. OF
Washington, D. c.; Miss Agnes Nestor
OF Chicago; Professor A. o. Loveioy
OF Johns Hopkins University; Martin
=. Ryan, of Kansas City, Mo-; l.. T
Frey, OF San Francisco; William Short
Of Seattle, Wash; Chester M. WRIGHT
Miss Melinda Scott and Charles Bel.
mont Davis, of New York; Leroy c.
Dunn' OF Des Moines. Iowa; Alison c.
Farmer" Des Moines, Iowa. and Ms
H. N. Grenfell, of Denver.