Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-02
war means v|CTORY FOR
!! OUR D CAUSE, SAYS GOMPERs
Labor Leader Calls on All Repro.
sentatives and Organizers to
Mako Issues Plain.
SPECIAL MESSAGE 10 UNIONS
Advises Careful Scrutiny and Fullest
discussion OF Policies and Meth
DDS Before Their Adoption as
Laws of Nation.
TBy AssocIated prcs,.l

WASHINGTON. January lin New
ears greeting to all organized labor.
samuel Gompers. president Of the
American Federation OF Labor, calls
upon representatives and organizers to
mako plain to their fellows the issues
involved in The war and the obliga-
tlon that dcvolyes upon all citizens.
lie also emphasizes the Importance of
seeing to 1T that the spirit and methods
OF democracy are maintained at home
while the country is lighting to estab-
Esh them in International relations.
War means victory for our cause
or danger TO tho very existence OF our
nation, says the address. with our
nation at stake. individuals cannot in
terpose opposition to the war-a war
declared by the will OF tho nations
! representatives. Under the exigencies
OF war opposition to the war declared
by constituted authority becomes trea-
son,
While this !. true, there Is even
more than ordinary need for the main
tsnance of the rights OF mon and
women and for careful scrutiny and
the fullest discussion Of policies and
methods before their adoption. The
time for labor to intcrpose its needs
in tho making
The fighting and the concrete issues
OF tho war are SO far removed from the
people of our country that not all Of
our citizens have a full understanding
OF the issues involved. An understand
Ing OF tho principles Of autocratic
force. which the central powers desire
TO substitute for the real principles of
freedom, makes clear to all citizens OF
this republic the effect of our possible
defeat upon their own lives and activ-
tiles
LABOR VITALITY INTERESTED
IN OUTCOME OF CONFLICT
In addition 10 the fundamental
principles at issue, labor has an addi-
tional intercs, In the war. This war
Is in the last analysis a peoples war
labor's war. The final outcome will
be- determined IN the factories. the
'ni'is the shops, the mines, the farms.
the industries and the transportation
ascnc!ca OF tho various countries.
That group of countries which can
most successfully organize It's agencies
or production and transportation. and
which can furnish tho most adequate
agencies with which to conduct the
war. will win.
Tho workers have a part in this
war coequa! with the soldiers and
sailors on the ships and in the
trenches.
Continuous production is an ind;s-
peusable prerequisite to production OF
necessary war supplies. The govern
nicns. as we'll as tho workers them
selves. Is vitality interested in main
tanning such conditions that there shall
tr INT in
production.
The chief responsible agents OF tho
government have shown desire to
he fair and an understanding Of the
humane elements involved in this prob
lem. The organized labor movement
has also shown an equally broad un-
Outstanding and grasp Of the situation.
.fr. Gompers quotes at length from
The decla rat!on adopted by labor's rep
resentativcs meeting here on March l.
and from the resolutions OF the Buffalo
convention Of tho American Federation
OF Labor outlining the attitude OF or
Eanized labor toward war work.
He then continues:
1T Is difficult to conceive more
serious responsibility than that which
rests upon the organized labor move
mcnt Of our country, its responsible
officers and upon the great rank and
file Of its representatives.
UPON ALL RESTS DUTY
Of MAINTAINING RIGHTS
Upon you and upon all rests the
duty Of maintaining tho rights and in
terests Of the workers Of our republic,
at tho same time doins everything
within the power OF all TO further
the interests OF the government in the
urgent needs that arise out Of the
conduct Of worldly wide war.
Representatives OF the labor move
nlcnt must undertake the work OF
organization with greater seriousness
and intensity than ever before. Or
Eanization Is the cornerstone upon
which workers must base all of their
plans, upon which the government
itself must rest it's labor policies, upon
which all can serve in a triumph for
Justice, for freedom and for world de-
mocracy.
II feel IL incumbent upon me at
the beginning OF this, now year to
present to you thus at length the seri-
business of tho situation that confronts
labor and the Importance of the work
that lies Immediately ahead of US. Yet
this very serious and critical situation
is accompanied by great hope-the
hope that the spirit of self-sacrificnE
devotion to purpose and high conccp-
tion OF service that have grown out
OF this war may bring about
now world of lifo and work that the
peoples of all countries may live I'M
der the benefcent influences of the
principles of new freedom and de-
mocracy in every relation OF life"
Saying that nothing can contribute
moro to that purpose than to restate
the declarations OF the March IL labor
conference, AR. Gompers says:
We were forced into the war.
wo arc In the war.
External vigilance Is the price Of
liberty
Nov is the time that tries mems
souls,
BRFNINan N4n@@~~@ @s,v~N