New-York tribune., 1918-06-11
Nothing for Private Profit,
He Declares at Fedora
ton Convention
Unions Insist on
Trade Partnership
Encouraged by Federal Co.
operation, They Now Plan
to Widen Demands
spec,ol Dispatch to The Trsbume)

ST. PAUL, June 10.-"Eor the cause
=, freedom and justice we will give
.vervthing, but for private profit moth
ing"
These words were the keynote Of the
.,sech Samuel Gompers delivered this
morning at the opening of the annual
.nrvention Of the American Federation
Of Labor.
N;nety-nine per cent of President
compers's speech was, as expected, an
.,oouent statement of the determina-
s;on of the federation members to
.,snd loyally by the government and
coo the war through until German au-
+osraey is overthrown. But chance
r.mark or two indicated the new vision
~ the future which has come to the
,.hor forces as result of the war
mobilization of industry.
Intimates Wilson'S View
Mr.. Gompers dwelt on the Importance
If lsbor's cooperation in the winning
of .he war. He even intimated Presi-
dent Wilson had delayed the declara-
tion of war on Germany until he had
labor lined up in support of ~
In the afternoon session President
r Perham of the Railroad Telegra-
nbers' Union asked permission to in
troduce a resolution which by rights
should have gone over until tomorrow.
aWhat is the nature Of the resolution 2"
asked Mr.. Gompers.
at calls upon the President of the
United States to take over both the
Western Union and Postal Telegraph
companies and to operate them unoer
Federal control"
In an instant the house was echoing
with cheers and the clapplng of hands.
Through technicality the resolution
went over until the following session,
but the mood of the convention was
made clear.
Organized labor considers itself an
organic part of the government of the
United States. 1t feels free to summon
the government to take its part in in
dustrial disputes. 1t feels it has the
ear of the White House, and it will con-
fdently threaten the recalcitrant en-
ployer with government ownership if
he does not behave.
Labor knows it has been indispens-
able in time of war. 1t proposes to
be equally indispensable in time of
peace. This is made clear in certain
passages in the report of the executive
council
Demands Partnership
In this report the council urges
J something new in federation history
that organized labor shall now and per-
manently, IN war and in peace, be made
co-partner with the employer in the
administration of his industry.
Since labor is not commodity" the
report states, workers have the right
to participate in control of industry.
In all large permanent shops a regular
arrangement should be provided where
oy committee of the workers would
regularly meet with the shop manage
ton
This committee would have the right
u any time to confer with higher Of
nclals, even the President.
The mood of confidence is buttressed
Diy the rapidly growing membership of
the federation. The officers feel conf
cent that the four railroad brother
hoods. which two years ago forced an
eignt,hour law through Congress under
ine threat of strike, presently will
Join the federation. The Brotherhood
oi Locomotive Engineers will apply for
membership at the present convention,
mough the move will be protested by
ae street railway employees, who claim
jurisdiction.
Backs Wilson to Limit
:, The radicals are here, and though
Mey will not make much of fight
saey may make some noise. Benjamin
sssen!esinger, of New York, president of
Ms4nternationalLa Ladies' Garment Work
/ Us Union, has, it is known, introduced
rnsolution in favor of the inter.
! \ Allied labor programme of peace terms,
" cslmg for no annexations and no in
ccemnties and conference with the
Serman Socialists. The radicals do not
uope to carry their resolution, but they
saat to keep their record straight on
mtsmationalism.
.,.ne me talk that Thomas Van Lear, So
.nlst Mayor Of Minneapolis and dele
$sN from the machinists' union, will
S;apps put forward by the radicals as can
s,uste s Tor vicerpresident may be dis
ssluuted. Neither Van Lear nor any
ssass Socialist has chance.
me Inc federation, as Mr.. Compers's
ssscn showed, is almost unanimously
~ sS;a'nd the government, and it will per-
sM ". no one whom it considers question
III ITS executive council.