New-York tribune., 1918-01-02
Gompers Calls on
Labor to Stand
Firm in Conflict
Declares This Is a War for
Workers as Well as
Nation
Urges Fullest Effort
America Must Not Be Ham
pcred by Internal
Strife
Urges Fullest Effort

WASHINGTON, Jan. In a New
Years greeting 10 all organized labor
Samuel Gompers. president Of the
American Federation of Labor. calls
upon representatives and organizers to
make plain to their fellows the issues
involved in TIE war and thc obligation
that dcvolvcs upon all citizens He
also embassies the Importance of see
ing to it that the spirit and methods o.
democracy are maintained at home
while the country is fighting to estab-
lsh them in international relations.
War means victory for our cause or
danger to the very existence of our
nation" says the address. with our
nation at stake, individuals cannot in
terposc opposition to the war. a war
declared by the will of the nations
representatives. Under the eXigencies
of war opposition to the war declared
by constitutedl authority becomes
treason.
Democracy at Home
While this is true. there is even
more than ordinary need for the main.
tenance of the rights OF men and
women and for careful scrutiny and
the fullest discussion of politics and
methods before their adoption. The
time for labor to interpose its needs
and contentious is while policies are
in the making.
THE lighting and the concrete issues
o. the war are so Ear removed from
the people OF our country that not all
OF our citizens have q full understand
ing Of the issues involved. An under
standing of the principles of auto
cratic force. which the Central powers
desire to substitute for the real prin-
citizens OF this republic the effect of
our possible de%eat upon their own
lives and activities.
"In addition to the fundamental prin-
ciples at issue. labor has an additional
interest in the war. This war is in the
last analysis peoples war--labors
war. The final outcome will be deter
mined in the factories, the mills and
shops, the mines, the farms, the in
dustries and the transportation agen-
cies of the various countries. That
group of countries which can most sue
cessfully organize its agencies of pro-
duction and transportation and which
can furnish the most effective agencies
with which to conduct the war will win.
THE workers have q part in this war
coequal with the soldiers and sailors
On the ships and in the trenches.
Continuous production is an indis-
pensable prerequisite to production Of
necessary war supplies The govern
n1ent, as we'll as the workers them
selves, is vitally interested in maintain
ing such conditions, that there shall be
no occasion for interruption in produc-
ton.
Government Is Fair
The chief responsible agents Of the
government have shown desire to be
fair, and an understanding Of the hu-
man elements involved in this prob
lem. The organized labor movement
has also shown an equally broad un-
derstanding and grasp Of the situa-
tion.''
Mr.. Gompers quotes at length from
the declaration adopted by labor's rep
resentatives meeting here on March
Y, and from the resolutions of the
Buffalo convention of the American
Federation of Labor outlining the at
tltude of organized labor toward war
work.