The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-16
'GOMPERS DEFEATS
MEXICAN |. W. WIS
Fights Resolution Asking for
Freeing of Prisoners at
LeayenwOrth.
MOVER ASsAILS HAYWOOD
Tells Pan-American Labor
Conference How Latter
Played False.

LAREDO, Tex, Nov. 15.-An attempt by
Mexican delegates to the Pan-American
Labor Conference TO have adopted a
resolution aiming at the release from
prison OF Industrial Workers of the
World, brought forth an attack on that
organization to-day by American labor
leaders, who defeated the plan by
amending the resolution.
The opposition was led by Charles H.
Meyer. who as president of the Western
Federation Of Miners several years ago
had associated with him as secretary.
William ID. Haywood. now secretary and
treasurer OF the I. w. W., who - serving
sentence under the espionage act.
Samuel Gompers drew out the ract
that the resolution was intended to help
imprisoned /. w. WIS and at once the
executive council of the American
Federation OF Labor attacked the move
ment, which was warmly defended by
some Mexican delegates.
Mover, now president of the Mine.
Mill and Smelter Workers. answered
statement by a Mexican delegate that
tho l. w. w had convinced many Mex
lean workmen that the American FED
Grafton Of Labor fought the Haywood
ganizations were seeking the same END
by different means.
: my name IL Meyer" he said. Re
member that name and go back to Mex
leo and tell them what I say. Twelve
years ago Meyer. Haywood and Pettl-
bone We're on trial for their lives ana al
though we were not affiliated with the
American Federation OF Labor that or
ganization contributed the funds which
enabled US to prove our innocence anu
saved our lives.
"Pettibone died. and on his deathbeo
he gave thanks to the'Americsn Fedora
ton OF Labor for the help II had given
him. Meyer lived and served. and mas
tried to be true to the organization 10
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 his bene-
factors ard to injure his country.
IT warn you to go back to Mexico and
tell the miners that you have learned
from Mover to look and be careful, ana
when you find man representing the T.
w w " know he IL there not to organ
ize YOU, to better your conditions but ne
is doing there what he Is trying to do IN
the United States, trying to organize you
but to destroy you.
The resolution which brought out the
debate was amended to provide that the
Executive Council Of the Federation
should investigate any report OF men I'm
properly imprisoned and take what
action the members saw 1T
In the debate Perez Ruiz. delegate
from Torreon. conceded that the In
f,ueuce OF the 7. W. W. had made Itself
widely felt in Mexico and that the reso-
luton had been introduced rs the open
ing wedge to obtain the release OF J. w
w. prisoners in Lesvenworth prison.
The American labor movement sup
ported Madero." Gompers said in the
debate. THE American labor movement
opposed the assassin Huerta. the Ameri-
can labor movement did everything In Its
power to prevent conflict between the
United States and Mexico.
THE l. w. w. in the United States is
Just exactly what the Bolshevik is in
Russia. The American Federation o.
Labor is going to continue to work FOR
the best interests IN the United states,
in Russia and in the Far East. and II is
going to help you II you will let it
l. The resolution as amended was
adopted with only tour opposing votes,