New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
Vetoes Plan for Americans
to Discuss Peace Terms
With German Workers
u. S. Soldiers Praised
British Delegate Says They
Are the Type That Fights
to a Finish

By a vote of at least seven to one, the
Central Federated Union last night re-
fused to place itself on record as favor
ing the participation of American labor
in any international labor conference
called to discuss peace terms.
The question came up when, after ad-
dresses by William A. Appleton, secre-
tary Of the General Federated Trade
Unions Of Great Britain. and Joshua
Butterworth, of the Shipwrights Asso-
ciation, on conditions in England, reso-
lutions declaring loyalty to the war
programme Of the United States and
against any premature peace were Of
fereG
To these, Charles Weinstein offered
an amendment, ndorsing the proposed
international labor conference. Thomas
Rock, presiding, overrpled a point of
order against the amendment, and Mr..
Wcinstein, speaking for the amends
ment, said he was TOR the loyalty reso-
luton as offered. In England, he said,
representatives Of 100000 labor men
had approved of the conference as a
means to try and induce German work
men to overthrow the present auto
cratic government and end the war.
Edward l. Hannah denounced the
amendment as foreign to the resou-
tion, and dealing with subject that
properly belongs not to q local body,
but to the American Federation of La
Dor.
mo man with any trace of American
ism in him." declared Hannah, wants
an amendment of this sort adopted"
81 realized in overruling the point
of ORDER" said Chairman Rock, that
the amendment was not germane, but
l allowed it to stand that the delegates
might have an opportunity to vote,
knowing full we'll what they would do
with it,"
On his call for the ayes on the
amendment, perhaps thirty voted. Then
came storm of "noes." The question
then coming on the resolutions as Of
fered, the vote was unanimous.
Leon ii. Rouse, president of big
Six" the printers local, denounced the
amendment and the spirit back of it..
of" said he, chat amendment had
prevailed, l would have gone to my
union and asked it to withdraw from
this body. The time to talk to Ger
man people is When they have smashed
the German autocracy. If they will
make their country do the right thing,
we ara with them. Until they do, we
must make their government do the
right thing. There is no question as
to where American labor stands. 1t
stands body and soul with the labor of
our Allies.
''Show me a man who asks who is
going to win this war and I'll show
you a pro- German
"This war has settled down to war
of determination or determination. 1t
is no time to talk internationalism.
Talk victory and the labor movement
will go forward faster than ever be-
fore"
Mcssrs. Butterworth and Appleton
laid emphasis on the needs of the AL
lies for food, both agreeing that unless
the food supplies of England, France
and Italy are increased, the production
of munitions and the success Of the
men in the field will be delayed. Both
praised the attitude of the United
States, MIR. Appleton devoting some
time to describing American troops he
had seen abroad.
"Whcn in France about Christmas I
saw them, square jawed, clean cut, up
right young fellows" said he. "I said
to myself, these are not the kind of
men that will quit, they will see it
through"