The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-01-29
GOMPERS NOT DECIDED
ON AMERICANS GOING
TO BERNE CONFERENCE
SWEDE SOCIALIST LEADER
THERE ENDORSES WILL
SON IDEAS OF PEACE

Paris, Monday, Jan. 27-Samuel
Gompers, president OF the Ameri-
can Federation OF Labor, discuss
ing the organization OF an Inter
national labor congress with
French, Belgian and English syn
dicalists, declared to France Libre
today that he would not yet say
whether the American delegation
will attend the labor and socialist
conference at Berne. He declared
that, first OF all, he wished to know
what organizations will be repre-
sented; ii these organizations are
real labor organizations and ii the
Berne conference is not part OF
direct German propaganda plan.
Berne, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan.
26.--A tone OF carefully modulated
optimism as to the results expected
to be attained by the international
labor and socialist conference now
assembling here characterized the
views expressed today by Hjalmar
Branting, Swedish socialist leader.
NJ. Branting mentioned the visit
paid to Paris by Arthur Henderson,
British labor leader, and his CON
ference with Foreign Secretary Bal
four as an indication that the peace
conference intended to attach
weight to the demands and de-
sires of labor He hoped, he said,
that the conference would find a
way to establish, perhaps, 4 mini
mum OF living standards for work
ingmen, although recognized it
naturally was impossible to attempt
to Standardize wages, since the
buying power OF money and prices
for commodities varies so largely
in the different countries.
The Swedish socialist leader eX-
pressed wholc-hcarted endorsement
o, President Wilson'S ideas regard
ing the making OF peace, although
some Of his remarks appeared to
indicate that he was somewhat
Skeptical as to whether these ideas
would triumph completely. AL
though he was known throughout
the war as anti-German, NJ. Brant-
ing expressed the hope that the
entente will supply the former em-
pire with food and raw materials
as soon as possible, because these
are absolutely essential to the we'll
being of all workingmen.
He was extremely pessimistic as
to the German Workmen future,
however, declaring that the situa-
ton in Germany is extremely criti-
cal, Notwithstanding the Spartacan
defeat, and he feared the results
unless relief came quickly.
There still exists in Germany NJ.
Branting claim sstrong and yigor-
GUS reactionary party which has not
learned its lesson from the victory
Of the allies and which must be Off
set by a coalition OF the majority
socialists with the Liberals on the
one hand and the conservative
minority socialists on the other
hand, ii Germany is not to revert
to her old status.
Bolsheyism was referred to by
NJ. Branting in terms of sarcastic
condemnation, although he said he
spoke with full realization of its
dangerous possibilities. He gave
as one of his reasons that Germany
should be fed and supplied with
raw materials, that such action
would make industry possible and
prevent bolShevism spreading
across German territory and pac-
ing France, Belgian, Italy, and
England in danger of contagion.
NJ, Branting quite obviously does
look with favor on the decision of
the peace conierees to make an op-
portunity for comforting with the
bolsheviki, but he merely said the
allies would see they had made Il
mistake.
Regarding the American dele
gates who had failed to get pass
ports for the conference, NJ. Brant-
ing criticised the United States for
its attitude in this respect, but said
he understood the wide difference
between the American socialist
and the European social democrat.