The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-11-11
.G0MPERS IN
SENSATIONAL.
DECLARATIONS
ABJURES LOYALTY
TO ADMINISTRATION
Believes MIR. Wilson's Illness
Responsible For Attitude +
on Coal Strike &

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1o.-Abjufina
loyalty to q Temporary administration
which violates the principles Of denoe.s
racy, Samuel Gompers. speaking fof
American labor at q dinner given to.
night for delegates to the international !
federation Of trades unions. declared
that I'VE are tied to no administration !.
but We are free men and propose to ex,
crcise the freedom Of our Judgment"
Mr.. Gompers told the representative4
OF foreign labor that he did not believe
that a ture understanding Of the coal
miners strike had reached the presideaE
because Of his illness.
Responding to the American labor
leaders address, Leon JouIaux, leader
Of the French labor delegation to this
international labor conference. declared9
that III the workers fthe Uhtrd
States need the assistance OF the works-
ers Of the other countries they VIM
get It," as. he added. "frontiers' cannot
separate the interest Of workers and pri-
vate interests cannot separate woTkerS.'
What 0ompsrS SAid.
we are engaged In the greatest work
Of today" said Mr.. Gompers, "the great.
est that has ever been entrusted to the ,
common people Of America-to secure /
right and justice and a better standard
Of living and the principles Of freedom
and humanity" 50
Whenever and wherever there Is an
attempt made by the employers IL EN-.
ployers or by the government as a Eov-
ernment to depart from the fundamental
principles Of freedom and democracy. g.
men and women Of labor to stand up sp6.
80 -
Qucnces may be-" n
Continuing in a lower voice.. the fcdcrs
ati6n chief said:
I'VE arc living in our own as best we
can. but our lives are just passing IN
cidcnt to the continuity OF civilization
and the progress Of the world. and what
matters 1t II you and are plcced In Jail
because we have attempted to uphold thS
principles Of freedom and justice and de:
mocracy. 1t is better that We should
have our own self respect and hand
down to the generations yet to come
the principles Of freedom and the wor.
thiness to battle for freedom. than to dIs
and to live an inglorious life"
Attacks Administration.
Proclaiming American labor to be N
thorough accord with American pgiBck
| pies and ideals. Mr.. Gompers added, + tS.f
I'VE are in accord with ouy goyefq,-
mcnt, EAsRR know that our S6Vcl
T, ment, u "a l0Wink- course Of justice
and freedom and Of human development
as EXPRESSED by the principles Of 40.
mocracy When our administration fails
to conform to these principles and when
our administration for the time being
fails to stand for the principles Of de-
mocracy then we have no alternative
but to assert that American Justice ni::st
prevail against any temporary admins.
tration Of the affairs Of our country
I'VE are tied to no administration. We
arc free men and We propose, to exerciss
the freedom Of our judgment and our
conduct and to criticize or to express
ourselves in dissent from the policies
. pursued"
I'VE have faith In our cause" Mr.
Gompcrs further asserted. We believe
that we arc right. Aye. We are convinc.
ed that we are in the right. and the mcp
and women Of labor in America under
stand. and that the men and women o.
Freedom in the whole world may UNDER
stand that the attempt to impose upon
our people q condition Of affairs that is
repugnant to the concepts Of right and
of Justice and Of democracy. VIC. the men
and women Of labor will stand true to
the highest principles Of justice ana Of
right and Of freedom" %
Delegates attending the dinner at the
suggestion OF Louis n. Marrones. Mexi.
can representative, pledged their suppoEt
to the United Mine Workers Of America
in the present strike.