The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-15
GOMPERS PLACES
 BLAME FOR WAR
 ON GERMANLABOR
American Labor Cannot Solve Irish Qustion, Is Warning Sounded by British
 Labor Leader
By Associated Press

Denver, July l4.-Blame for the re- cent World war was placed squareIy on the shoulders of organized labor in Germany by President Samuel Gompers in an address to the Amer iean Federation of Labor convention here today.
 T hold, and I accept full respon- sibility for what am about to say" said President Gompers, that the or- gsnized labor movement of Germany failed dismally at the critical hour.
 If 1t had taken the situation in hand it might have meant the de- struction of a few thousand. but 1t would have stopped the war. The failure of men to act at time of crisis is faithlessness to a common cause.'
 Tn his address, which was a re- sponse to those of fraternal dele- gates from Great Britain and Canada. President Gompers dwelt upon the attitade of the federation and him- self both during the war and since, during the period of reconstruction.
 w r Bush fraterna1 delegate rep TesentiMe the Canadian Trades and Labor congress, told the assembled delegates that despite difficulties, or eanized labor in Canada was at least holding it's own. He reviewed the iacipiency of the "one big union" movement and predicted Tits early death."
 A resolution was adopted by the convention urging Congress to pass immediately the Johnson bill pro- viding for a federal investigation into conditions in the Mingo county West Virginia, strike zone.
 In putting upon organized labor of Germany blame for the war, MT. Gompers said:
 No Antipathy
 T have nothing in my heart thar can be intimated or suggested of feelings Of antipathy toward the German people, toward the German labor movement, toward their at tempt to conduct a great republican form Of government. It cannot be driven out of the minds of peoples who have lost young men of their flesh and blood, fallen in defense of this great common cause, to maintain some degree of a elfdetermination in a democratic form of government
 You know that the American labor movement has made its great contribution to the great cause. And you also know that I have tried to do my full duty in the critical cir cumstances in which we are ali placed I think that most men who nave given the subject thought quite agree with that judgment. But it IS always hind sight that Is so super for to foresight and in the frame of mnd in which the people were 1t is rot difficult to understand that they wanted to penalize Germany tn { so1fe way
 We know that the representatives of democracy make mistakes ana that Is the penalty we pay for hav- ing democracies-but we have the right to make a mistake rather than to yield to the oictation of some eni- peror kaiser or king. If we want democracy we must suffer the pen alties for the mistakes democracies are subject to.
 I've have been with you and with all the allied democratic nations in the war" said MT. Gompers address ing the fraternal delegates, and for the extent of time that we were in ii we made our full contribution. We have not done anything of which we find it necessary to boast, and we have no cause to hang our heads III shame.
 tThe pity of it all was that when the crucial time came there were some of those who had made fam boyant decisions who failed at the crucial hour.'
 Discusses Irish Question
 President Gompers remarks came at the end of session marked by oratory of international character delivered by the fraternal delegates from Great Britain and Canada.
 After reviewing the international
 tContinued on Page Two)