The Washington herald., 1921-02-07
Says American Contact
Offsets European
Influence.
MEXICO MEETING
ONE OF HARMONY
Met President Obregon
At Pan American
Convention.

American Federation OF Labor, yes
terday declared the Pan American
Federation Of Labor, embracing the
labor movements of North, Central
and South America, to be the only
international labor organization in
existence devoted to upholding the
principles of democracy in industry
and in government" Gompers' state
ment follows his return from the
third annual convention of the Pan
American Federation. held recently
in Mexico City, at which he was re-
elected president, and at which he
held numerous conferences with
President Obregon and members Of
his cabinet.
The great achievement of the
convention in Mexico" he said,
was the bringing together Of the
labor movements there represented
on a platform of constructive de-
mocracy and the complete and abso-
lutte reputation of all doctrine
subversive of democracy and dem
ocratic thought.
Spirit of Western Freedom.
No international labor move
ment has ever faced the world on
a program so thoroughly in accord
with the spirit of Western freedom
and democracy, so profoundly re-
Meeting the thought and purpose OF
progressive democracy.
The convention. as was to be
expected. paid much attention to
the conduct of the United States in
Pan American affairs. Not a little
criticism was directed against our
government 1t is our belief that it
is better to give this criticism voice
than to AFFORD it no opportunity for
hearing. By giving it voice it is
possible to meet it, and I may say
that the United States delegation
was able to accomplish considerable
that will ultimately make for better
relations in general with the Latin
American nations.
Nothing can more properly coun-
terbalance whatever trend there
|. may be toward European beliefs
and tactics than the contact with
American, labor established by the
Pan American Federation.
Now an EstabIished Body.
The Pan American Federation of
Labor now is an established institu-
tion, the only international labor
organization in existence devoted to
upbuilding the principles of democ-
racy in industry and in government.
The aim during. the coming year
will be to secure the afriliation of
those nations not now members,
notably Chile, Peru and Argentina,
and there is reason to look for a
large measure Of success in this di-
rectiOn-
We found in Mexico much evi-
dence Of progress and our delega-
ton is a unit in expressing the be-
-
Mexico is composed of able men Of
Integrity and initiative. The gov
ernment of Mexico is as near to
being a government of and for
working people as any government
on earth, and the principal reason
to be proud OF this fact is that, 50
far as we were able to determine.
il is a government devoted to the
principles of democracy.
Mexico is entering a period of
regeneration from revolutionary
struggles, q period in which she
will have many aggravating prob
lens to solve and in which she
will need the kindly, sympathetic
support Of her friends. She may
for a time also need their forbear-
ance. for the task Of restoring the
republic to a sound basis is sure
to be a most trying one.
Can Create Mutual Feelings.
one thing clear as the result of
our trip to Mexico City is that it
is possible, through friendly inter-
course, to create a much better feel
ing between the nations of the
American continents, to their mu-
tual benefit"
The platform declarations adopted
unanimously at the convention and
which Gompers halls as one of the
great labor events of the year"
contains the following fundamental
political freedom, the right of
the worker to have a voice and
vote equal to that of every other
citizen Is the first practical step to-
ward those individual rights which
are essential to liberty. But politi-
cal liberty, working through the
legislative, executive and judicial
5anartments of the organized gov
srnment of a free people does not
and should not be permitted to en-
ter into that personal (nongovern-
r1sntaD relationship between wage
/ sarner and employer through which
the terms of employment are deter
> mined by the recognition OF equality
of rights, and the joint agreement
Of both parties
The principle that governments
sbouId only exist with the consent
of the governed is identical with
the principle that the terms of en-
nIoyment, conditions of labor and
tbe rules and regulations of en-
rIovuent should only exist with the
consent of the employed
G'we regard as essential the ex-
tension of democracy in industry
and we declare our unalterable op-
Dosftiou to interference in the pro-
rssses Of industry by forces out
.I5a Of the Industrial field and
therefore incompetent to deal with
its uroblems. We urge upon the
isbor movement everywhere the ex-
tension Of the practice Of nego-
, tf.tiop between the employers and
tbe workers and the making Of
trade agreements. We hold this to
he the frst great step In the de-
vsIopment OF democracy in industry
and we hold that in no other way
can such democracy be developed.
There is no democracy while the
workers are inarticulate and the
workers can have no effective voice
except through organization in the
Industrial hsld-"