New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-11
to Make
Plea to Disar11l
Arnlistice Day
Federation InvitSes All
Civic Bodies to Join
in ID G M on STATIONS i'm
Every Part of Nation
Declares Time Is Ripe
Compers in Manifesto to
Central u II 10 rs Urges
Backing of Conference

WASHINGTON, Sept. TO- Plans for
nationwide demonstration Armistice
Day under the leadership Of organized
labor ain support of the purpose I'M
derlying the international conference
on the limitation of armament" were
announced to-day by the American
Federation Of Labor. Central unions
in, every community have been asked to
organize parades and mass meetings
on that day, when the international
conference begins its deliberations.
at is planned" the announcement
said, "to unite all civic bodies, trade
union auxiliaries, women's trade union
leagues, educational organizations,
women's clubs and, in fact, all organi
cations interested in civic affairs and
of progressive character, IN the great
effort"
The purpose of the demonstrations,
as expressed in the communication
sent by President Gompers to the CEN
trail unions, is "backing up our govern
>ment in its leadership toward dsarm-
ament and giving courage and deter
mination to the American representa-
tives sin, the International commits
sion."
The plan. even goes beyond the Ar
mistice Day demonstrations, the an
nouncement said, and looks to continue
ing the movement in such fashion "as
to bring to the support of the confer
cnce a constant expression of Am erican
ternational gathering urging reduction
eff armament and the settlement of in
ternational disputes without resort to
arms will be forwarded by the fedora
ton for adoption by each Armistice
Day mass meeting.
I" THE time has come to disarm,' is
the slogan" said President Gompers's
letter to the central unions. "The hour
has struck to make good our faith in
democracy, to bring success to the
great constructive movement in which
labor has ever been the leader.
Let this be Americas greatest de-
monstration, Americas greatest man
date, Americas greatest pledge of faith
for the peace of the world"
Attention was called to an article by
Mr.. Gompers in the current issue Of
"The Federation Journal" saying that
disarmament now was possible for
practical reasons" while sentimental
reasons had existed always; but the
necessity of protecting democracy
against the constant threat and menace
of autocracy and militarism," Mr.
Gompers added, always had stood in
the way.
"The great militarist autocracies
have perished," he added. "Self-gov-
eminent has been gained for practi-
cally the whole civilized world. That
fact, more than any other. makes dis
armament possible to-day"
Plans Advisory Committee
In connection with the disarmament
demonstrations, it was stated, Nh
Gompers plans assembling an advisory
committee composed of leading men
and women in all walks of life" the
personnel of which will be announced
soon.
There has been no attempt to get
labor organizations in other countries
to take similar steps, it was stated, the
Federation being concerned with de-
velopment at this time of American
opinion on the armament question.
Nor has there been any discussion Of
the demonstration plans with officials
of President Harding's Administration,
The project having been evolved wholly
as an attempt to get concrete express
sions of American opinion, on which
the Federation embarked because of it's
extensive machinery throughout the
country, by which virtually every com
munity could be reached and stirred to
action.