The Connecticut labor news., 1921-09-02
GOMPERS APPEALS FOR LABOR'S
 RIGHT TO BE REPRESENTED AT
 COMING DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE
Asks Foreign Unions to Also De- mand Seats at Council Table and Sends Plea to Harding for A. F. of L.

Atlantic City, N J., Sept 2.- Sampel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, last week made public his appeal to the labor movements of the nations that are 10 participate in the forthcoming disarmament conference in Washing ton to prevail upon their respective governments to have labor represent ed upon their delegations
 The proposal to discuss means of Tightening the tremendous burden ot armament" said President Gompers in statement accompanying the cor respOndenCe, 'is one which interests the working people above others. From them came the first protest against enormous armament.
 The hope is repeated that the forthcoming conference in Washing ton may be attended by the highest possible degree of success. The la bor movement in the United States will, in whatsoever way 1t may be possible make every endeavor to be helpful to the cause of disarmament but only through the opportunity to exercise a voice within the confer ence itself can 1t make available it's full volume of counsel and co-opera- ton"
 The labor chief also made public correspondence with the white house in which he urged President Harding to appoint one or more representative of labor on the American commission. Support of the federation also was pledged to the president in his move to bring about disarmament.
 President Harding in replying to Mr Cr0,,rnrC hor bo federation's support and said that he would give Consideration to- the recommendation that a labor repre- sentative be appointed to the Amer ican delegation, which he character ized as a ''very practical suggestion" "
 In his appeal to the labor move ments of Italy, Great Britain, France and Japan, President Gompers said that they should be represented in the Washington conference as the "rights and interests of the toilers will be no less intimately affected in the Wash ington conference than they were in the peace conference at Versailles where their right to representation and participation was fully recog- nized and exercised"
 "It' is urged that the bona fde la bor movements of all nations which are to participate in the forthc oming disarmament conference to be held in Washington, insist upon representa- tion in the various participating dele gations," he continued.
 Right to Participate.
 "If labor be represented upon the delegations to the conferences, it is my purpose to suggest that a con- ference of the labor delegates from each of the delegations be held for the purpose of discussing not only the subject for which they come to Washington primarily, but also the various questions of international importance in the field of labor of the countries represented"
 Experience has demonstrated time and again." said President Gompers in his appeal, that no group of citi- zens in any country IS called upon to make greater sacrifices, to endure greateK privations or to suffer great -er nteMRal and physical anguish than afe~ thE~ workers of the world.
 History clearly reveals the fact that no group of people in any land is required to .bear greater burdens or to suffer greater injustice and in iquitieS in the aftermath of war than the workers.
 From the first the American Fed eration of Labor has taken leading part in bringing to the consciousness of the world the need for disarma- ment and the release of the workers from the terrible burdens and dangers created by great naval and military establishment
 "The American Federation of La bor believes that this movement will be welcomed by the toilers every where, but it should not be the pro vince of the wage-earners merely to observe They have the right to be participants in determining a ques- ton that so deeply affects their lives, their rights and their interests. The right to participate in a conference dealing with such great human question has been earned and during the great war was fully established"