The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-10-08
C0MPERS never
HAS SAID that
LABOR won WAR
'ershing Not Warranted in "lett
Handed" Rap at Labor In
Marne Day Speech.
CONTINUED from page one.)

(COnLlnueQ from page Oue.)
clared'. That was true, but the dec
laration made by the American Fed
eeration of Labor was made on March
II. 1917 more than three weeks be-
fore the President of the United States
appeared before the congress Of our
country to lay the indictment against
the imperial government of Germany
for its criminality. .(Applause)
That declaration was not merely Of
voluntary service upon any field OF
activity that might be required, even
the supreme sacrifice, but it was made
so that the administration of the Re-
public Of the United States might be
given the guarantee that Americas
laboring people would stand behind
the government no matter what course
would be pursued. We thought it
would crystalize the sentiment, the
unity, the solidarity behind the Re-
public Of the United States at a time
when conditions seemed to particu-
larly demand it. (Applause).
"And so my friends, realizing the
fact that the evening is far advanced
and that you are yet to hear from
those who may present to you other
thoughts and other concepts then that
which has been assigned to me, let
me say this to you, that America
stands, hand in hand with the people
Of the Republic of France, the govern
ment of France. (applause) and to say
to you further this, that the concepts
aroused by this great war are not lost
to the understanding of the people,
the great mass of the people of the
United States. I'VE have stood and
have sacrificed and have given the
best that is in us to overthrow the
understanding and the tendency of
militarism, of imperialism and Of auto
cracy, and we are unwilling to accept
as substitute for military and poll
teal autocracy any form Of autocracy
no matter by name it may be under
stood.
I'VE stand for freedom, for justice,
for right, not merely accepted for a
class but for all the sovereign citi-
zens of the Republic of the United
States. (Applause).
working and contributing to the
achievement Of better idea and
ideal, of conditions as they prevail
today we are as much opposed to
industrial autocracy or the dictator
ship of finance. of capital or of in
dustry as we are opposed to the die
tatorship even Of al co-called pro-
letariat
we are working and striving
toward that conception when the
men in the employers ranks and the
men and the women Of toll shall have
the sovereign right to deal fairly
JUSTLY and in progressive sense, to
make for the highest growth, develop
ment and understanding-tom make to-
day better day than yesterday. a.
better day tomorrow than TODAY. q.
better day for tomorrow and tomor-
rows tomorrow, than the day that has
gone before.
Catyclism and revolution are
objectionable and are opposed by the
american Federation of Labor.
we believe in progress, we be-
AeVe IN an onward and upward tend
ency of all those who contribute SER
wee to society. In that spirit, and in
that hope I join with you in celebrat-
Ing thls tremendously potentially
|
event. the birthday anniversary of
tnat great patriot and philanthropist.
mat powerful man who gave his ali
tnat America might live, and the
men who stood at the pass on Sept. 6.
1914 and declared to autocratic, mill
tary and imperial Germany. that VOL,
shall not pass.
And so we say to you friends
and fellow Americans and French
men citizens Of your great republic.
IN this joint hope, and in this Joint
work and deal we stand topether
Tor the advancement Of a. common in
terest for the people and the liber-
'ies OF the world" (Applause).
Captain William Wolf Smith At the
conclusion Of Mr.. Gompers' speech
o11ered the following toast:
l propose toast to that Grand GA
MAN OF American Labor who has stood
true' and has held the helm firm
and steady for the past 80 years."
Inc toast was received with app,ause
and drunk to.