New Britain herald., 1924-08-05
Convention Denounces Both Militarism And Paci6sm But Declines To Take Sides In
 Present Squabble.
Also Decides to Support La
 Follette-Wheele and 10 Take Active Part in
 States Campaigns.
ey Tn. Associated Press,

ey Tn. Associated Press
 Atlantic City. Aug. 6.--DenouncinI
 both militarism and paciflsm the ex
 eeutiye council of the American Fed
 eration Of Labor today refused to be-
 come involved in the national defense
 day controversy.
 The attitude Of the council toward
 national observance of the day will
 be one of strict neutrality. It Is an.
 nounced, however. that defense day
 is matter Of law, and most labor
 men eill feel that our military es-
 tablishment may participate proper
 y in the exercises"
 Speaking for the council Matthew
 Woll, vice president of the Ameri- can Federation Of Labor. and spokes- man for Samuel Gompers. president, said:
 Both Are Denounced
 We have denounced both militar- ism and paciism. We understand the designs of the militarists who would take advantage of every opportunity to promote and feed the war spirit.
 We likewise understand the de- signs of the pacifists who would dis arm America first and other nations later. Most of them now prefer to disarm all nations except soviet Rus sia, so that the dictators of Moscow may find easier their road to a great CT dictatorship.
 We believe with Mir. Gompers that theer Is something too craven for words about those who snort at the burden of the price of freedom
 We are confident that a great deal of the criticism Is insincere, part of the worldwide organized pacifist propaganda and hostile to American democracy.
 Defense day itself is a matter O. law and we think most labor men will feel that our military establishments may participate properly in the exer- cises and our military esta ablishment Is now large. It is composed of Americans who are just like the rest Of us in love of freedom and love of l their country" ...
 To Back La Toilette.
 The executive council whoss en- dorsement of the La Toilette Wheeler candidates and platform was accent ed by the recipients yesterday, launched today into it's announced campaign of participation in all na. tlonal, state and local elections of 1924.
 The council has picked its presiden- tial and vice-presidential favorites Next 1t will scrutinize the records of aspirants to congress with a view to swinging the votes of labor to such republicans, democrats or independ- ents as may have won the rating { Friendly to labor" Ii
 This Is the program for today and, possibly, tomorrow. The national ', non- partisan political campaign conn., , naittee of the federation did not wait f until It's endorsement of La Toilette ] and Wheeler was OK'd by the coun- l ell before beginning its survey of con- f greesional material.
 Samuel Gompers, president, and :. Frank Morrison, secretary, of the A. Et F. of L., have been at 1t for months with two of their vice-presidents. | James o'Connell and Matthew Woll. c Members of the executive council announced this morning theyA expect cd from the committee. sometime to- day, . report and recommendations concerning congressional candidates. which would be of great public in- $ crest" The labor leaders say that, n conformance with the oft-reiterat- sd non-partisan policy of the A. F. of L., the congressional candidates rec- to labor voters will in- dude democrats, republicans and V others with independent designations. F We undoubtedly will ask that Il many of the senators and repre- B entatives whom we endorsed in the fl ast campaign and who are now in VI 'ffice, be returned to Washington" aid Mir. Woll. We also will ask to b revent the return to congress of cer- V, ain candidates whom we helped to i'd lect and who have failed to keep the F aith with labor.' re Later when the executive council, al ow in annual session at the Hotel P m bassador. completes its political h, nd oranization business, the politt- al committee will continue, through 'ades, political and other organiza- ons, to put the stamp of approval or lsapproval, upon candidates for state nd local office throughout the na- IA on.