CHAPTER XXXI LABOR IN THE WAR HE attitude of American Labor in the great war was eminently patriotic. Certain socialistic organizations and anarchistic organizations, such as the I. W. W., antagonized the policies of the American Government, but the great mass of labor, especially the American Federation of Labor, under the lead of Mr. Samuel Gompers, supported the war, after it was once begun, with every effort that they could make. The American Federation of Labor represents, according to Mr. Gompers, fully four million organized workers in America, and in Mr. Gompers they had a leader, wise, patriotic and aggressive. 66 Mr. Gompers was born in England, but came early to the United States and worked for twenty-six years at his trade as a cigar maker. He has been for many years the President of the American Federation of Labor. Before the war began, he had been a strong advocate of peace. He was, he says, "a man who has seen sixty-eight years of life, and who for more than fifty years of that life, was one of the most active pacifists in the world, belonging to all the peace organizations of America and of the world, who as a pacifist gave his assistance to the movement of labor, to the movement of the men and women of other walks of life, to maintain the peace of the world. But," he adds, "the man or the men who would not fight in defense of freedom, the men who would not fight in defense of their country, engaged in a righteous cause, are unworthy to live and enjoy the privileges of a free country.' Before America entered the war, the American Federation of Labor through their executive council and their annual conventions made various endeavors to bring about peace. In 1915 it proposed that a World's Peace Conference should be held, composed of representatives of the organized labor movements of the world. This plan fell through on account of the refusal of the labor movement of Great Britain and the federations of trade unions of Germany to give it their approval. It then suggested that a general peace conference should be held to determine terms and conditions of peace at the close of the war, so that representatives of wage earners could be seated with other representatives of the nations in general conferences connected with the formulation of peace terms. And in substance it also suggested the organization of a league of nations to promote peace. When America entered the war, the Federation of Labor CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS 541 CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OF THE ARMY IN THE UNITED STATES realized at once the importance to them of the struggle to save democracy. By March 12th when it had become plain that America would fight, the Executive Council of the Federation approved a proposition submitted to them by Mr. Gompers that a conference should be held to consider the position of American labor toward the war situation. Invitations were sent to representatives of all national organizations, both those affiliated with the Federation and those not affiliated, asking them to meet in Washington, in the Federation of Labor Building on March 12th. There were present at that conference 148 representatives of seventy-nine affiliated organizations, five unaffiliated organizations and five departments of the Federation of Labor in addition to the members of the Executive Council. The full list of those present follows: Executive Council: President, Samuel Gompers; Secretary, Frank Morrison; Treasurer, John B. Lennon; First Vice-President, James Duncan; Second Vice-President, James O'Connell; Third Vice-President, Joseph F. Valentine; Fourth Vice-President, John R. Alpine; Fifth Vice-President, H. B. Perham; Sixth Vice-President, Frank Duffy; Seventh Vice-President, William Green; Eighth Vice-President, William D. Mahon. Asbestos Workers: Joseph A. Mullaney, V. C. McLelland. Bakery and Confectionery: A. A. Myrup, Charles F. Hohmann. Boilermakers: J. A. Franklin, Charles F. Scott, A. E. Barksdale. Boot and Shoe Workers: C. L. Baine, Collis Lovely. Brewery Workmen: A. J. Kugler, Joseph Obergell, John Sullivan. Bridge and Structural Iron Workers: Joseph E. McClory, Edward Ryan. Carpenters, United Brotherhood: Frank Duffy. Carriage, Wagon, Automobile Workers: William A. Logan. Cigarmakers: G. W. Perkins, Samuel Gompers. Clerks, Post Office: Thomas F. Flaherty. Clerks, Railway: James J. Forrester. Clerks, Railway Postal: Carl Freeman. Clerks, Retail: E. E. Baker. Coopers: Andrew C. Hughes. Diamond Workers: Andries Meyer. Electrical Workers: F. J. McNulty, William A. Hogan, W. S. Godshall, J. J. Purcell, George L. Kelly, J. S. McDonagh. Elevator Constructors: Frank Feeney, Frank Schneider. Engravers, Photo: Matthew Woll. Firemen: Timothy Healy, Newton A. James. Fur Workers: A. W. Miller. Garment Workers, United: Thomas A. Rickert, B. A. Larger, Abe Berkson. Glass Bottle Blowers: John A. Voll, Harry Jenkins, James Maloney. Granite Cutters: James Duncan. Hat and Cap Makers: M. Zuckerman, Max Zaritsky. Hatters: John W. Sculley, Martin Lawlor. Hodcarriers: D. D'Alessandro. Horseshoers: Hubert S. Marshall, John F. Kane. Hotel and Restaurant Employees: Edward Flore. Iron, Tin and Steel Workers: John Williams, M. F. Tighe. Lathers, Wood, Wire: William J. McSorley. Laundry Workers: Harry L. Morrison. Leather Workers on Horse Goods: W. E. Bryan. Longshoremen: Anthony J. Chlopek, William F. Dempsey. Machinists: William H. Johnston, Fred Hewitt, E. L. Tucker, A. E. Holder. Maintenance of Way Employees: Allan E. Barker, Henry Irwin. Masters, Mates and Pilots: J. H. Pruett, Ulster Davis, Alfred B. Devlin, Robert S. Lavender. Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen: Homer D. Call. Metal Polishers: W. W. Britton. Metal Workers, Sheet: John J. Hynes, O. E. Hoard, Harry H. Stewart. Mine Workers, United: William Green, Van Bittner, William Diamond. Molders, Iron: John P. Frey. Musicians: Joseph N. Weber, J. E. Birdsell. Painters: George F. Hedrick, J. C. Skemp. Pattern Makers: James Wilson, James L. Gernon, A. J. Berres. Paving Cutters: Carl Bergstrom. Plasterers, Operative: E. J. McGivern, Charles Smith. Plate Printers: James E. Goodyear, William G. Holder. Plumbers: John R. Alpine, William J. Spencer, William J. Tracy. Potters, Operative: Edward Menge, Frank H. Hutchins, John T. Wood, S. M. Moore. Print Cutters: Ralph T. Holman. Printing Pressmen: Joseph C. Orr, Henry J. Hardy. Quarry Workers: Fred W. Suitor. Railway Employees, Street and Electric: W. D. Mahon. Roofers, Composition: J. T. Hurley. Seaman's Union: Andrew Furuseth, V. A. Olander. Signalmen, Railroad: A. E. Adams. Steel Plate Transferrers: Benjamin Goldsworthy. Tailors: Thomas Sweeney. Teachers: Charles B. Stillman. Teamsters: Daniel J. Tobin, H. Jennings. Textile Workers: John Golden. Tobacco Workers: A. McAndrew, E. Lewis Evans. Tunnel and Subway Constructors: Michael J. Carraher, Tito Pacelli. Upholsterers: James H. Hatch, John Hanley. Weavers, American Wire: John F. Curley. White Rats, Actors: Jack Hayden. UNAFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen: W. S. Carter. Railway Conductors: L. E. Sheppard. Locomotive Engineers: W. S. Stone. National Window Glass Workers: Herbert Thomas. A. F. OF L. DEPARTMENT Building Trades Department: John Donlin. Metal Trades Department: A. J. Berres. Railroad Employees Department: A. O. Wharton. The members of this conference were representative Americans, each anxious for the improvement of the condition of the wage earners of their craft, but recognizing that such improvement could only come under a democratic form of government, and that the triumph of German autocracy would be a death-blow to their hopes. They recognized the power and the importance of labor in war as in peace. They discussed their duty, and they decided. Their declaration was full of patriotism. It reads in parts as follows: We speak for hundreds of Americans. We are not a sect, we are not a party. We represent the organizations held together by the pressure of our common need. We represent the part of the nation closest to the fundamentals of life. Those we represent wield the nation's tools, and grapple with the forces that are brought under control in our material civilization. . . .In the struggle between the forces of democracy and special privilege for just and historic reasons the masses of the people necessarily represent the ideals and the institutions of democracy. Industrial justice is the right of those living within our country, but with this right there is associated obligation. In war time obligation takes the form of service in defense of the Republic against enemies. We, the officers of the National Trade Union of America, in national conference assembled in the capitol of our nation, hereby pledge ourselves in peace or in war, in stress or in storm, to stand unreservedly by the standards of liberty and the safety and preservation of the institutions and ideals of our republic. On May 15th, Mr. Gompers, as chairman of the Labor Committee, of the Council of National Defense, invited many |