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EVENING LEDGERPHILADELPHIA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1915: ,
til'
I'M FOR AMERICA
"SAM" GOMPERS
President of Labor Federa
tion Interviewed During
Visit Here
"WITH THE PRESIDENT"
Declares Wilson's Neutrality Is
Real Workman's Out
look Bright
The neutrality of tile United States, the
Conditions which will confront tho work
Instrmn after the war and what would
happen If Congress listened to the pleas
of "peace" advocates who Insist upon
stopping- tho shipment of munitions of
war to the belligerent nations, were dis
cussed by Samuel Qompers, president of
the American Federation of Labor, In a
15-mlnute Interview In the Hotel Walton
before ho left for Washington,
Mr. Oompors conferred with several
labor leaders yesterday with respect to
organization matters and labor legisla
tion Tho conference was similar to that
held with labor leaders In New York city
Monday. Mr. Gompers consented to talk
a few moments before going Into the
labor conferences,
"I must havo a cigar first," he said,
going- to the cigar Btnnd In tho hotel. "We
can talk better."
Mr. Gompers nskpd for his favorite
brand of Cigar and -was advised that It
was not In stock. "Let mo have nn im
ported cigar of some kind," he said, Tho
clerk handed over a box of very dark
looking Havanas and announced that they
were tho best In stock, prlco Jl each.
"What!" exclaimed Mr. Gompers. "A.
worklngmnn can't offord anything like
that. Haven't you one for n quarter?"
The clerk presented another box, a cigar
wat selected nnd Mr. Oompors, with u
"That's better," led tho way to tho writ
ing room for the Interview.
"Xow fire away," he Invited as ho set
tled back In his chair and blow a cloud
of smoke toward tho celling.
BEFUSKS TO DlSCL'SS DlSCLOSUIWri.
"Do tho recent passport frauds nnd ex
plosions, attributed to sympathy with bel
ligerent nations, have anything to do with
your visit hero?" ho was asked.
"Most assuredly not," was tho prompt
reply. "I have nothing to do with th.)
Stato and Treasury Departments' matters.
1 am n6t seeking any diplomatic Infor
mation nor have I any that Is not al
ready known. I would not caro to go Into
theso disclosures, for they are most un
happy Incidents, and what I might Bay
would not materially aid tho Govern
ment's Investigation.
"It Is only natural that certain people
nhould bo In sympathy with their mother
countries, but I am for America nnd
American workmen, and believe that our
neutrality should bo preserved for tho
dignity and respect of other nations aa
well as for ourselves. Only recently a
man asked mo what sldo I was on. I
told him the side of tho United States.
Ho Insisted that i must havo sympathies
on either side, and that he himself
favored Germany.
"I replied again that I was for America.
My people came from Europe, I ndmlt,
but what of that? I live here, my bohs
and daughters live, here, my father lives
here nnd my brothers and sisters are
here. We arc nil citizens of the United
States; we get our bread and butter In
the United States, wo voto here and en
joy many liberties. Then wby should
wo tnko sides against our own country?
V. S. DOES NOT FA VOU ALLIES.
"Unfortunately, from tho present con
ditions Jt would appear as though tho
United States favors the Allies. This Is
not true We nro shipping to England
and France and other countries, and
ve would ship to Germany, too. If It
were possible. That's where tho troublo
lies. Germany does not havo the ships
England has nnd cannot get to tho
fnltcd States to carry away our exports.
Jf she could, you can rest assured the
German liners would be plying back nnd
forth Jnst as any other vessels. Then,
too, Germany doesn't want to let her
goods out of Germany unlcsi we bring In
ours, which Is likewise Impossible, nnd so
tho agitation pro nnd con goes on,"
Mr. Gompers said thAl on several oc
casions ho had been asked to favor the
proposition to prevent tho exportation of
war munitions to England, Franco nnd
Ilussln. "Why, that's madness," ho eald.
"It's preposterous, Impossible."
" 'What do you mean by the term 'war
munitions?' I nsked one of theso In.
qulrers. 'Do you mean gunpowder? Do
you moan cannon? Or do you mean
everything that Is necessary to the con
duct of wnr?' Tho soldiers In tho
trenches havo to have shoes, they havo
to have clothes, hats, gloves and other
personal equipment. Stents nnd bread
stuffs aro necessary to their sustenance,
automobiles for their conveyance,
dredge for digging trenches, lumber for
holding back tho embankments, conl, oil
nnd other substances for warmth or mo
tlvo power. Now, It you stop the ship
ment of gunpowder, why don't you stop
tho shipment of all these things?
ALL TltADE WOULD CEASE.
"Suppose you would do that. Trade
would como to a standstill nnd tho work
men woutd suffer. Why, It's madness,
utter madness, a physical as well as a
commercial Impossibility. Under such
conditions each nation would become de
pendent upon Itself nnd bo n walled ar
senal, completely shut off from the out
side world. Such a condition could not
exist.
"I ngreo with President Wilson In his
present neutrality Btand. Itcspectlng tho
rights of nil other nations, we must Insist
upon the respect nnd the rights duo our
own country and people."
Asked what effect the wnr If brought
to a sudden close would have upon tho
workmen of the United States, Mr. Gom
pers said:
"Labor naturally will suffer somewhat
at tho close of- the wnr, for when war
orders ccoso the munition plants will bo
compelled to discharge or lay oft hun
dreds of workmen Many of tho men will
hnve to seek new lines of trade, others
will go back to trades they left to go Into
these factories, and while tho readjust
ment Is taking place there will bo hard
times. Uut the American workman
usually looks to the futuro and will bo
prepared to meet theso conditions, nnd
when the chango has been effected pros
perity will reign as never bfor.
"But I must be hurrying along to thnt
meeting now," Mr. Gompers concluded,
rising from the chnlr and relighting tho
clgnr. which had gono out "Hemember
that I'm with the President on this neu
trality business nnd am for America and
American workmen first."
E. A. GLMTfn URXOMIXATED
EEOESTi'
Will Again . u..mont Country
Club Election Tonight
Ellis A. Glmbel has been nominated for
re-election to the presidency of tho I'lill
mont Country Club, tho tenth nnnual
meeting and election of which organiza
tion will bo held tonight at tho club
house. At tho meeting tho president's
report will be submitted to the members
Other candidates nominated arc:
Vlco president, D. J. Wnsserman.
Secretary, Charles Edwin Fox.
Treasurer, Ely K. Sellg.
Directors for three years, Charles Glm
bel, Milton Hcrold, Joseph Snellenburg,
Edward Wolf, Benjamin Wolf and Henry
Strouse.
The Gift of Music
c
sj.5k;
i
Write or coll tor our nco
ant interesting Booklet
"Looking Into Your Own
Fwn."
N'n.
V-
A Series of
Eye. Talks
Our Neit Talk Wed., Dee. St
By Joseph C. Ferguson, Jr.
" 1IIR ! fL nartlrularlv
opportune t!m at
the beginning of the
school year to make
absolutely certain
that your children's
e)ea are In the beat
poaaiuie cunuuiun
A keen Intellect !. In almoat
every Inatance. associated with
a clear vision, and certainly
both am needed by the young
sters whose success In school
and In after life depends ao
largely upon both.
Don't aubject your child to
ao. great a handicap aa poor
sight.
Jf you have the least reason
to suppose that hla vision
Isn't perfect, tho beat possible
thins; to do la to have hla
eyes examined by an Oculist,
Glasses may not be needed,
If they are. aee that the
Ocullat'a prescription Is filled
by an Optician In whoae ability
to (HI it accurately you can
have absolute confidence.
Prescription Optician
6,8 & 10 South 15th St.
We Do HOT Ezamint Ejtl,
This Talk from a copy
right aeries; all rights reserved,"
lisasssSsSiSiBgfiSita -f?r -,
MssBBSsTJssssssssslsU
Cunningham-Made
PL A YER-PIANO
$
450
TERMS: $2.00 WEEKLY
Including 12 Rolls of Music,
Bench and Scarf.
A Philadelphia product of
recognized merit sold at a
price 25 to 30 less than deal
ers would have to charge for an
instrument of like quality.
Guaranteed by us, the mak
ers, for a long period of time.
y 2 s jP
ijLmo
11th and Chestnut Sti.
I'll I LA. llH.tNCJIKS
53d unit Chestnut
2835 Germuntown Ave.
AH Our Stores Open Kienlngs Till Xmas
3IA1I". THIS COUPON
l'lmso mall urt rutajoc and full In
formation of yuur factor) -tu-hoiuo plan
of selliug.
NAME
AUMtKSS
Ee. Ledger.
LOAN DEADLOCK
CONTINUES AFTER
A WEEK OF DELAY
"Legal Objections" Hold
Up $95,000,000 for City
Improvements
ACCUSE SOLICITOR RYAN
The deadlock over tho $55,000,000 loan
continues, nnd no loan legislation Is ex
pected In Councils tomorrow. After n
week of conference? tho members of the
sub-committee of Councils' Finance Com
mllteo havo made no headway In clear
Ine up tho "legal objections" to tho loels
latlon, and plans for any Immediate Im
provement aro npnln upset.
It Is has been charged openly thnt poli
tics ha played a bis part In holding up
tho loan bill and thnt factional troubles
within tho Republican organization aro
the direct or indirect cause of the delay.
This, In part, Is denied by members of
tho Finance Committee, who claim that
City Solicitor Hyan Is "blocking" any
loan lesalntlon nt this tlmo.
The City Solicitor repeatedly has re
fused to comment on tho controversy
for publication, but John P. Connelly,
chairman of the Finance Committee,
which recommended tho loan, nnd who
will succeed Mr. Hyan next year, has not
been so reticent. Mr. Connolly, during
tho many dnym'of conference nlnco tho
meeting of Counclh last Thursday, has
Insisted that the loan bill as framed
compiled -with alt tho requirements of
tho law or could cnslly be made to do so.
Mr. Connelly and other members of the
Finance Committee put tho legnl ques
tions squarely up to tho City Solicitor,
and without his approval the loan bill
likely will lie over until the first of next
year nt least In this event It will not
be possible to hold tho spectnt election
in February, when it was planned to
present the largest loan In tho history
of the city to tho voters.
SMITH TOI.D OF DILL'S FIX.
Mayor-elect Smith has been Informed
of tho possible fnto of the loan bill, and
a number of conferences were held today
In tho hopo of whipping tho loan legisla
tion into such shape that It woutd pass
tho critical eyo of City Solicitor Ityan,
who will havo to lend It his approval If
anything Is to be done this year. Tho
members of tho now Cabinet nro holding
and will contlnuo to hold conferences
with Chairman Connelly, nnd It Is ns-
sumed that these conferences may lend
to tho drafting of a bill which wilt meet
alt legal requirements nnd yet lo a great
er or lesser degree supply the demands
of the departments for new municipal
projects In 1516.
In tho absence of any loan tegltlatlon,
the most Important financial Items that
will come up In Councils tomorrow will
bo the appropriation bills for tha more
Important departments of thu city gov
ernment. These, It Is understood, wilt
be cut down very materially before be
ing reported out of the Finance Com
mittee tomorrow.
The appropriation bills for tho smaller
departments of tho city government were
nil approved and reported out by tho
committee, nnd tha remaining bills wilt
bo reported tomorrow. The big bills to
be reported nre those for the Depart
ments of Public Safely, Public Works
nnd Department of Supplies. Dlroctor
Drlpps, of Public Safcty has asked for
15.313,527.82, ns compared with tha (7,433,
C52.39 allowed the department this year.
Director Cooke, of the Department of
Public Works, asks for IS.077.1C3.6S, ns
compared with tho 6,543,431.67 allowed him
this year, and Director Loeb wants 3,145,
091, ns compared with tha 12,608,230 used
by tho Department of Supplies during
the 12 months of this year.
WRITING OF LETMS
BENEFIT TO CONVICTS
Woman Prison Reformer Com
ing Here to Urge Extension
of Privileges
Mrs. Ella Dann Moore, of Washington,
It In this city today to Inspect tho East
ern Penitentiary. For many years Mrs.
Mooro has been quietly nnd unofficially
carrying on n grt beneficial work in
behalf of prison and prison reform, spend
ing nil of her spare time nnd much of
her earnings to bring ft tittle sunshlna
nnd cheerfulness to those behind tha
prison walls.
Mrs. Mooro Is chiefly Interested In so
curing moro liberal mall privileges tor
tho prisoners so that they may keep In
touch with their families and friends nnd
not become "hardened criminals," ready
"The bttt
Xmas sift"
We Have the
Vietrola
You Want for Xmas
to break the law as roon ns they nro
freed after serving their sentences.
"In many of tha prisons of tho rcast,
Mrs. Mooro said, "tho prisoners nro only
allowed to wrlto one letter a month.
Think of It; ono letter a month! How
can you expect to have prison reform
If tho prisoners nro denied contact with
tha outside world through correspond
ence? "Were the prisoners atlowed to write
ns often as they pleaso to family nnd
friends on the outside, reform would be
more readily accomplished. Tho liberty
of dally letters Is now granted In most
progressiva Institutions, notably In tho
western States nnd the results have been
unfailing and satisfactory. Nothing lias
a moro uplifting Influence upon a pris
oner than the right sort of ltttpc ... j
without. Nothing Is more conduCll 1
gioom aim aesptur man lack of v,ii. T
with family nnd friends outside, i,?2&1
Ins In so morally detrimental than Z1
and despair." ' ' 'm
..!. 2T.' "!. ta : l? m not J
uicij iiuiiiiiHi wnn conditions t . I
Eastern Penitentiary, hut wanted toVv
nn Inspection of tho Institution betorJlv '
4
" I
Australian Gets Order of fiai, J
LONDON. Dec. lB.-KIng aeor9 ,. I
conferred tho Grand Cross of the, nM-I
of Bath upon Sir George IteM tv.1?"!
In London. """'" 'or
Wo wilt guaranteo delivery for Xmns
tho IIS to $350 model If you order
yl(
on any style machine you desire from
promptlv. We havo n completo stock of
an rccorus.
PIANOS, PLAYER-PIANOS,
VIOLINS, MANDOLINS, GUITARS,
SHEET MUSIC
EVERYTHING MUSICAL
NEUMANN
1010 Chestnut St.
to 1S64 Established Over Half
a Century 1015
Everv Home That Loves
Real Music Should Have An
EDISON
DIAMOND DISC PHONOGRAPH
THIS CHRISTMAS -
Our Special Xmas Offer
For This Week Only
You may select any EDISON
Machine that suits you best, no matter
what price
NOTHING
and wc will deliver machine at once or any time you desire between
now and Christmas, allowing you to start Easy Weekly or Monthly Pay.
incuts after January 1st.
Come in at once while our stock is complete.
PRICES, $80.00, $100.00, $150.00 and Up
STORY & CLARK PIANO CO.
1705 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa.
sTonn opev
UVUNINOS TII.Ti XMAS
nni.r, phonc
si'huce rata
HEPPE
pjjjfa,, liiBII
S BsBSr5 HHHBsB s
MBsMsHMmBMliBBsssgg j
-f. - - t iif"-' .,!'.' D,'wiS',.rTLl-iII,"'"'''- j?j4r-'"ii!lsi'r"isiT.jVrijsiS
k PADEREWSKI P
$3fxJjrKi& who, in a recent letter to ,-rcSE?Gial
1TOV the Aeolian Company, says JctrME
There should be
A Pianola
in your home
this Christmas
-"the
"X cannot conceive of any reason why the
'Pianola' should not be in every home. As a
pianoforte, when the keyboard is used, it leaves
nothing to be desired, while for acquiring a
broad musical education, for the development of
the understanding of good music, which modern
culture demands, it is undoubtedly the most per
fect and really great medium.
"There have appeared in recent years a
great many mechanical devices for piano play
ing, I have heard several of them, and, though
not denying their certain qualities, I have to
maintain my former opinion the Pianola is
still the best, unsurpassable, supreme."
PADEREWSKI, the world-famous pianist, says:-
Pianola should be in every home" in your home.
The Pianola is the master player-piano. It is the only
player-piano used and recommended by such pianists as
Paderewski. It is the only player-piano used in the roy.nl
courts of Europe. It is the only player-piano unanimously
selected by every prominent American. Its patrons include
the greatest men of today.
Player-Pianos, so-called, are not Pianolas. There is but
one Pianola, made exclusively by the Aeolian Company. The
Pianola is obtainable only in certain pianos, such as the Stein
way, Weber, Wheelock and Stroud all on sale at Heppe's.
The most popular of these models is
The Stroud Pianola, $550
Settlement by Cash, or Charge Account, or
Our Rental-Payment Plan. AH Rent Applies to Purchase.
The Stroud Pianola has every patented Pianola feature
used in our famous Steinway and Weber Pianolas. It is made
by the same people, designed by the same builders, and manu
factured in the same factories, and, furthermore, it carries the
same guarantee. But we go still further we guarantee the
Stroud Pianola to be the best $550 value in Philadelphia. We
will refund every dollar you pay us within 30 days after pur
chase if you can find a better value. No other store dare make
such an offer.
The price of the Stroud is extremely reasonable and the
terms doubly so. If you desire, through our rental-payment
plan, you may pay monthly, or weekly, on terms as low as $3
per week. You can also apply your regular piano as part pay
ment. We will gladly estimate on its exchange value.
If you do not have time to call today or tomorrow, just
'phone or write us. We will gladly mail you illustrated cata
logs of our complete line.
The Aeolian Family
is on sale at Heppe's, and includes
The Steinway Pianola, $1150 The Weber Pianola, $1000
The Wheelock Pianola, $750 The Stroud Pianola, $550
Francesca-Heppe Player-Pianos, $450
Aeolian Player -Pianos, $395
C. J. HEPPE & SON
1117-1119 Chestnut Street Sixth and Thompson Streets
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