Las Vegas optic., 1914-11-09

Philadelphia Nov. 81 .-pronouncing
the passage of the Clayton trust bill
as organized labor's greatest single
accomplishment for the last year, the
executive council of the american
Federation of Labor presented its an
nual report today to the tllirty-fourth
convention Of the federation here. The
voluminous document covers every
question which has affected LABOR dur
ing the year, including the European
war.
OF the Clayton bill the councils
statement says that it contains the
most fundamental, the most compre-
hensive enunciation of Industrial free
dom, found in any legislative act in
the history Of the world and that il
was obtained through the organized
economic power" represented by the
workers of the United States.
Discussing economic organization as
the key note of the federation's
thought and effort, the council ex-
pressed pride in the report of pro
gress transmitted "at time when
most of the civilized countries are
submerged by worldwide war" while
in the United states ION every hand
the workers are insisting upon the
maintenance of organization and re
sistance to deterioration of present
working conditions Organized lat
hor" it adds, "has assisted the effort
to mitigate the industrial disorgani-
Haaon and losses entailed by the Eu-
ropean war"
Before the war" it continues, "the
thought and effort Of civilization were
oentered upon the development and
glorification Of human life. One life
was counted of infinite value But
since the cataclysmr that brought war
between the nations, men are treated
as only military pawns. Things are
valued for their life-destroying power
Guns are worth more than men"
The war is said to be the product
of artificial conditions and policies
and repugnant to the thought and poll
tical progress of the age; ut so far
we have made little progress in pro
viding agencies for organizing inter
national relations to maintain peace
and justice. The war has shown that
war cannot be stopped by resolutions
and that war cannot put an end to
itself. War will cease only when so
ciety is convinced that human life is
really sacred and when society estab-
fishes agencies, international as well
as national for protecting lives"
Summing up steps that may be ta-
ken toward the abolishment Of war.
the report continues:
"Militarism and competitive arma
ment must be abolished and tribunals
for awarding justice and agencies for
enforcing determinations must be IN
stituted. International interests and
issues exist. Politital institutions
should be established corresponding
to political developments. Those most
interested should lead in demands for
world federation and the rule Of rea-
son between nations, The working
people of all lands bear the brunt Of
war. They do the fighting, pay the
war taxes, suffer most from the dis
organization of industry and com
merce which results from war.'
Turning to the Mexican situation
the report makes public letter from
President Gompers to Rafael Zubaran,
omitted States Representative, Mexi
can Constitutionalists,' dated July 10,
OF this year, saying the federation
more than any other American agen
cy except the government Of the Uni
led States, aided the success Of the
prospective government" and urges
The withdrawal of the avowed declar
alton OF "those who speak Or assume
to speak in the name of General Car