New Britain herald., 1915-09-07
MORRISON MAKES
 MILITANT SPEECH.
Quotes Labor as Opposed to Peace
 at Any Price

Bloomington, H., Sept. 7.-Secre- tary Frank Morrison of the Ameri- can Federation of Labor in a Labor Day speech here yesterday indorsed the so-called staff report of the in- dustrial relations commission with it's drastic findings on industrial and social conditions. |" A contented and efficient citizen 1 ship calls for a minimum wage that l will support wage earners in genuine comfort" declared Morrison. He continued:
 "In discussing militarism and pre- paredness, let it be understood that the labor movement is not in favor of peace at any price. Our strikes indicate there is point in the lives of trade unionists where they gird their loins for battle rather than longer accept unbearable condi- tions.
 Strikes indicate life, vigor and strength Power to make effective protests against wrong should be en- couraged. A nations workers who do not, possess this power can be of little service to their country in it's hour of need.
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 While militarism and prepared ness are as opposite as the poles, let 1t be understood that labor is alert to the Kind Of preparedness the steel trust, the coal barons, the railroad combines and allied interests favor. Labor sees the wolf of militarism con- cealed behind the little red hood pre- tense of those men responsible for Ludlow, who favor Cossacks in the various States, and who have black ened the history of Illinois.
 'The preparedness that these men demand is no different than a mili- tarisrn so objectionable it's champions are forced to rechristen it. Labor favors preparedness, as does every other element of our citizenship that cherishes the aspirations and hopes of nation urged on by the promise of a better day. Labor preparedness, but not the kind that consists of mill itarism under another name-huge armies, gigantic navies and other &C., coutrements of war that subordinate civil authority, that drain a nations wealth, take it's bone and sinew from productive fields and glorify idleness, glitter and lace, rather than social service and worth
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 Labor favors preparedness, and as the first step in that direction we demand that the killing of Americas best manhood in the shops, mills and mines of our country be stopped. We stand aghast at the corpse-strewn battlefelds of Europe, but let us not forget that 30,0o0 of our fellow coun- trymen engaged in gafnful occupa- lions about preparedness, but never a word Of protest at the annual loss of these thirty regiments that are silently swept into unknown graves that divi- dends may continue. More than this every year there are 100000 wealth producers injured, and this only in- cludes those whose injuries extend over period of four weeks.
 Conditions That Spell Ruin.
 And no record is made of the thousands whose systems are weak eneo through low wages and long hours in lily ventilated coal and ore mines, foul workshops and factories and who become public charges as result of numerous occupationa1 diseases contracted in the production of useful things. How can men ir. nore conditions that spell ruin for any nation and imagine labor believe their claims that dangers threaten us from without?
 Labor believes in preparedness We demand that the annual killing of these 3O,OO0 industrial workers cease and we further demand that tbe three-quarters of a million wa1e earners annually injured be given that protection their usefulness to society warrents