Denver labor bulletin., 1915-04-03
sCarl Legien Reuieps Economic
Situation Caused BY World War
German Labor Member Of Rsicsae Tels How Trade Unions
Haze Been Great Factor Prosecuting industrial Crisis;
Copernnent Officials Noo Appreciate Worth Nation

and the labor press Of other countries,
it has only done 20 when these have be-
haved ~ though the German working
class, aimee the outbreak of war, had fal-
len into the deepest barbarism, or when
the wish and the will have been ex-
pressed to 10 crush Germany that it,
trade and economic life should Be com-
pletely destroyed Thought sven ap.
preaching this, - conserving the other
nations, Is not to be found in the labor
press of Germany. It il bad enough
that our comrades in labor must face one
another on the battlefield, fearful to
think that many who have given their
best to unite the working class interna-
tionally must now shed their blood in
this way To create the appearance that
an irremoveable hatred must permanent
ly separate the nations, cannot lead to
good We shall be just a. dependent
upon one another after the war - We
were before. This thought receives ex-
preston in the articles in the trade un-
ion papers which are concerned with the
attitude of the labor movement to the
war.
Relief Given BY Trade Unions.
Such was the understanding among
the trade unions themselves, for no ex-
plapttions about the matter have been
necessary. Our organizations saw their
first duty in the relief Of the need
which the war must inevitably bring
among large sections of the population.
Fortunately, that which was feared by
many Representatives of the trade un-
ions has not occurred The economic life
of Germany has mot collapsed. Such
collapse would have involved . complete
disruption OF the trade union organika-
tions. The workers in the export indus
try were severely hit during the firsts
few weeks Of the war. An spprehensfve
fear led most OF the employers to close
down their industries. The trade unions
in these branches of industry were mem
aced by the danger of complete bank
ruptcy through relief of the unemployed.
These, and at the same time, most other
trade unions, found themselves obliged
to suspend the statutory provisions for
relief Of the unemployed In order to
be able to do this as long as possible the
amount OF relief in many organizations
was reduced. Others again granted re-
lief 90 the wives OF members called up TO
military service. although this, obvious
ly, was not provided for in the rules.
The trade unions most severely hit re-
ceived support for some weeks from 9TH
cr trade union funds, so that they would
be able to continue their activity. I
will not quote here the amount spent en-
relief work by the trade unions during
the war. 30 ~ not TO give the impress
sion Of boasting. Those who are inter
ested will find the figures in the Ger
man trade union press in the reports ~
to the position Of the trade unions
0svsz.nsat ahsws Apprsciatisa-
In relatively shurt tn u eeononie
life Of Germany began TO recover and
Unemployment decreased accordingly.
The dreadfully high unemployment
among the trade union inemben during
the first few weeks Of the war, declined
considerably. At the beginning Of Sep
members were unemployed, while ON Oc-
tober 81 there were only l0.7 per cent.
According 10 the official statistics e-3
per cent Of the members were unem-
Ployed in November. In judging these
figures Il must be horne in mind that
COL lOo5 trade union members were called
to the flag up TO October 81, 1914. In
the meantime the number has been con-
siderably increased
II among the members Of the trade
unionr the most pressing needs could be
met, the unorRanixed workers presented
= sad spectacle. II il owing TO tho con-
tinuous pressure OF the trade unions that
many municipalities have undertaken
measures Of relief for them. What far
a long time had been regarded a. i'm
pnssiblc In Germany has been realised
IN the course of few weeks. Other 40
cial measures which the trade unions
had for years demanded in vain. have
been carried into effect. For this work
the assistance Of the trade unions WAS
sought by the government, and they
readily placed their forces at the service
of the general welfare. A few months
ago our organizations were regarded as
an alien body in economic life. Today
the value Of these unions IL apprccia se,i.
Certainly everybody would have de-
sircd that this recognition should bHvs
procecdcd from other causes than tsosc
now before u. II would have happened
In spite Of every obstacle. The enormous
sacrifice Of life and property makes il
more than difficult 70 find satisfaction,
much less joy, in the social progress