Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-09-23

nance OF successful plenty OF men 10 s'
and plenty of to the of military opera
tons. Europe long boasted that while might recruit
soldiers the United States could not make war unless ner
capitalists furnished the money to finance the movement.
The European has only upset all these cal
culaons but has afforded the world lessons in many
directions that it difficult to comprehend them ALL
Indeed not appreciate all the effects of the present
great struggle until it has receded into the past to suf-
ent degree give the world the perspective to en-
able to realize its vast proportions and measure its wide
qualifications
While the present war was the outgrowth of commercial
cashng small degree of its most far-reachng ell
fects is to become manifest in the new dignity winch
it already to be bringing to labor as well as IN giving
the world appreciation of labors vast Importance
We formerly sang of "the with the hoe and the
imam behind the guns To-day we sing OF the soder with
shovel" spade suddenly become OF the most
important implements warfare The soldier who can dig
himself in IS far formidable than the supposed
mpregnabe steel and cement Notifications OF Lille and
other srongho that proved to be vertabe death traps for
their garrsons the face Of the immense proeces of the
Busy Berhas" of Germany 1t has been found far easier
to smash forts with their great steel urres than to
rout determined force of men from simple ditch dug in
mother earth Thus modern warfare has brought men back
to first principles and taught to appreciate the simple
work of human hands
If we turn to the statecraft of it is being
exemped Great Britain and in the United States we'll
elsewhere not fail be impressed by the fact that
even that field labor is rapidly coming to its
Lloyd George speech the other day stated that the fate of
England is the hands Of her working classes and not in
the hands alone of those who be moved by the desire to
win glory the fields Of battle.
England needs soldiers it is true, but her most
pressing need is the production of ammunition provide her
armies with the of maintaining glory of the national
coors Lloyd George has recognized this need and behold
the spectacle of English periodically working side
by side with English to provide military supplies for the
British armies in France and along the Dardaneles
Even in Germany the socialstabor group of leaders in
the Rechsag have been able to show their in helping
to shape the issues of conflict and only their obedience to the
the
of the vast influence in their possession.
has been said that the end of the present would
revolution in country in Europe This has been
accepted to revolution by force of We believe
that vast revolution already in progress throughout the
world but it is revolution toward and not toward
Organized labor coming to recognize the fact that its
true sphere of influence is longer in strikes and other
sometimes leading violence because of the futy
of appeal to government Lloyd Georges most mpassioned
plea to-day is directed toward the of labor to help
the nation In England and elsewhere labor will help patriot
caly but it will not be likely forego the influence it is
now gaining as important factor not only in shaping
tona policies and modng the destiny of nations but also in
helping formulate acts of legislative bodies.
To the eternal credit of the labor organizations of Ger
many and other of Europe be said that their
euce opposed to this gigantic conflict but they did not
fully realize the tremendous for which develop
ments of modern warfare gigantic scale had placed in
their hands.
Capital formerly supposed to hold the destiny of
in it's grasp To-day labor to the fnancier: "You
make gigantic loans and enlist but
shall join you preparing for murder by the wholesale
The influence of organization throughout the world must
be the side peace and that influence will be exerted
through representatives in the governments of the var
nations in promoting the substitution of arbitration for
the arbitrarnent of the sword"
With very few exceptions to-day behold the fearful
spectacle of capital everywhere in neutral nations actively
seeking profit from the loan of money the begarents
from the supplying of ammunition and other necesaries of
the warning nations We capital profting from
the higher of living everywhere due to the European
While this increased expenditure for warfare furnishes
employment for labor that in exceptional might
otherwise be employed the increased cost of living falls
upon every laborng throughout the world and thereby
dmnishes amount of necessars his hard earned
can secure him and his loved and he
springs the defence of his country First and last labor
bears the real brunt of every war;
When we consider all these things, longer
wonder that voice of the laboring everywhere is
heard on the side peace and against and marism
provocative Of war.
Now that the great political leaders Of Great Britain
and other European nations teaching labor the full
ing of its power look to organized labor of the world