The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1916-02-25
The Chicago Federation
Offers Program of
Preparedness
CONTINUED from Page H.

summer VdCdIlOH. L MS Trailing
should be Instruction in the laws of
health, woodcraft and nature study,
cooking, camping, first aid in case
of accident or drowning, and all that
goes to make boys and girls capable
and independent Working in groups
would develop this power to cooper
ate which is so essential in peace
as we'll as war To put guns in the
hands of children for this work would
be vicious; TO initiate guns with sticks
would be silly The schools should
do all possible to develop keen, ready
minds and healthy bodies. The CO.
operative instinct which would result
in willing obedience for the best in
terests of all, proceeding from knowl-
edge of what is best is the ideal which
should inspire this training.
8. Organized labor should strive to
obtain the fullest possible recogni-
tion by the government for organiza-
ton of working people instituted for
the purposes of improving wages and
working conditions.
Representation for Labor
We recommend that organized Ia
Dor be alive and awake to see that
in any system Of citizen soldiery the
greatest possible freedom and democ-
| oh 10 nr1i ctn
shall be given education in civic af-
fairs, physical training and the fullest
opportunity for promotion from the
ranks; representation for labor upon
whatever committees or commissions
may be chosen to decide upon or con-
troll plans for military defense should
be demanded.
8. Any military system should be
democratically differed and con.
trolled by heads directly responsible
to the citizens of the land.
TO- We should oppose any increase
in the standing army.
The danger to the American work.
ing man from foreign countries is not
so much the danger of an attack by
their governments. The real danger
to the workers comes from the hordes
of helpless, underfed foreign immi
grants which are brought into this
country every year by the great man
ufacturing interests which wan
cheap labor. Any plan for the in
crease of the army and navy would
make this danger more acute. If the
: American workers are drawn into the
army and navy and the industrial
! plans which would be necessary to it!
| support, demand for more labol
power would make an excuse fol
bringing in low paid workers whC
would undermine the standard of Iiv
ing and make every real problem o
: labor more acute.
Shorter Day Problem of Labor
The problems Of labor are the short
= ening of the work hour, the increase
of wages, the betterment of condi
) tions, stronger organization and con
|; slant development of greater powe
in the political field An increased
: army and navy would not solve
: single difficulty that labor has to face
| Preparedness is needed in thu
United States, but it must be pre-
; paredness which is based upon phys
} cal fitness. Patriotism is needed, bu
: it must be a patriotism which is base
: upon love of country, and only a cour
: try which guarantees liberty and or
portunity will be loved.
We feel that the labor movemen
of Chicago, situated as we are in tn
very center of America and feeling
the life of both the East and tn
West, should help to hold the ba
ance, to strike the average to counter
act the hysteria and speak for tn
international spirit of labor which W
hope will revive when the guns o
Europe have been stilled and we ar
able to start to build upon the ruin
of a better civilization. Respectful.
submitted,
CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR