New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-27

immediate future for democracy and
freedom. A century ago the teudal
system died in the Napoleonic war
that convulsed Europe, and the third
estate established their right 70 free
dom and participation in the affairs OF
government and society. Slowly Dut
surely the workers have been making
demands FOR recognition OF tAeF
rights as human beings and as mem,
bers of society, and have established
May of them.
since the outbreak Of war their eco,
romic Importance. their political ana
military power, have been tscitly ana
often officially recognized. Statesmen
have recognized that organizations o.
wage earuers are an integral part O.
organized society-part OF the yltals OF
the nation.
Sure Demand viii Be Needed.
ON appreciation OF their dignity and
value. Il is the duty Of the wage
earners TO make demands upon the
world assembled in the next world con-
gress that nothing touching the llves
81 the workers shal. be determined
without taking counsel with them.
Suci demand MADE b. the personal
,ertiec g. the same place and Al the
same time a. The World Peace Congress
wouid have tremendous efec, upon
tie sp.~it and the determination o.
,.at congress. S1ch . demand would
set hiEh standards OF democracy Sno
would give prominence 20 principles OF
humaa welfare that could not be
ignored.
The labor movement is the great
humanizing. democratizng force IN
the affairs Of nations, and i must have
q place wherever the welfare Of the
wage earners Is concerned.
~ demands are not made they can
be ignored with good consciences. Bur
when ideals OF human welfare, the
rights and interests Of the common
people are presented and urged IN
world tribunals, they ,anEot be wholly
rejected. These demands viii rot be
presented or considered unless the
wage earners send their representa-
tiyes. This labor congress is an obli-
cation We owe 20 our ideals and 10
fellow workers 81 the present aud the
future a. well as a great opportunity.
The proposed plan FOR The Labor
Congress Is formulated for the purpose
Of securing ne representative thought
end conviction Of the organized labor
movement Of the world. II Is wel!
known that labor movements IN every
country are a power Tor democracy, and
insistently and fearlessly urge Ia every
relation he paramount Importance Of
the human element There are no
other Organizations shat are Concerned
wholly ani purely Nth human welfare
the protection and the conservation
81 human life The .abor movement
everywhere Is movement 0: ihe peo-
pie in the interest 5f he people and
for he rights Of the people. In al
other world congresses and general
conferences for considering national
affairs il has not been the custom 20
have representatives who stood for
human rights and for human interests.
Political. commercial. Industrial. legal
interests have always been represented,
but despite the fact that nations and
civilization exist for human beings,
human beings as human beings and
principles Of human welfare have
never been represented in these coun-
ellis. Il Is this wider and broader con-
cept that We wish TO bring into the
next world congress and so 70 human
ize and elevate the thought and the
decisions"