Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-02-09
Organized Labor's Stand
On Universal Army Service
BY Samuel Gompsrs.

nave Grown out of militariSm. the build
ing up of a separate military caste and
the subversion of civic life TO military
government and military standards. When
military institutions and military service
are separated from the general life of h
people they become subversive to the
ideals of civic life. they become dangerous
to the best development and the best in
tereStS of the nation.
The rights and privileges of citizenship
impose a duty upon all who enjoy them.
That duty involves service to the nation
in all relations of the common life. In
Guiding its defense against attack and the
maintenance of national institutions n
ideals.
Organized Labor Has Fought FOREIGN
P-ropaaandas.
There are no citizens of our country VINO
are more truly patriotic than the organ
lied wage earners-or all of the wage
calller-and we have done our share In
the civic life of the nation AS Well as III
the nations wars. We have done our
! share to protect the nation against IN
, sidious attacks from within that were d.
rectcd at the very heart of our national
life, and would have inevitably involved
us in foreign complications. The wage
earners stood unfalteringly for ideals Of
honor. freedom and loyalty. Their Wis
dom and their patriotism served our
country in a time OF great need. No one
can question that the wage earners OF the
United States are patriotic In the truest
sense. No one can question their Will
ingness to tight for the cause of liberty.
freedom and justice. No one can Ques-
ton the value OF the ideals that direct
| the labor movement.
Every observer knows that there Is no
peace-all of life is IA struggle, physical
and mental. Progress results only from
the domination of the forces making FOR
freedom and opportunity over the forces
of repression.
Labor's Concrete Suggestions For Ma
tional Defense.
I may summarize the situation into
these few concrete suggestions:
First. The recognition of and CO.
operation with the organized labor
movement in all fields of activity-in-
d~ustrial, commercial, political. social,
moral defense.
Second. Establishment and extern
sion of the citizen soldiery, democrat
ically organized. Differed. admlnis-
tered and controlled.
Third. Prohibition OF the use OF the
militia for strike duty.
Fourth. Education OF wage eafners
upon an equality with all other cid-
zens in manual training. physical and
mental development. I'm organizing,
differing, administering and leading In
the operations of a military charac-
ter for the defense of our country.
Fifth. Industrial education and vo--
cational training as part of the educa-
tional system of the states. with inan-
cial aid Of the federal government.
. 4 Sixth. Education of the young.
physical and mental; including the art
and the duty Of defense, the ability to
bear arms, the Incubation of the ideals
of democracy. civic rights. duties and
obligations.
Seventh. Inculcate In all our peo-
pie a social conscience for a better
concept of industrial justice.
The thoughts and suggestions l have
submitted should themselves to
the serious and favorable consideration
and action of all of our people-aN their
groups and associations. Put into actual
operation they will make not only for i'm
mediate effective preparedness for de-
e Tense. but will prove the potential means
TO. permanent Preparedness and defense,
mile at the same time make all our PEG
p,o more efficient in their every e~ndeavor
aad. IN addition. safeguard the spirit OF
! ~j,stice. freedom. democracy and human
I !ty.