davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18
BY j. A. Seldom.

Before the outbreak of the Great
War, organized British labor was
wholly pacifist. We were opposed to
militarism in every shape and form.
We fought the increase of armaments.
We did our best to allay anything
which might be likely to promote
he growth of the fighting spirit
, smong our people. We looked to
: ee the spirit of international friend
, ship spread till all nations were
!, United in world peace.
4: We believed that the burden of. war
falls most heavily on the worker. The
! Trades Union congress, the Parliament
of British labor, representing close on
three millions Of organized toilers.
had not so much as trace of a mill
Tarist party in it. This was as true
Of the last annual gathering Of the
congress before the outbreak of war,
as it was of any congress for years
before. 1t was. true of the parlia-
mentary committee of the congress, its
executive and administrative body, I
can speak on that point with some
authority, for I was chairman Of the
parliamentary committee: The con-
gress was anti-war. My colleagues on
the committee We're anti-war. was
anti-war. ~.a,....
Today British labor, whole: :heartsdly
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18
F|REMEN ORGANIZE
IN WASHINGTON
Will Ask Congress to Pass Legis'
lation for Two-Platoon
System.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16:-Fire
fighters in the nations capital have
organized and are chartered by the
American Federation of Labor. In a
resolution indorsing the firemen's two
platoon agitation the Washington CEN
trail labor union says:
''The two-platoon system has
passed the experimental stage. Its ef-
ficiency is no longer denied, nor is II
denied that the two-platoon system is
a so-called asset to the community In
which it is applied, because it makes
possible the development of a home
life among this portion of our citi-
zenry.'
The firemen intend to ask congress
to pass this necessary legislation and
the central labor union urges all af-
filiates and good citizens generally to
assist these employees in their move
ment for shorter hours, "the first
step in higher, development of the
individual"
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18

know the truth about the British
working man as a fighter, study the
records Of the British army. The Scot
ttsh regiments. that enrolled tens Of
thousands from the Clyde: the Lam
casI1ire regiments, largely recruited
from factory hands and miners; the
Durham regiments with their colliers;
the regiments recruited in pra ctically
every industrial center tell the same
story. These are the men and the
sons Of the men who fought militarism
before 1914. Now they are fighting,
and often enough dying, in the army,
and are glad and proud to do 50.
Why?
What has brought about this great
change?
Fight Militarism.
We have learned that Prussian
militarism must be destroyed, root and
branch, and the only way to destroy
it is to fight it. We have realized that
this war is a death grapple between
systems which cannot co-exist If free
dom is to be something more than a
name. We know what the horrors Of
war are. I'VE know who is responsible
for those horrors.
In my own case, my official posi-
tion made it necessary for me, when
war broke out, to consider all the
facts of the situation, not merely from
pX persopel point ct view. but, as4 .
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18

the horrors we had at first refused to
think possible were only part-and
by no means the worst-of what was
going on. Many # the deeds of the
Prussian army in Belgium were so
terrible that they could only be whis-
pered from man to man. We found
that the reign Of terror in the con-
quered territory-the burning Of viii
lagos, the shooting of peaceful priests,
schoolmasters and doctors as host
ages. the ouraging Of young girls and
married women, and the wholesale
destruction Of homes-was no chance
excess of individuals, but the system
attic and deliberate policy Of the Ger
man government, prepared for in ad-
vance, and carried through without
justice or mercy.
cannot describe the effect Of this
on British labor. We realized that
Prussian militarism, with its attested
cruelty, rapine and murder, must be
destroyed. in every shape and form.
We realized that now there could be
no compromomise and no slackening.
This aggressive militarism must be
overthrown, or all our efforts would
have been In yain.s ~ .. .. :: -
The revelations acted as q flame to
a torch. We were facing the issue
chiefly from the point Of moral val
ues. Our people have IN apprecia-
ton of right and wrong. We knew
.-"-.---<. --..----..----------- -----D.e
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18
FEDERAL CONTROL
Of COPPER.M|NES
-;
Urged By Congresswoman Rankin
to Correct Abuses of Min
ing Companies.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16.-Federal
control of metalliferous mines and an
expose of the blacklisting system in
Butte copper. mines were features of
the first set speech by Miss Jeanette
Rankin, Montana congresswoman.
"The lady from Montana" as she
is referred to in the national house of
representatives, called 'attention to
the fact that laws empower the presi-
dent to commander every industry
except copper necessary to the prose-
cution Of the war, and that there are
no laws that can apply to present diff
ferences between employers and en-
.ployes in this industry, which is
marked by decreased production and
lawlessness in Butte and Arizona.
Miss Rankin gave this insight into
conditions in the Montana copper in
.dustry:. :~..
-: or some: years the. Anaconda
Copper Mining company has been u.s.
ing what is called in Butte "the rus
tling card SYSTEM This system is
practically a blacklist
This system has effectively dis
couraged the men from organizing. It
the enforcement Of laws requiring
safety devices in the mines. It has
caused them to hesitate to discuss
their grievances on the outside. The
conditions Of the mines have grown
more and more unsafe. I have had
heart-breal1ing letters from the wives
of some of the miners saying that
when their husbands went to work in
the morning they never knew whether
they would ever return. and that they
lived in constant anxiety.
On June 8, $50 men were burned
to death in a fire in one mine. This
was the climax. The men stopped
work."
The resolution introduced by Miss
Rankin recites the war powers of the
president as conferred in the food
control bill and provides that these
powers "are hereby extended to apply
to meta!liferous mines, the product of
which is a necessary raw material in
the manufacture Of supplies needed
for the common defense"
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18

representative of labor. Accordingly,
I studied the state papers issued by
the different governments, by Ger
many and Austria, as we'll as by Eng
land, France, and Russia. TO me the
evidence in these documents was un-
mistakable. Germany had first
brought about the situation leading up
to the war, and then had forced the
war on Europe.
Using Austria as her tool, and the
assassination of the Austrian crown
prince as pretext, she had kindled the
blaze of war at the moment she
thought most favorable to herself She
made Austria Insist on impossible
terms from Serbia, and refuse any
modification, knowing that this would
lead to war; She got Russia to mobil-
ize by trick: She refused mediation.
She was ready. England, France
and Russia were not. She did not
believe that England would or could
come to the aid Of France and Russia
She thought that she saw world su-
premacy in her grasp, and she grabbed
at it. A..-..-........-
What Papers Said.
Germany started the war. England
and her allies did their best to avoid
it. -.
That is what the state papers told
me. These papers are published and
are open to .thea.world. Read them!
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18

Read what each government had to
say in those fateful days, and see if
you do not come to the same conclu-
sion. Other British trades union lead
ers studied the matter as I had done,
and thought as I did. We issued a
manifesto, which was widely circu-
lated.
Shortly afterwards I went to
America, to take a message from the
toilers of Britain to the workers Of
the United States and Canada. Here
I had opportunity to learn more of
events that had led up to the war;. I
met prominent neutrals, who had had
entry into some Of the most influen-
tial circles in Berlin. They told me
what they knew OF German ambitions
and preparations. saw that there
had been a. deliberate conspiracy Of
the kaiser's government, that had
stretched over a number of years, to
plGnge the world in war. The idea Of
deutschland uber alles'' dominated
the minds of the German leaders.
They were going to make Germany
position to this would come from
England, they had cultivated the
hatred of their people against us.
Against Bureaucracy.
This war was Germany's work, and
Germany's purpose was to. secure
world domination. British labor was
opposed to war. But British labor
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18
HOOVER APPOINTED
FOOD administrators
Outlines Purpose Of Government
In Administering New
Legislation.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1e.-Formal
appointment Of Herbert Hoover iii
food administrator under the new
food legislation was announced at the
White House last Friday.
Mr.. Hoovers' statement. outlining
the governments purposes in admin
istering the food legislation. follows
in part F.:
THE hopes Of the food administra-
tion are three fold. First, so to guide
the trade in the fundamental food
commodities as to eliminate vicious
speculation, extortion and wastefu1
practices and to stabilize prices in the
essential staples. Second, to guard
our exports so that against the world s
shortage We retain sufficient supplies
for our own people and to cooperate
with the allies to prevent initiation of
prices, and third, that We stimulate
the saving Of our food in order that
we may increase exports to our allies
to point which will enable them
properly to provision their armies and
to feed their peoples during the COM
ing Winter''
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18
APPROVE new CONDITIONS
AND WAGES FOR SEAMEN
Department of Labor Makes Public Report of Joint
Conference Committee on Merchant Marine.
Would Exempt Sailors From Draft.

WASHINGTON, Aug 16.-Members of the Seamens
happy. They have broken
chant marine They have joined with the and the ship
appeal the sailors who have left the back
under better and eer who
the deep to and learn the seafaring trade
Announcement of these historical changes in Atlantic maritime
dons made department of labor
the the joint conference committee of the
and the officers
Aug and This that the joint
scale of and conditions agreed the conference
ed under the auspices the United States Shipping board May
which had been ratified by
tnatona Seamens Union of America and by the shpown
ortcd also that settlement of the demand for abolition
the welfare paboo the Great Lakes had been
but that the officials take this
stated that the had asked Marshal
for ruling which would from draft
aing and presented the appeal the
Ting of the chantfee
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18
WILL NOT TOLERATE
MOB DISTURBANCES
Governor Frazier of North d.
kota Admonishes All Peace
Officials.

BISMARCK, N. D., Aug. 16.-Gov-
ernor Frazier has notified all peace
officials in this state that mob dis
turbances must be sternly dealt with
or they shall be removed from office.
The state executive makes it clear
that "law-and- -order" mobs' will not
be tolerated, and that North Dakota
must not be disgraced as have other
states.
within the last few days most de-
plorable reports have come from
South Dakota and Montana. It is
charged that the constitutional rights
of the individual have been trampled
under foot by mobs in the guise of
so-called safety committees, labor Or
carnations and even by peace Off
GERS" he says.
ITO some of these misguided mobs
and officers it seems to be crime to
be seeking work,,and not TO- possess
money. Men have been illegally
searched, beaten, deported and other
wise mistreated contrary to all law
and in direct violation of the inalien-
:. able rights of every citizen.
II wish it distinctly understood that
no such unwarranted actions against
the rights Of any individual will be
tolerated in this state while I am
governor. No official has a legal
right to search any man, without a
search warrant. He has no right to
beat any man. He has no right to de-
port any man, because he is without
money, or because he demands higher
wages. The federal and state consti-
tutions guarantee to individuals cer-
tain rights. These rights must be re-
spected. The surest way to lose our
liberties and constitutional rights is to
take them away from those who are
less fortunate. Abuse of official power
is but to weaken all respect for law
and order. Officials must protect the
weak as we'll as the strong. I call
upon you to sustain me in making
North Dakota a. model state Of law
and ORDER"
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18

Opportunity for Scamen.
\ In this appeal to the men who have
pnce served on the ocean, but have
}orsaken it, and to the young men
tvho have resisted the desire to sail,
the committee declares that the day
in which the door of opportunity, of
a real career, with adventure and free
dom and the chance Of substantial ad-
Vancement, has come to the Ameri-
can seaman. 1t tells of the freedom
won for the sailor by the Seamen's
Act, and of the greatly improved con-
ditions which are to be had aboard
ship today, as compared with former
times. 1t appeals to the patriotic i'm
pulse, asking young men to do their
;oit' on the sea in creating anew, as
"a permanent force in the world, the
merchant marine of the United States.
The Great Lakes vessel owners who
boycotted the conference will prob
ably be approached through the new
regulatory powers Of the President,
and brought into line
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18
LAB0RDAY To Dr.
CELEBRATEDAT
FA|RN|ON|T 7 PARK
Joint Committee Making Ar
rangements for Observing
Annual Event.
NO PARADE WILL BE HELD
Address, Program of Sports and
Dance Will Be Among
the Features.
NO PARADE WILL BE HELD

A meeting Of the joint Labor day
committee, which has charge Of ar
rangements for the celebration of La
Dor day, was held last Monday eve-
ming. w. J. butcher was elected
chairman. It was decided that there
will be no parade, and that a picnic
and dance will be held at Fairmont
park. A program of sports will be
staged in the afternoon, for which
prizes will be awarded.
Mayor Van Lear of Minneapolis,
and Mayor Power Of Hibbing, were
suggested to deliver the principal ad-
dress, and committee consisting of
J. J. Anderson, r. J.. Coole and E. A.
Rickard, was appointed to have charge
Of securing speaker.
The following committees were also
named:
Sports and Prizes-P. Schaefer, J.
H. Powers and A. Young.
Badges-E. A. Sabel, Q. H. Tarun
and o Elchlepp.
The chairman was instructed to ar
range for a band to play during the
afternoon and evening.
Small buttons will be secured and
sold to raise funds for the celebra-
ton.
The following were present at the
mettfhg::@ - Federatsd Trades Assem-
bly-W. J. butcher, r. J. Coole, E.
A. Sabel, P. Schaefer and J. J.. Ander-
son Duluth Pavilion association IF.
A. Richard, O. H. Tarun, J. H. Powers,
Otto Elchlepp and Albert Young.
A meeting will be held next Mon
day evening, at which complete re-
ports will he made
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18
HENDERSON NDORSED
BY NATIONAL LABOR

LONDON, Aug. 16.-At a Joint
meeting Tuesday of the executive
committee of the National Labor
party and the parliamentary commit
tee of the Trades union congress the
attitude of Arthur Henderson, Sec
retary of the Labor party who resigned
Saturday as a member of the British
war cabinet, with regard to the So
cialist conference at Stockholm was
indorsed. The meeting appointed dele
gates, including Mr.. Henderson, to the
Stockholm conference and resolved to
ask the government to withdraw its
order prohibiting the issuance of
passports to Stockholm. delegates,
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18
WEALTH MUST BE
C0NsCR1PTED, SAYS
SECRETARY VR0OMAN

FARGO, N. d., Aug. 16.-In two
speeches In this city Carl 8. VroO-,
man, assistant secretary Of agri-
culture, made emphatic declara-
tions for cOnscripttOn Of wealth to
finance the war.
1--WE must have conscrlptfon of
wealth just like our conscflptlon
of men," he said. 81 Fend today In
the paper that some of our mill
liOnaiFes are Objecting to an per
cent war tax. 1t made me laugh,
when millionaires Of England are
paying so per cent tax.
~ believe any wealthy man who
isn't willing to pay per cent or
50 per cent or even all Of his In
come, above what IL necessary for
hi: own support to help us win
this contest, doesn't deserve to
have the protection of that flag
which the boys I'm khaki are fight
Ing, across the water, to pre-
seFve.''
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18
MINERS STRIKE CALLED
IN ALABAMA COAL FIELD

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Aug. ia
strike of 10000 Alabama coal miners
will be called for next Monday, United
Mine Workers officials said Wednes-
day, because operators would not COM
ply with the union ultimatum for a
conference on or before Aug. IS re-
garding wages and working conditions.
The operators refuse to recognize the
union.
Labor department mediators said
there still was hope Of bringing the
two sides together.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18
ORGANIZED LABOR WINS
RECOGNITION OF DEMANDS
Industrial Tribunal, Composed of Nine Members
Will Settle All Disputes Where War
Work Is Being Done. :

WASHINGTON Aug 16On its face, the surrender to the de-
mnds the organized workers of the United Sae made by the
Council of National Defense last the biggest labor triumph
the railway their eighhour day. In point of the
bes affected and in point its probable influence the
trial relations of the biggest
by organized labor at any time
The through the Council of National Defense
national labor adjustment board of Three
the three the employers who have and
the workers these No pledge made that the employers
Of involved but they will the contndng forces
of capital and labor.
This board industrial tribunal will all industrial
disputes arising the industries where work DONE In order
expedite such hearings only the involving will
tribunals the lesser will
which will create Demands hours conditions employ
will be submitted this board when the employers
workers unable and the boards decision be final
Each side will be authorized before the board through
its spokemen.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18
Strikes Not Prohibited.

SCE1ReS NOt ffOnlDlCeQ.
This does not prohibit strikes. It
simply is an arrangement made by
the government to prevent, by adjust
ment Of all disputes before a strike is
made necessary, the stoppage Of work
because Of any dispute. It gets it's
authority in this way: The govern
ment will put in each contract for war
Work-whether ships or guns or rail-
road engines or uniforms or lumber
or coal or anything else needed for
the army and. navy-a clause binding
the contractor to abide by the deci-
sons of this industrial tribunal. The
officers Of the various international
unions in the American Federation Of
Labor, as representing the workers in
these crafts, sign an agreement that
they also will abide by the decisions.
But they do not agree that under no
circumstances will there be a strike.
They realize that circumstances may
that in defense of ordinary human
rights the men will insist on quitting
work until wrong is righted. AS a
general rule, of course, the agreement
means that strikes will be unneces-
sary.
Organized labor has been demand
ing something Of this sort, ever since
the beginning of the war. The Off
GERS of the A. F. of L. have favored
this plan from the outset, and have
been constantly trying to make the
Council Of National Defense see that
some national authority must enforce
decent industrial standards on the
! war contract shops If the number of
strikes was to be reduced. Opposi-
ton to the plan has come from the
reactionary element of the council.
Probably the chief reason for the
withdrawal Of this opposition has
been the tying UP of the copper mines
in the west, and the shipyard and
cantonment labor troubles in the Vi
cinity Of New York. The reaction
aries have finally discovered that
there is an organized labor power in
America, and they offer it some pre-
liminary terms.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18
STOCKHOLM DELEGATES
NAMED IN NEW YORK

NEW YORK, Aug. 16.-Three dele
gates and three alternates to the pro-
posed peace conference to be held at
STOCKHOLM Sept. a,sswere selected. by
the worKmen's council at a meeting
here Tuesday night. If the state de-
partment refuses to issue passports to
delegates to the conference the coun-
Gil announced, labor organiza lions in
the United States will be asked to hold
mass meetings of encourage
while the conference is in session.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18
MAYOR ORDERS PROBE
OF OXMAN PERJURY

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 16.-Mayor
Rolph has ordered the police depart
ment to thoroughly investigate the
Oxman perjury expose and the unan-
swered question where District Attor-
ney Fickert dug up" this witness.
who is charged with false testimony in
connection with the conviction OF
Thomas J. Mooney.
Police completely in the change OF
testimony by other state witnesses
will also be probed.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18

UNIVERSAL 8-HOUR
DAY NEAR AT HAND,
SAYS DAILY PAPER

TACOMA, WASH, Aug. 16.-De-
-partment stores. furniture fac
tories and other industries are
wheeling into the eight-hour col.
umn a. a result of persistent agi-
tatlon by organized labor. The
Tacoma Daily News In awake to
the trend of events and this paper
s4yss
s'If ever an event cast before 1T
a shadow whose perfect profile
leaves not the slightest doubt Of
its identity In anybOdy's eyes, it
II the e1ght-hour days coming. 1t
In at hand.
Men of ready vision see 1T, re-
eogni8e 1T, welcome It., adopt 1T.
They are going to make profitable
use of 1T.
"The concern that delays the
adoption of the eiEht-hour day ON
economic grounds Mt this time 10
wrestling with a nonresident dl-
lemma, an imaginary problem"
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18
ASK MRS. MOONEY
BE GIVEN BAIL

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 16.-Hear-
ings on the applications Of Mrs. Rena
Mooney and Israel Weinberg, charged
with murder in connection with the
preparedness day parade bomb explo-
sion here last summer, to be admitted
to bail were held Wednesday.
Mrs. Mooney was acquitted July 25
on one of eight indictments charging
her with murder. Weinberg has not
been tried.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18
WOULD SUSPEND
CHILD LABOR LAW

WHEELING, W. Va, Aug. 16. -
Eastern Ohio glass workers are insti-
tuting a movement proposing the sus-
pension during the war Of the child
labor law, prohibiting the employment
Of children under 16 years of age,
insofar as the statute affects glass fac
tories.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-18
SANTA FE EMPLOYEES
GET WAGE INCREASE

CHICAGO, Aug. 16-An increase of
from II to Is per cent in wages Of
$4,000 employees has been announced
here by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa
Fee railroad. The advance goes into
effect Sept. 1.
The advance calls for an additional
expenditure of about $2,500,O0o and
practically completes the circle of
advances which the Santa Fe has been
making at intervals for more than q
year.