Denver labor bulletin., 1917-09-22

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allies in the present world conflict
We declare that the one overshad-
owing issue is the preservation of
democracy. Either democracy will en-
dure and men will be free, or autoc-
racy will triumph, and the race will
be enslaved. On this prime issue we
take our stand. We declare that the
great war must be fought to decis-
i've result; that until autocracy is de-
feated there can be no hope of an hon.
orable peace, and that to compromise
the issue is only to sow the seed for
bloodier and more devastating wars
in the future.
Evils Greater Than War.
We declare our adherence of war
and our devotion to the cause of peace.
But we recognize that there are evils
greater and more intolerable than
those of war. We declare that war
waged for altruistic ends. A peace
bought by the surrender of every prln-
cipal vital to democracy is no peace,
but shameful servility. Our nation
has not sought this war. As people,
we desired peace for its own sake, and
we held fast to our traditional prln-
ciple of keeping aloof from the pollt-
ical affairs of Europe. Our president,
with a forbearance and a patience
which some of US thought extreme, eX-
hausted every honorable means in be-
half of peace; and the declaration of
war came only after many months of
futile efforts to avoid conflict. This
war, so relentlessly forced upon US,
must now be made the means of in
suring a worldwide and permanent
peace.
We declare that in this crisis the
one fundamental need is unity of ac-
ton. The successful prosecution of
the war requires that all the energies
of our people be concentrated to a
common purpose. After more than
two years of exhaustive deliberation,
in which every phase of our relation
to the great world problem had been
thoroly debated, the Constitutional rep
resentatives of the people declared the
nations will. Loyalty to the people
demands that all acquiesce in that de-
cision and render the government every
service in their power.
Loyalty to Government.
We strongly denounce the words and
actions of those enemies of the repub-
lie, who, falsely assuming to speak in
the name of labor and democracy, are
now ceaselessly striving to obstruct
the operations of the government. In
misrepresenting the governments pur..
poses, in traducing the character OF
the president and of his advisers, in
stealthily attempting to incite sedition
and in openly or implicitly counselling
resistance to the enforcement Of laws
enacted for the national defense, they
abuse the rights of free speech, free
assemblage, and free press. In the
name of liberty they encourage an
archy; in the name of democracy they
strive to defeat the will of the ma
jority, and in the name of humanity
they render every possible aid and
comfort to the brutal Prussian autoc-
racy. If the sinister counsels of these
persons were followed, labor would be
reduced to subjection and democracy
would be obliterated from the earth.
We declare that the betrayal of ones
fellow-workers during a strike finds
its exact counterpart in the betrayal of
ones fellow citizens in time of war,
and that both are offenses which de-
serve the detestation of mankind. !,
We declare that sturdy defense OF
the interests of labor is wholly COM
patible with supreme loyalty to the
government. We fully recognize the
many proofs given by the president
and the administration chiefs to the
principle that the war shall not be
made an excuse for lowering any of
the standards which have been estab-
lished by labor in its long struggle.
We declare, however, that predatory
influences are at work at all times
and particularly in time of war-to
lower these standards. These efforts,
wherever made, must be resisted. Not
only must all present standards be
maintained, but there must be no cur
tailment of any of the present agen-
cies which make for the betterment of
the condition of labor. Our loyalty
to the government is the loyalty of
free men who will not acquiesce in
any surrender of principle.
For COnscriptiOn of Wealth.
This war, which on our part is waged
for the preservation of democracy, has
already set in motion vast forces for
the furtherance and extension of de-
mocracy. Revolutionary changes have
been made-changes which reveal the
power and determination of demo-
cratic people to control its own econ
omic life for the common good. We
declare that peace shall not be an
other name for reaction, but that the
gains thus far made for labor should
be maintained in perpetuity.
We declare that condition which
demands the conscription of men like
wise demands the conscription of
its and land values should be taxed to
the fullest needs of the government.
We declare that industrial enter
prises should be the servants and not
the masters of the people; and that in
cases where differences between own
ers and workers threaten a discontin-
uance Of production necessary for the