The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-02-16
THE FIGHT AGAINST MILITARISM
THEDARKEST CURSE OF THE WORLD

The American union against mill
tarism is doing splendid work against
the practice of wholesale murder. The
union has sent out the following ad
dress of William Jennings Bryan,
which all readers of the Journal are
urged not to overlook:
To the Editor: The big press asso-
Citations, while pretending to furnish
their newspaper clients with the news,
have gone as far as they. dared toward
suppressing Mr.. Bryans remarkable
plea. Here's the text in full. Give
it all the space you can and urge your
readers to act.
To the American People:
In the presence of threatening dam
gers, whose magnitude can not be
overestimated, venture to address
my countrymen, justifying my appeal
by my interest in their welfare and
by their acquaintance with me.
The President has felt it his duty
to break off diplomatic relations with
Germany for reasons stated in his
message, and has announced to Con-
gress his purpose, in case of any overt
act, to ask authority to use any means
necessary to protect our seamen and
people.
We are thus face to face with a
grave possibility of being drawn into
the European war. The President,
senators and congressman, who must
act for the people in this crisis, desire
to carry out the will of their constit-
uents, but unless the rank and file of
the people make known their wishes
by direct communication, these Off
cials must judge public opinion by the
expressions of the metropolitan press,
which may or may not correctly re-
fleet the sentiments of the nation.
To decide whether war is necessary
or not we must consider the situation.
The belligerent nations on both
sides think themselves in a death
struggle, and both sides feel justified
in resorting to acts which we regard
as contrary to international law as
heretofore interpreted
While we despute their right to con-
duct the war as they have and hon.
estly protest against the violation of
our rights and the sacrifice of our in
terests, we must not forget that the
injuries which we suffer from both
sides are incidental to their effort to
iniure each other and are in no case
intended against us.
We can better afford, therefore, to
be patient and forbearing than we
could if injuries came from avowed
enemies and were intended.
The President, in this noble appeal
to the belligerents, has asked that
they forget the bitterness engendered
T by the killing of more than 100000
of human beings and the expenditure
of more than $4,000 100000 in money
and come together in an honorable
peace.
If we can expect such an exhibition
of virtue by them, are we not in duty
bound to measure up to the standard
which we have set for them?
There are several alternatives from
which to choose. First, we can post
pone until the war is over the settle
ment of any dispute which can not
now be settled by peaceful means.
Second, we can keep American citi-
zens off belligerent ships. Third, we
can refuse clearance to ships of the
United States and other neutral coun-
tries carrying contraband and passen-
gers on the same ship. Fourth, we
can withdraw protection from Amer
ican citizens who are willing to jeop-
ardize the nations peace by travelling
as seamen with contraband on Ameri-
can or neutral vessels. Fifth, we can,
if necessary, keep all American YES
sells out of the danger zone for the
present, just as the mayor of city
keeps citizens in their homes when a
mob is in possession of the streets.
Sixth, Congress, which has exclusive
power to declare war, can submit the
declaration to a referendum vote,
making exception in case of actual
invasion.
We can not depend upon precedent
in an unprecedented situation.
/ call upon the citizens at home to
wire their views to the senators and
members of the House.
(Signed) w. ]. BRYAN.