The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1917-03-23
American Labor's Position
In War Or In Peace,

of L. building, this city, Monday, |
March II.
The conference was called by |
President Gompers, on approval by
the executive council, that the
trade union movement might in
dorse some constructive program.
At the conference were present
the executive council of the A. F.
of L. and l48 delegates represent
ing the 70 national and interna-
tional unions affiliated to the A. F.
of L. the tive A. F. of L. depart-
ments and The following unafhliates:
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engin-
GERS, Order of Railway Conductors
of America, Brotherhood of Loco
motive Firemen and Erginemen,
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen
and the National Widow Glass
Workers.
Prior to the conference the ex-
ecutive council labored for two days
and three nights preparing what It
believed represented organized la
boris views on the attitude trade
unionists should assume Ia peace
or in war. The executive council
drafted and redrafted every para
graph of this declaration that it
might stand the acid test of frank
criticism that Is the general rule in
every gathering of trade unionists.
How well the executive conncil
performed It's work is shown by the
fact that the declaration stands,
after hou~s of discussion, just as it
was presented to the conference,
without changed line, sentiment,
word or comma.
The outstanding feature of this
declaration Is that the trade unior
movement, while abhorring war, /!
not blinded by facts, nor has it any
illusion regarding the policy which
property owners and exploiting EN-
ployers pursue in peace or In war.
The conference urged that nev
standards be accepted and that th
government, which demands tha
the men and women give their la
Dor power, their bodies or thei
lives to its service, should also de
mand the service, in the interest 0
these human beings, of all wealth
and the products of human toll
property "
Our labor movement" it con
tinued, 'distrusts and protest
against militarism, because 1t know
that militarism represents privileg
and is the tool of special interests
exploiters and despots But Will
it opposes militarism, it holds tha
it is the duty of a nation 10 defen,
itself against injustice and invasion
The menace of mijitarism arise
through tsolating the defensiv
functions of the state from civi
activities and from creating militar,
agenc.es out of touch with masse
Of the people. Isolation is subver
sive TO democracy-it harbors AM
nurtures the germs of arbitrar,
power
The labor movement demand
that a clear differentiation be mad
against military service for the na
ton and police duty, and that nil
itary service should be CAREFUL,
distinguished from service in indus
trial disputes.
We hold that industrial servic
shall be deemed equally meritoriou
as military service. Organization
for industrial and commercial ser
vice is upon different basis fror
military service-the civic ideal
still dominate. This should b
recognized in mobilizing for thi
| purpose. The same voluntary in
situations that organized industrial
commercial and transport atiol
workers in times of peace will bes
take care of the same problems il
times of war
1t is fundamental, therefore
that the government co operat,
with the American organized labo
movement for this purpose. Ser
vice in government factories anc
private establishments, in transpor
tation agencies, all should conform
to trade union standards.
The guarantee of human con
servation should be recognized il
war as we'll as in peace. Whenever
changes in the organization of in