The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-11-30

"American Union for a Democratic
| Peace" with the sub-title:
Free Peoples-Free Markets-Free
Seas-World Union for Dis
armament"
The new officers are Amos Pin
chot, chairman; Mrs Henry G.
Leach, treasurer and Crystal East
man, secretary. Other members of
the Executive Committee are: Emily
G. Balch, A. A. Berle, Herbert S.
Bigelow, Frank Bohn, William F.
Cochran, Max Eastman, John Love
joy Illiott, Zona Gale, Charles T.
Hallinan, John Haynes Holmes, Da-
vid Starr Jordan, Owen R. LovejoN
Frederick Lynch, James H. Maurer,
Henry R. Mussey, Norman Thomas,
Alexander Trachtenberg, Oswald
Garrison Willard, James P. Warbasse,
L. Hollingsworth Wood,
The Union, which is the outgrowth
of small committee started two
years ago to oppose the growth of
militarism in America, has today a
large national following. A repre-
sentative national Committee Of 100
is now being formed.
"Our new name" to quote the Sec
retary, Miss Crystal Eastman, in a
statement issued today, "means no
change in the fundamental beliefs or
in the objects of the Union 1t
does mean a change of emphasis.
When we organized, universal dis
armament was a distant goal. Only
few idea,ists believed that it
could be achieved in this century.
Today the world war has brought
it suddenly near People, great and
small, in all countries are talking
about disarmament-tal talking about it
not as a far off dream but as some
thing to be actually achieved at the
end Of this war. Notable among
the advocates fit are the Pope,
Mr.. Asquith, Count Czernin, the
Austrian Premier, and President
Wilson. We feel that the time
has come to work positively for
what practical people everywhere
recognize as the essentials of an
enduring peace-Free Peoples-Free
Markets-Free World Union
for Disarmament. A firm pact
among the nations to guarantee
these ssentials-nothing less must
be the outcome Of the great war"
Platform
The purpose of this organization
is to promote in this country an
intelligent public opinion to support
the essentials of a democratic peace.
An American Peace
We believe that a democratic and
enduring peace is essentially Amer
lean peace-American not in any mar
row meaning of national aggrandize-
ment, but in the sense in which
America has stood for the hope Of
freedom for all peoples. As basis
for this final peace, the war must
be settled without acquisition of ter
ritory by any belligerent, without
punitive damages, and without an
aftermath of economic hostilities.
Free peoples, free markets, free seas,
world union for disarmament-these
are the only possible guarantees
upon which we may hope for world
without war We hold that the
achievement of these objects will con-
stitute an American peace.
Meanwhile we are utterly opposed
to the extension of militarism in
this country, and especially to all
legislation tending to fasten upon
the United States a permanent sys-
tenn of compulsory military train
ing and service.
Peace Negotiations
We believe that peace negotiation
should. be entered into as soon as
Germany has given some official as
suranee Of her willingness to meet
the terms outlined by the President
on August 27 in his reply to the
Pope:
peace should rest upon the rights
of peoples, not the rights of govern
ments-the rights Of peoples, great,
small, weak or powerful-their equal
right to freedom and security and
self government and to a partici-
patton upon fair terms in the eco
nomic opportunities of the world
the German people Of course included
if they will accept equality and not
seek domination"
Punitive damages, the dismem-
berment of Empires, the establish
ment of selfish and exclusive eco
nomic leagues we deem ineXpedient
and in the end worse than futile, no
proper basis for a peace Of any
kind, least of all for an enduring
peace"