, 1917-11-22
Most Critical Time World Has
Ever Known, He Tells
Delegates.
Menace TO WORLD by KAISER
Executive Shows How Germany, With
"Plaee In SUM-" Yearn.d for Con-
quest-WouId Like n See All
Critics Exported Has
Contempt for the
Pacifists.

ldent Wilson In his address before the
American Federation of Labor In con-
vention here.
He praised the general trend of the
American labor movement and de-
clared for improving in every way the
conditions of labor, but he warned
against obstruction CT energy by
strikes during the wal and the futility
Of the pacifsts and the wiles of Ger
many.
This Is a great privilege and a
great honor" said the president. 81
gladly accepted the invitation because
1t seems to me that 1t was a welcome
opportunity to speak TO you some of
the thoughts which have been gather
ing in my mind for the past few
months. 1 would be glad If you re-
gard me, not as the president, but as
a man seeking counsel.
Causes Of War.
II think that In order to realize of
just what moment this counsel is, 1t
would be well to remind ourselves just
how and why this war came about.
"The war was stared by Germany.
Her authors deny 1t, but / am will
ing to await the verdict Of history.
Why did Germany start the war? Re-
member the position of Germany in
the world. The whole world stood In
admiration of her intelligence and ma
terial achievements.
"As a university man l have been
surrounded by men trained in Ger
many. Nowhere else could they get
such training. Her Industries were
perhaps the most competent in the
world. She had access to all mar
kets in the world, but men in those
markets feared Germany because of
her almost irresistible competition.
"Her industries were perhaps the
best In the world. Her label, Made
In Germany was a guarantee of good
workmanship. She had a place in the
sun. Why was she not satisfied
What Did She Want2
"what more did she want7 There
was nothing In a world of peace she
did not have, yet she was not salts
fed.
"There is no important industry in
Germany upon which government has
not laid its hand to direct and, If
necessary, to control 1t.
"They were the same kinds of COM
binations that we have tried to pre-
vent by law. The conditions of COM
petition were thus controlled by the
German government.
"a political control which would
enable to control all labor and indus
try Of the world was behind it all.
Look at the map of Europe-Ger-
many, in thrusting again her peace
proposals upon us, talks Of Belgium,
northern France, Alsace-Lorraine.
Those are deeply interesting. but they
are not talking about the heart Of the
matter.
Vast Dominion.
"Look at the map of Germany's do
minion. l saw n map the other day
appropriately printed in black, and the
black stretched all the way from Ham
burg to Bagdad.
"If she can keep that, her power can
disturb the world, always provided h
expects the present influences In the
country and the government can still
control.
Germany is determined that politi-
cal power of the world shall belong to
her. There have been such ambitions
before; they have been real. But never
before were they based on such an
exact and scientific plan of domination.
Power Of Freedom.
"Power cannot be used against free
peoples, If 1t is used by free peoples.
"What I am opposed to is not the
feeling of the pacifist, but their stu
pidity. My heart is with them, but my
mind has contempt for them.
ANY people that compounds with the
present German government is COM
pounding for Its own destruction.
81 want peace, but I know how to
get It and they don't"
A great cheer went up as the presi-
lent spoke these words.
"You will notice l sent a friend of
mine, Colonel House, to Europe, who
is as great a lover of peace as there
Is In the world, but l didn't send him
on a peace mission. / sent him on a
mission to find out how the war car
be won.
"He knows, as I know, thai the way
to get peace as you want II takes more
than a few moments.
Raise U. 8. Power.
"If we are true friends Of freedom,
we will see that the power Of this coun
try and the producing activity of the
country shall be raised to the highest
degree, and nobody should be allowed
to stand In Its way.