The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-03-17
LABOR OFFERS ITS SERVICES.

The American trade union movement is on the
alert, it always u.s. in the great crisis through
which the nation is passing. First and foremost
the leaders of the working classes pledge the sup
port of the American wage earners to the service
of the government, and they will give their labor,
and their lives if need be, to defend the honor and
integrity of the country.
The leaders of the labor movement beginning
with Mr.. Gompers are students of history. They
know the difference between the dollar patriots and
the real patriots. They know that the first have
the faculty of shielding their purpose and manufac
turing public opinion to suit their design, as re-
suit OF which the masses are required to make the
sacrifices Of war, pay prices for the necessities
of ife give up wholesome working conditions
obtained in times of peace, surrender the shorter
workday, be satisfied with ordinary wages, and
after war is over pay the nations bills.
So when organized labor through its representa-
tives at Washington this week issued statement
to the American people pledgng labors support to
the nation in the present crisis patriotic note was
sounded when it declared
Elm this solemn hour of our nations life it is
our earnest hope that republic may be safe
guarded in it's answering desire for peace; that
our people may be spared the horrors and the bur-
dens OF war; that they may have the opportunity to
cultivate and develop the arts of peace, human
brotherhood and higher civilization.
"But despite all our endeavors and hopes,
should our country be drawn into the maelstrom
of the European conflict we, with these ideals Of
liberty and justice herein declared, as the indis-
pensabe basis for national policies offer our serv-
ices to country in every field Of activity to de-
fend, safeguard and preserve the republic of the
United States of America against it's enemies whom
soever they may be, and call upon our fellow
workers and fellow citizens in the holy name Of
labor, JUSTICE freedom and humanity to devotedly
and periodically give like service.'
1t is held that organized labor is the only insti-
tuition to maintain the industrial rights Of the
workers and it is asserted that
'War has never put stop to the necessity for
struggle to establish and maintain industrial rights
Wage earners in times, must, as has been said,
KEEP ONE EYE ON THE EXPLORERS AT
HOME AND THE OTHER UPON THE ENEMY
THREATENING THE NATIONAL GOVERN
MENT
It is maintained to be fundamental step in pre-
paredness for the nation to Eset it's own house in
order and establish at home justice in relations
between men,
Previous wars for whatever purpose waged, are
said to have developed new opportunities for ex-
plotting wage earners; labor being stripped of it's
means of home defense and robbed of the advan-
tages, projections and guarantees achieved after
ages of struggles Wage are declared always
to have ost regardless of the outcome of the wars
The American labor movement is in excellent
condition to insure the safety Of the nation and to
protect the welfare of the masses against the en-
croachments Of the greedy. A new power has
arisen in the world and the money grabbing forces
will not have their way should this country
be forced to enter into the maelsrom of the Euro
pean conflict.
The circular will have cooling effect upon the
Jngoes when they begin to realize the final con-
sequences to them of war under such circumstances