The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1917-03-24


knows that militarism represents privi-
lege and is the tool of special interests,
exploiters and despots. But while it op-
poses militarism, it holds that it is the
duty of :. nation to defend itself against
injustice and invasion.
The menace of mlitarism arises
through isolating the defensive func-
tions of the State from civic activities
and from creating military agencies out
of touch with masses of the people. lso-
lation is subversive to democracy-it
harbors and nurtures the germs of arbi-
trary power.
The labor movement demands that a
clear differentiation be made against
military service for the nation and police
duty, and that military service should
be carefully distinguished from service
in industrial disputes.
We hold that industrial service shall
be deemed equally meritorious as mill
tary service. Organization for industrial
and commercial service is upon diff
ferent basis from military service-the
civic ideals still dominate This should
be recognized in mobilizing for this
purpose The same voluntary institu-
tions that organized industrial, CONNER
cial and transportation workers in times
of peace will best take care of the same
problems in time of war.
1t is fundamental therefore, that the
government cooperate with the Ameri
can organized labor movement for this
purpose. Service in government factor
les and private establishments, in trans
portation agencies, all should conform
TO trade union standards.
The guarantees of human conserva-
ton should be recognized in war as well
as in peace. Wherever changes in the
organization of industry are necessary
upon a war basis, they should be made
in accord with plans agreed upon by
representatives of the government and
those engaged and employed in the in
dustry. We recognize that in war, in
certain employments requiring high skill,
it is necessary to retain in industrial
service the workers specially fitted
therefor. In any eventuality when wom-
en- may be employed, we insist that equal
pay for equal work shall prevail with
out regard to sex.
Finally, in order to safeguard all the
interests of the wage-earners organized
labor should have representation on all
agencies determining and administering
policies for national defense. 1t is par
ticularly important that organized labor
should have representatives on all
boards authorized to control publicity
during war times. The workers have
suffered much injustice in war times by
limitations upon their right to speak
freely and to secure publicity for their
just grievances.
Organized labor has earned the right
to make these demands. 1t is the agency
that, in all countries, stands for human
rights and is the defender of the welfare
and interests of the masses of the people.
1t is an agency that has international
recognition which is not seeking to rob,
exploit or corrupt foreign governments
rights and interests the world over, nor
does it have to dispel suspicion nor
prove its motives either at home or
abroad.
The present war dscloses the strug
gle between the institutions of democ-
racy and those of autocracy. AS a ma
ton we should profit from the expert
ences of other nations. Democracy car
not be established by patches upon ar
autocratic system. The foundations oi
civilized intercourse between individual.
must be organized upon principles oi
democracy and scientific principles oi
human welfare Then national struc-
ture can be perfected in harmony with
humanitarian idealism-a structure that
will stand the tests of the necessities OF
peace or war.
We, the officers of the National and
international Trade Unions of America
ih national conference assembled in the
| Capitol of our nation hereby pledge our
selves in peace or in war, in stress or
in storm, to stand unreservedly by the
standards of liberty and the safety of
preservation of the institutions and
ideals of our republic.
In this solemn hour of our nations
life, it is our earnest hope that our re-
public may be safeguarded in its uil-
swerving desire for peace that our peo-
pie may be spared the horrors and the
burdens 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 jus
tice herein declared as the indispensable
basis for national policies, offer oul