New Britain herald., 1917-11-16
WAR QUESTIONS
 RAISED BY REPORT
Executive Council of A. F. Of L.
 Wants Representation

cil of the American Federation of Labor, submitted to the fed eration in convention here. The re. port declares that the world war must wipe out all vestiges of the old conceit that the nation belongs to the ruler.''
 Questions raised by the war occupy virtually the entire report No room is left for doubt that the United States government has the unanimous support of organized American labor in the war. and it is asserted with equal emphasis that the vital inter ests of the average citizen demand that he have a voice in the readjust- mcnts> to come with the dawn of peace.
 Optimism over labor achievements in the last year is tempered with warning that benefits obtained from emergency opportunities must be based on principles of human welfare and not the result of taking advan- tage of the nations necessity. Free dom of expression Is upheld, but the report says those who abuse the freedom of the press to undermine the nations free institutions should be punished as traitors.
 President Wilson's war address to congress is included in the report with the declaration adopted by a meeting of union officials last March when it was seen to be inevitable that the European conflagration would spread to America. Under the heading Labor and the War;" the re- port says:
 Under all circumstances it is the <5,,&x oP f1 r. people against wllfull and wholesale murder. A people unwilling to make the supreme sacrifice in sup port of the government which under takes to make that principle good are undeserving to live and enjoy the privilege of free, democratic govern ment."
 The duty of wage-earners in the war is emphasized particularly in the section of the report devoted to Peace Terms" which advocates an inte r1National agreement to secure peace and the settlement of the pres ent war without "vindictive" indem- mites or territorial changes. The sec ton says:
 Tt Is an imperative duty from which there is no escape that wage earners as we'll as all other citizens of this Republic support our govern ment in its righteous effort to defend l principles of humanity and to estab- 1 lish democracy in international rela- 1 tions. Because we desire permanent l peace it Is our duty to fight and sac rifce until these purposes can be achieved.
 When nations can send representa- lives to negotiate peace terms in ac- cord with this concept, we maintain that the basic provisions of the peace treaty should be formulated with re- gard to the rights and welfare of the men, women, and children constitut- ing the nations rather than the gov- ernments of the nations. The govern ment should be only an instrumental ity of the people instead of dominat- ing and actuating their lives. This terrific war must wipe out all vestiges of the old concept that the nation be- longs to the ruler or government.
 We hold that the same principles should apply to relations between na- tions and that secret diplomacy should be replaced by diplomatic representa- tives responsible to the people of their own people and received by either the parliament of the country to which they are accredited or by a ICOCICdI4NO OA L4l0 pCOpAC1 ICoPOA. sible to them.
 Working people have never been properly represented in diplomatic affairs The future must be con- structed upon broader lines than the past. We insist. therefore, that the government of the United States pro- vide adequate and direct representa- tives of wage-earners among the plenipotentiaries sent to the peace congress, and urge upon the labor movements of other countries to take like action.
 we urge the adoption of the fol- lowing declarations as the basis upon which peace must be negotiated:
 Il. The combination of the free peoples of the world in a common covenant for genuine and practical cooperation to secure Justice and therefore peace in relations between nations.
 "2. Governments derive their just 1 power from the consent of the gov- | erned.
 | "3. No political or economic resti- | tutions meant to benefit some nations and to cripple or embarrass others | "A. No indemnities or reprisals i based upon vindictive purposes or de- | manifest wrongs.
 "5 Recognition of the rights of small nations and of the principle No | people must be forced under sov- ereigntv under which it does not wish 1 to live
 "6. No territorial changes or ad- iustment of power except in further ance of the welfare of the peoples af- fected and in furtherance of world l pea@c.
 'Tn addition to these basic prin-
 ciples which are based upon declara- =
 tons of our president of these United