Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-12
Labor Representation at
Peace Conference Is Urged
in Report of Federation

BUFFALO. N. T, November 12.-De-
| mand for adequate and direct" repre-
sentation of wage-earners at the world
peace conference is made in the annual
report of the executive council Of the
| American Federation Of Labor, SUBJ
mitted today to the federation In con-
the world war must wipe out all YES
tiges 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 en-
phasis that the vital interests Of the
average citizen demand that he have q
voice in the readjustments to come with
. the dawn Of peace.
Optimism over labor achievements In
the last year Is tempered with warn
ing that benefits obtained from emer-
gency opportunities must be based on
principles of human welfare and not
the result of taking advantage OF the
nations necessity. Freedom OF express
sion 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.
Discusses Labor and War.
President Wilson's war address to
Con1ress is included in the report, with
the declaration adopted by meeting OF
union officials last March, when 1T was
seen to be inevitable that the European
confiagration would spread to America.
Under the heading Labor and the War
| the report says:
sUnder all circumstances 1t Is the
duty Of any government to protect Us
xyi1 Wholesale
murder. A people unwilling 70
make the supreme sacrifice In support
| of the government which undertakes TO
make that principle good are undeserv.
ing to i've ana no en3oy 1ne s y
The duty Of wage-earners IN the war u
emphasized particularly In the section OF
the report devoted to peace TERMS.
ment to secure peace and the settlement
| Of the present war without Wnoictive
indemnities or territorial changes. The
section says, In part:
there is no escape that wage-earners as
well as all other citizens Of this republic
support our government in Its righteous
effort to defend principles OF humanity
tional relations. Because we desire per.
manent peace it il our duty to fight and
sacrifice until these purposes can be
| achieved.
when nations can seno !epFeSentAuves
| to negotiate peace terms In accord with
| this concept. we maintain that the basic
provisions Of the peace treaty should be
formulated with regard to the rights and
Constituting the nations rather than the
governments Of the nations The gov
eminent should be only an instrumental
ity Of the people instead Of dominating
and actuating their lives. This terrific
| war must wipe out all vestiges Of the old
| conceit that the nation belongs to the
| ruler or government
"Working people have never been prop
erly represented in diplomatic affairs.
| The future must be constructed upon
broader lines than the past. We insist.
| therefore, that the government Of the
United States provide adequate and d.
rect representatives of wage-earners
| among the plenipotentiaries sent to the
peace congress, and urge upon the labor
movements of other countries to take like
action.