The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-03-16
Committee on Industrial Relations)

tCOmInlUtee on lHuuSCTldl heldClOHS)
NEW YORK, March GA me-
mortal has been presented to the
President and Congress to avoid war
by all means possible, but, if war is
forced, then to "take all the profit out
of war"
The memorial has been passed by
the legislature of North Dakota and
is pending now in the legislatures of
Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota
and Montana, and has been sent for
presentation to the legislatures of all
the other states in which legislative
sessions are being held-thirty-e
states in all.
Arthur LeSueur, legal adviser for
the Non-Partisan League of North
Dakota and the Northwest, has
brought the memorial east, with au-
thority to present it in the name of
the league, of Governor Lynn Fraz-
ier of North Dakota, and of all af-
filiated farmers and workers. organ
izations. The league itself, which
has initiated the resolutions, is that
organized movement of farmers and
allied workers which has recently
! swept through the Northwest and is
developing remarkable political and
economic strength nationally
Urging the preservation of peace
and insisting on strict neutrality, yet
pledging the support of life and prop
erty if war is inevitable, the resolu-
tion earnestly recommends and re-
quests" that not only munitions
plants and steel foundries but flour
mills, cloth factories and "such other
property and money" be taken over
by the government "to be used dur
ing the war without compensation,
and to be surrendered after the war
to the owners"
"This memorial" said Mr.. LIE Sueur
in presenting it to official representa-
tives and to public audiences in the
East, "is not what one would call a
direct demand for peace, but it has a
greater power for peace, in my judg-
ment, than any direct demand for
it could ever have, because of the
suggestion which it carries that citi-
zens of wealth are not going to do
as they have done in France, and
other European countries, and as they
did do in the United States in time
of war-make the war an opportunity
for a monopoly of wealth-but will
be compelled to stand the burdens
themselves. If this were actually
done war would actually ceases, for
the common people are never volun-
tarily given to pay the costs of war,
and the rich will never carry on war
at their own expense. In wars, dur
ing all time, the rich have had all
the glory and the poor have paid all
the bills-the rich becoming richer
? and the poor becoming poorer, as a
result of the war. If some way
could be devised whereby the war
debts of Europe could be cancelled,
the war over there would cease"
Declaring that "it has become ap-
parent that there is some invisible
force carrying on press propaganda
to involve this nation in the Euro
pean conflict" and declaring that
at is apparent that the munition, ar
NOR and steel plants, and their al
lied interests, would be the gamers
in such a conflict" and declaring that
at is generally believed that the
munition, armor and steel plants are
the parties responsible for this prop
aganda; "the body of the resolution
or memorial proceeds:
"We respectfully petition the Presi-
dent and Congress of the United
States, to do everything in their
power that can honorably be done, to
avoid this nations being drawn into
the European conflict of destruction.
"And we respectfully petition the
President and Congress of the United
States, to endeavor to maintain alb
solute neutrality with neither favor
nor prejudice toward any of the un-
fortunate beligerent nations.
"And be it further made known
that it is our firm and unalterable
purpose to support and stand by our
nation in case of war, with our lives
and property.
"And being mindful of the prin-
ciples of equity, justice and free
dom, upon which this government is
founded, we do most earnestly rec
ommend and request that the Con-
: gress of the United States authorize
and empower the President. SO far as
il is within their power, in case war