Denver labor bulletin., 1917-04-28
BY GRANT HAMILTON.
Legislative Committeeman \. F. of


cratic institutions and methods are
gradually drifting toward autocracy
and bureaucracy under the stress of
war conditions, for military officials
and their votaries, under any form of
government, display an 'inordinate
thirst for power. Under the pretext
of military necessity the fundamental
principles of freedom, held so sacred
by the American people, are in dan
ger Of being swept away. In this gi-
gantic struggle between nations, in
volying over 9OO,0OO,000 people, or ap-
proXimately two-thiris Of the worlds
population, the equilibrium of all gov
ernments is being shattered by inter
national arrangement.
With the entrance of the United
States into the tornado of conflict the
latent forces of American militarism
are seeking control upon the plea of
national defense and bid fair to trans
form what democracy we now enjoy
into a huge military autocracy. Ex-
treme military sentiments are devel-
oping among the members of congress
and the committees. In sharp con-
trast to the attitude of congresses
previous to the declaration that state
of war existed between this country
and Germany, there is now being
evinced q war spirit which threatens
TO not only submerge, but to destroy
those principles of government which
have become tradition of the Amer
lean people.
Committees of congress, from time
immemorial, have thrown their COM
mittee rooms open to the public and
invited expressions of opinion upon
every contemplated piece of legisla-
ton. In fact, there has been such
wide latitude accorded as to obstruct
and delay the passage of remedial and
necessary legislation.
War, with its whitening influence,
has worked a change so marked and
convulsive as to stagger ability to
comprehend the transition. The COM
mittee on military affairs of the house
of representatives held daily secret
sessions for over a week with repre-
sentatives of the military establish
ments of the government. During
this period 1t is known that the sub
ject of conscriptions was the most i'm
portant matter under discussion, but
no one was allowed within the pre-
cincts of the military affairs commit
tee room save the committee and those
representing the military arm of the
government.
a demand was made by the legis-
lative Representatives of the American
Federation of Labor for an opportu-
nifty to appear before the committee
and present the attitude of the Amer
lean labor movement upon conscrip-
ton. The demand was finally granted.
Other persons not identified with or
ganized labor were also accorded an
opportunity TO appear before the COM
mittee. Unlike on former occasions,
however. the committee hearings were
held behind closed doors. Only one
individual at time was permitted to
enter the committee room to express
an opinion or present an argument
against conscription, neither was the
press afforded an opportunity TO des-
seminate the statements of those who
appeared before the committee.
In light of the fact that the inter
ests of the entire nation are involved
in the question of CONSUMPTION the pro-
ceedings are the most remarkable of
any occurrence in legislative annals
since the foundation of our govern
ment-
With the opportunity afforded, Pres
ident Gompers presented to the mill
tary affairs committee the attitude of
the organized labor movement, which
is opposed TO CONSUMPTION. His state
was SdNNAANk ain
was as follows:
THE organized labor movement has
always been fundamentally opposed to
compulsion. 1t has maintained that
institutions and relations of free
people can and should be based upon
the voluntary principle. 1t now main
tains that what has been the directing
basic principle in industrial organiza-
ton and service must be the initial
basic principle in the military. The
declaration unanimously adopted by
the representatives of the entire or
ganized labor movement of the United
States is based upon this adherence 70
the voluntary principle.
1T has been the hope of the men
and women of labor that il this re-
public should inevitably be drawn into
active participation in the present
world conflict that the republic of the
United States might demonstrate to
the world that free institutions and
ideals are effective and sufficient in
war as well as in peace.
''It is the hope of organized labor
to demonstrate that under voluntary
conditions and institutions the repub-
lie of the United States can mobilize