The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-04-08

robbed of the advantages. the protec.
lions. the guarantees Of justice tina,
had been achieved after ages Of. strux.
gle. For these reasons workers have
felt that no matter what the result o1
war. as wage earners they general,
lost.
In previous tim IS labor had no rep.
resentattves in the councils authorized
to deal with the conduct of war. THE
rights. interests and welfare of the
workers were automatically sacrificed
for the slogan of national safety"
4 The European war has demonstrated
the dependence Of the government.
upon the cooperation Of the masses
Iof the people. Since the masses per-
form indispensable service, 1t follows
that they should have voice in de-
termining the conditions upon which
they give service.
The workers Of America make
known their beliefs, their demands
and their purposes through volun-
tary agency which they have estab-
iishcd-thc organized labor movement.
This agency is not only the repre-
sentative Of those who directly con-
stitute II, but it is the representative
of all those persons who have common
problems and purposes but who have
not yet organized for their achieve
ment.
| Whether in peace or in war, the or
ganized labor movement seeks to make
all else subordinate to human welfare
and human opportunity. The. labor
movement stands as the defender of
this principle and undertakes to pro-
tect the wealth. producers against the
exorbitant greed Of special interests,
against profiteering. against exploita-
ton. against the detestable methods
OF irresponsible greed. against the
inhumanity and crime of heartless cor
porations and employers.
| Labor demands the right in war
| times to be the recognized defender
Of wage-carners against the same
forces which In former wars have
made national necessity an excuse for
more ruthless methods.
As the Representatives. of the wage
earners we assert that conditions Of
work and pay In government employ
ment and in all occupations should
conform to principles of human well
| fare and Justice.
A nation cannot make an effective
defense against an outside danger if
groups of citizens are asked to take
part in war though smarting with a
sense of keen injustice inflicted by the
government they are expected to and
will defend.
The cornerstone of national defense
is justice In fundamental relations of
tlife-economic Justice.
The one agency which accomplishes
this for the workers is the organized
labor movement. The greatest step
that can be made for national defense
! Is not to bind and throttle the or
ganized labor movement, but to afford
it's greatest scope and opportunity for
voluntary effective Corporation in
spirit and in action.
| During the long period In which it
has been establishing itself. the labor
movement has become a dynamic
force In organizing the human side of
industry and commerce. II is great
social factor. which must be recog-
nized in all plans which affect wage
earners.
Whether planning for peace or war
the government must recognize the
organized labor movement as the
agency through which It must co-op-
crate with wage carners.
Industrial justice Is the right OF
those living within our country. With
this right there Is associated obliga-
ton. In war time obligation takes the
form of service in defense Of the re-
public against enemies.
/ We recognize that this service may
be either military or Industrial. both
equally essential for national defense.
We hold this to be incontrovertible
that the government which demands
that men and women give their labor
ipower their bodies or their lives to its
service should also demand the serv-
lice. in the interest OF these human
beings, Of all wealth and the products
tof human toil-property.
/ We hold that II workers may be
asked In time of national peril or
emergency to give more exhausting
service than the principles of human,
welfare warrant, that service should
be asked only when accompanied by
increased guarantees and safeguards.
and when the profits which the EN-
ployer shall secure from the industry
In which they are engaged have been
limited to fixed percentages.
We declare that such determination
of profits should be based on costs OF
processes actually needed for product
/ Workers have no decisions regard.
ing the policy which property owner.
and exploiting employers pursue In