Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-09-08

President Wilson'S stamp OF approval,
concluded its big loyalty conferences
here last night with the election Of
officers and the adoption Of a ringing
declaration of principles.
The outstanding provisions in the
declaration of principles include:
Suppression of disloyalists and pro-
German propagandists.
qualification of labor behind the
government. &@.
Consumption of wealth DIS well as
of men.
Heavy taxes n incomes. excess
profits and land values.
Government control Of industrtesi in
case Of labor disputes.
Action against speculative interests
which enhance prices Of ne~cessaries
Of life.
Insurance for soldiers and sailors.
Equal suffrage.
Endorsement of President Wilson's
decision not to permit the war to be
made an xcuse for lowering labor
standards.
Labor to Be Represented.
Declaration that wage earners must
have a voice in determining condi-
tons under which they give service,
must be represented in councils con-
Quoting h war and at peace negotia-
1.-The overshadowing issue" the
declaration says, sis preservation Sof
democracy. Either democracy will
endure and men will be free, or au-
tocracy will triumph and the race will
be enslaved. On this prime issue we
take our stand. We declare hat the
war must be fought to a decisive re-
that until autocracy is defeated
there can be no hope Of an honorable
peace, n that to compromise the
issue is only to SOW the seed for
bloodier and more devastating wars in
the future
Condemn Pacifists.
I'VE strongly denounce,"E the de-
claration continues, the words and
actions of those enemies Of the repub-
the name of labor and democracy, are,
now ceaselessly striving to obstruct
the operations Of the government. In
misrepr6senting the governments
purposes, In traducing the character
Of the president and Of his advisers,
in stealthilSsattempting to incite sedt-
Q and in openly or implicitly coun-
selling resistance to the enforcement
of laws enacted for the national de-
Tense, they abuse the rights Of free
speech, free assemblage and a free
press. In the name Of liberty they
encourage anarchy: and in the name
Of humanity they render every pos
oAbAS GIN al " LAX
Prussian autocracy. If the sinister
counsels of these persons were foI-
lowed, labor would be reduced to sub
Election and democracy would be OBJ
liberated from the earth. We declare
that the betrayal Of ones fellow
act counterpart in the betrayal of
ones fellow citizens in time Of raj
and that both are offenses which de-
serve the ~detestation of mankind.
The Loyalty Of Labor.
wv declare that a sturdy defense
of the interests Of labor Is wholly
compatible with supreme loyalty to
the government. Our loyalty to the
government is the loyalty, Of free men
who will not acquiesce in any sur
render Of principle.
we declare that a condition which
demands the consumption Of men like
wise demands the CONSUMPTION Of
wealth, and that incomes, excess prof
its and land values should be taxed
to the fullest needs OF the government.
I'VE declare hat industrial enter
prises should be the servants and not
the masters Of the people, and that
in cases where differences between
owners and workers threaten az dis
continuance of production necessary
assume Complete control of such In
dustries and operate them for the@ex-
elusive benefit of the people.
q. S. Should Lower Prices.
1--WE declare that the government
should take prompt action with regard
to the speculative interests which, es-
pecially during the war, have done SO
much to enhance prices of the neces
saries Of life. To. increase the food
supply and to lower, prices, the gov
ernment should commander all land
necessary for public purposes and
should lax idle land in private pos
session on its full rental value.
I'VE declare that the right OF the
wage earners to collective action. lis the
fundamental condition which gives OPP
%portunity for economic freedom and
makes possible the betterment Of the
workers conditions. h recognition
already given to this principle should
be extended and made the basis of all
relationships, direct or indirect, be-
tween the governments and the wage
earners engaged In activities connect
ed with the war.
Committee to Aid Russia.
"a committee was appointed to ex-
tend aid and encouragement to new
Russia. It isAcomposed Of Mr.. Com
Ipers, Frank +. Walsh, John Spargo,
former member of the executive conn
mittee of the Socialist party, and Jas.
Duncan and Charles Edward Russell,
the latter two members of the Amer
lean mission to Russia
am unable to say now whether
the committee will go to Russia" said
Mr.. Gompers.
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