Denver labor bulletin., 1917-10-13
RELATES TO PROGRESS OF
THOSE WHO PRODUCE
WORLDS WEALTH.
Selective Conscription Plan of
Raising a Mighty Army Guar
antee that Democracy Will
Henceforth Prevail in
the Military
Program.
ny LAURENCE TODD
Especial Representative The Denver Labor


WASHINGTON. Oct S.-Congress
adjourned its special session Saturday,
after the enactment Of more legisla-
tion Of prime importance TO the Amer.
lean wage worker than has ever been
considered in nnT session since the
opening Of the Civil war True, non
OF the bills passed was described in
its title as relating TO labor, but the
fact remains that all Of them, from
the declaration Of war to the enact
ment Of the pension plan, directly re
late to the progress of the struggle Of
those who produce the worlds wealth
to direct the worlds work and to dis
tribute more evenly the worlds
leisure.
The declaration of war, introduced
on April and signed by the Prcsi-
dent on April 6, pledged the nation to
make the world safe for democracy
the rule Of nations by equal, direct
and secret suffrage. II political de-
mocracy be the only form of democ-
racy that political leaders have in
mind, not so the leaders Of labor. in
Europe or in America. Ninc-tenths
Of them know that. out Of this war is
coming tremendous expansion OF
bread and butter democracy. to be
brought about by political means.
both by taxation and by removal of
private ownership of great industries.
The man in the shop is going to null
tiply his power over the conditions OF
his own life and the lives of all other
men.
Power Of Labor in the World.
The great loan to the allies, placing
them to n great extent under Ameri-
can influence as TO their future poll
cies, again increased the power OF
American labor in the world. Credit
ors TO England. France, Italy, Serbia,
Belgium and to some extent to Rus
sia. the United States is now in n po-
sition to advise them on how they shall
maintain their strength. Its advice
ing self-reliancc of the vast majority
of the wage workers in America.
These men and women, who have
been gaining advances in wages and
decreases in hours of labor, want to
see similar improvements established
all over the world. and particularly in
those countries whose products will.
after the war. compete with American
products in the open market. The pos
sible helpful influence OF the American
labor movement is vastly extended
thru the making of this war loan.
Puts New Force in Army.
Congress adopted the conscription
plan for raising new army, and at
once there was drawn into the army n
great body Of men trained in the school
of trade unionism, and whose skill and
quality seems likely to guarantee that
never again will the army of the
United States be identified rs some
thing hostile to. and ignorant of the
constructive program Of. the labor
movement. Today's trend is toward
the complete Identification OF the con-
script and volunteer armies with the
mass of the people.
II anything were needed to assure
the fundamental sympathy OF the man
in the military service with his broth
er in industrial service. that element
is furnished by the enactment Of the
insurance and family allowance law.
The nation has undertaken to keep the
soldiers family from want while he
is away at war, and to assure him OF
livelihood when he returns, II he is
disabled. He will not have to fight for
the Job Of the man who stayed behind,
either, when the war is done.
Supported by Union Labor.
Implied in the whole scheme of in
surancc Ia the idea that the returned
soldier will be given chance to earn
n livelihood that will relieve the gov
ernmcnt of further payments to his
family. England has put the guaran-
tee in specific terms. Congress will
probably do the same in the coming
session.
The food administration net, which
carried with It the creation of the fuel
administration, was, like the insur-
ance plan. strongly supported by or
gnnizcd labor. There has been much
preliminary uneasiness rs to how these
schemes of reducing the high cost of
and coal this winter. would work out
Up to the present they have not re-
duced prices to any considerable ex-