Denver labor bulletin., 1917-09-01

A feeling has been growing rapidly
of late in labor circles generally that
trade unionism has not been obtaining
the square deal it expected from the
government with regard to adequate
representation on the various boards
and committees formed to supervise
the various industries which are being
mobilized for war work. Despite the
sincere desire of organized labor to
place itself unstintedly at the service
of the nation in the present national
crisis, the very friction which it's pre-
war manifesto sought to avert is max
ing itself felt in various quarters.
That the situation thus being
brought about contains grave ele-
ment of danger to the placing of the
essential industries on a war footing
is clearly seen by the New Republic,
the New York "intellectual" organ
which is said to find favor with Presi-
dent Wilson. In its issue of July II,
it strongly urges policy of direct
recognition of trade unionism, on all
war work affecting the standard of
labor so as to put fresh faith and en-
thusiasm into the millions of organ
lied workers who are the backbone of
American industry and make for the
efficient speeding-up of production and
the prevention of strikes" The New
Republic editorial reads:
By its timid and temporiZing atti-
tude toward the trade unions, the gov
ernment is rapidly placing Mr.. Com
pers as the head of the labor commit
tee of the advisory commission on ma
tional defense in an impossible posi-
tion before the rank and file of the
organized labor movement. No rep
resentative body of trade union eXecu-
tives in any of the belligerent coun-
tries was so prompt TO throw the
weight of their influence to the side
of the government on the declaration
of war as Mr.. Gompers and the eNecu-
tive council of the Asmerican Fedora
tion of Labor. Weeks before the pres
ident asked congress to take formal
action against Germany, Mr.. Gompers
called a conference Of the executive
heads of the principal trade unions
and by his skill as a parliamentarian
induced them TO pledge themselves
unanimously to the service Of the coun-
try. Many Of the men who attended
this conference had been passionately
opposed to Americas entrance into the
war: some Of them were on record as
believing in the general strike as a
justifable means Of thwarting the
prosecution Of hostilities. Mr.. Com
pers was able 10 persuade them that
the president had done everything in
his power TO keep the country out Of
war, and that by her revocation Of
her submarine pledge, Germany was
threatening the existence Of democ-
racy not only in America, but in the
world. The resolution adopted by the
conference dispelled some Of the gray
est anxieties of the administration and
the country.
When the advisory commission of
the council of national defense was
organized. Mr.. Gompers was made
chairman of the committee of labor.
Believing that the national emergency
demanded both the obliteration of
past rancors that might interfere with
the heightened mobilization of indus
try and the development of n liberal
spirit of cooperation between employ
ers and workers, Mr.. Gompers gave
equal representation on his committee
to employers and trade unionists. He
invited TO its membership the presi-
dent of the national civic federation,