The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1917-05-03


scriptlon, is seriously proposed That
system, military training in schools,
which poisons society at its source
is advocated. Prussian Mlitarism,
the thing against which you say you
protest, is upon us in its most per
nicious form and what makes the
m after 50 serious is that you approve
it for yourself but condemn it in
others. Liberty, justice and human
ity are strangers in our land. The
producers are exploited by the in
dustria masters under sanction of
the law. Reports show conclusively
that large percentage of the chill
dren are SO under-nourished, that
they cannot study. Men, women and
children are ground into dollars. A
few live in luxury upon the toll, tears
and suffering Of the many. Friends,
let us first set our own house in or
der and then spread the blessings of
liberty and justice, not by the sword
but by teaching and example. War
settles no questions. The fact that
the stronger nation overpowers the
weaker, does not necessarily mean
that the stronger nation had Just
cause
War is horrible, ! know you feel it.
You are not cruel enough to desire
war. Perhaps the stay-at-home pa
triot desires it, but we cannot count
him in on this case; the other fellows
blood smells sweet to him. Friends,
it is not too late to stop this war;
we can stop it legally and not by trea-
sonaIly means; this is the PLAN
Propose that not an ounce of
powder, not single shot or shell;
not anything used by our army and
navy be manufactured by the priv
ate industries, but that all these
things be manufactured by the pub
lie for the public; further propose
that our army and navy shall not be
sent abroad to collect the war debt
owed by Europe to our muntion max
ers; further propose that our military
forces shall not be used as strike
breakers and in industrial disturb
ances; further propose that all tools
and means Of production and natural
resources shall be owned and used by
the producers collectively; that things
of use and consumption shall he made
for use and consumption and not for
profit; and lastly, that we establish
a condition where liberty and Justice
are reality. If these proposals are
carried out, there will be no war. If
after we have obtained these things.
any eXploiter should attack US, every
man, woman and child will fight with
out being forced to do so.
You have attempted to create a
spirit of patriotism by artificial
means, waving flags, beating drums
and speeches by stay-at-home pa
triots. Those who were the least
likely to be called to the colors, made
the greatest noise. You send to the
slaughter pen, my friends; you sent
them with prayer on your lips and a
curse in your hearts. I hope for their
safe return to the their fathers, moth
ers, sisters and loved ones; if they
leave their young lives upon the bat
tie field or die from disease con-
tracted by reason of that service,
their blood is upon your hands, the
stain you cannot remove. You
raised my friends on a pedestal and
held them up to public gaze, pro-
nouncing them noble men; before
their enlistment you snubbed and
despised them socially. You cannot
create love by law or artificial means.
Free your people economically So
cially, industrially, intellectually; give
them the full measure of liberty, JUS
tice and happiness; give to each man
and woman the full social value of
his or her labor; destroy the system
of exploitation of the worker and you
will create a force that cannot be
subdued or conquered.
To the Home Guards, | would like
to say: That your organization is
source of trouble wherever created.
Those of you who are unable or UNI
willing to go to the front where
blood spurts, bones break and men
die in agony have no moral right to
ask your young men, (unskilled in
your sophistry and deception and not
divining your base deception) to of
fer their lives.
Let US be friends. Let US submit
our welfare and the welfare of our
boys to the test of reason, not to
blind preiudices or hypocritical pre-
tension. The matter is grave.
Yours for peace,
f. HOFSTEDE.