Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-09-03
Labor Leader barrow and Our War

At all the celebrations held today, abor's part in
the will be the universal text and the thought
uppermost in all minds. .=.-E- III -
The chief glory will be the splendid record of the
workingmen in their appreciation of what the war
means to America and their prompt and willing
response to the call of the country for men at the
battlefront and millions behind the line
i. w. W. and socialist assistants of Germany are
exceptions that prove the rule. Labor is with the
country and manfully backing our administration
in working out the many tasks which America must
perform, tasks before done in the worlds his
story Leaders of labor have been quick to speak out
President Gompers did not have to hesitate when
the time came for him to declare himself.
And now comes Clarence Darrow, the attorney
who is regarded by many toilers one of the
prophets of the laborers cause Mr.. Darrow has
been Pacfst, but he says, II found that my theo-
res could not fit the facts So unlike most Pacifsts,
have decided to accept the facts and modify my
will be again-after Germany is licked"
This day devoted to labor is an appropriate occa-
sion to read the conclusions of Mr.. Darrow, after
he has canvassed the whole situation from every
possible angle There is no qualification in OAR
rows support. He says:
There will be no real peace in the world until
the Prussian military power is crushed. For no
reason whatsoever Germany has deliberately broken
the peace of the world. She was getting ready for
this for forty years. while other nations were be-
Nesing in peace and carrying out this belief.
ITO know whether one believes in pacifsm to the
limit one must put oneself in the place of Belgium
and France.
at is idle to talk about non-resistance.
"Human nature is not made that way. No people
ft to survive will be tramped upon Belgium and
France had to fight, to die, or surrender-which
would have been far worse than death.
Germany disappointed because she could not
conquer the world in o few months engaged in
submarine warfare, which, under the lawssof ma
tions, was nothing but piracy and murder
"n America had not decided this meant war and
was war she would not be fit to be nation.
IF she were controlled by pacifsts who would
not fight under these conditions she would not long
remain nation.
1Had she refused to fight she would have received
and deserved the contempt Of all right thinking peo-
pie.
Many of those opposedto this war are eyerlast-
ingly pointing out the shortcomings of the United
States and other allied countries. / am well aware
that this country is far from perfect.
"But whatever the shortcomings of this country,
it is still free and better than any other of the great
countries of the world What we ave is worth
preserving and it cannot be preserved unless we are
ready to fight
mo one in America believes in war as trade or
art but we believe in selfdefense and do not be-
eve that barbarous warriors should be left free to
oyerrun the world
aThis war has now become war for preserving
civilization. 1t is war for democracy against the
most medieval autocratic government of either Eu-
rope or America.
II do not believe in any talk Of peace. We should
begin to fight before we talk about the terms of
peace. 1t is not for Germany and Austria-either
directly indirecty-to bring about peace on any.
thing like their own terms. They made this war,
deliberately, ruthlessly and should suffer the conse
quences."