Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1917-11-16
WILSON APPEALS
To LABOR FOR
WAR SUPPORT
Tells Delegates He Would Like to
See All Critics Ex-
ported.
ASKS FOR A UNITED FRONT
Says Pacifists Cannot Bring About
Peace, but He can-WhiIe We Are
Fighting for Freedom We Must
See That labor Is Free.


Buffalo, N. Y, Nov. 13.-President
Wilson delivered a message to the
workingmen Of tile United States in
an address before the annual conven-
ton of the American Federation of
Labor.
His entrance to the convention hall
was the signal for tremendous out
burst of cheers from the 5000 people,
assembled to hear him.
Samuel GOmpers, president Of the
federation, introducing Mr.. Wilson, re-
ferred to him as this man of destiny,
spokesman for freedom, interpreter
of the aims and spirit of our time, lead
er of thoughts and action among the
nations of the earth..'
This is a great privilege and
great honor" said the president. II
gladly accepted the invitation because
it seems to me that it was a welcome
opportunity to speak to you some of
the thoughts which have been gather
ing In my mind for the past few
months. / would be glad If you re-
gard me, not as the president, but as
man seeking counsel.
Causes of War.
'I think that in order to realize of
just what moment this counsel is, 1t
would be well to remind ourselves just
how and why this war came about.
''The war was started by Germany.
Her authors deny it, but I am will
ing to await the verdict of history.
Why did Germany start the war? Re-
member the position of Germany in
the world. The whole world stood in
admiration of her intelligence and ma
terial achievements.
'tAs a university man I have been
surrounded by men trained in Ger
many. Nowhere else could they get
such training Her industries were
perhaps the most competent in the
world She had access to all mar
kets in the world, but men in those
markets feared Germany because Of
her almost irresistible competition.
"Her industries were perhaps the
best in the world. Her ldAal, Made
lin Germany was a guarantee of good
workmanship. She had place in the
sun. Why was she not satisfied?
What Did She Want?
"What more did she want? There
was nothing in a world Of peace she
did not have. yet she was not salts
fed.
"There is no. important industry In
Germany upon which government has
not laid it's hand to direct and, If
necessary, to control it.
stThey were the same kinds of COM
binations that we have tried to pre-
vent by law. The conditions of COM
German government.
"a political control which would
enable to control all labor and indus
try of the world was behind it all.
'Look at the map of Europe-Ger-
many, in thrusting again her peace
proposals upon us, talks of Belgium.
northern France, Alsace-Lorraine.
Those are deeply interesting, but they
are not talking about the heart of the
matter.
Vast Dominion.
Look at the map of Germany's do
minion. / saw map the other day
appropriately printed in black, and the
black stretched all the way from Ham
burg to Bagdad.
eff she can keep that, her power can
disturb the world, always provided she
expects the present influences in the
country and the government can still
control.
Germany is determined that politi-
cal power of the world shall belong to
her. There have been such ambitions
before; they have been real. But never
before were they based on such an
exact and scientific plan of domination.
Power of Freedom.
Power cannot be used against free
peoples, if it is used by free peoples.
"What I am opposed to is not the
feeling of the pacifist, but their stu
pidity. My heart Is with them, but my
mind has contempt for them.
"Any people that compounds with the
present German government is COM
pounding for its own destruction.
ST want peace, but / know how to
get it and they don't"
A great cheer went up as the presi.
sent spoke these words.
you will notice [ sent a friend of
mine, Colonel House, to Europe, who
is as great lover of peace as there
Theueht Kept Him Alive.