New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-04
Labor With Wilson,
Declares Duncan
Ma iority of Workers BEHIND
War Plans as Stone Wall,
Saws Leader

BOSTON. Sept 3.-The loyalty ..
Organized labor in the presence u
war was reafirmed by James Duncan
Of Quincy, vice president OF the Amer
lean Federation OF Labor and memoe'
Of the American Mission to Russia IN
an address at labor demonstration
on Boston Common to-day.
"The very large majority OF the
workers of our country" ne said,
"stand as stone wall back Of Pres
ident Wilson and Congress. When II
came to defence of the government
and the institutions Of our country
there was no question about where the
labor peoples interests lay. Anything
of an adverse nature which might al
feet our people, our government or our
institutions would fall most heavily
upon the wage earning portion of our
population.
"The logic Of events points to the
fealty Of the working people to The
government and to their readiness 10
defend it's institutions and to see to u
that the people of our much loved
country can traverse the globe wher-
ever they desire to go, untrammelled
by the tyranny of other countries.
Organized labor not only stands and
will protect the democracy Of our own
country, but demands, and is willing
TO fight for il, that democracy shall
be extended to all the peoples Of civ
ilizcd countries.
"PruSsIan militarism aims 70 domi-
nate the world, and this brings US face
TO face with the fact that we have
reached q position in the development
and advancement of nations where Z
Is not safe for democracy and autoc-
rscy both 20 exist"
Referring 20 the recent visit 10 Rus
STA, Mr.. Duncan said:
More than nine-tenths of the peo-
pic OF Russia are gladly supporting the
Provisional Government. and will do
their very best to help 10 make and
carry into effect a declaration Of in
dependence which will scarcely be sec
ond 70 that of our own country. a
small minority Of the Russians, while
! favoring a democracy, like certain peo-
! pie OF our own country, prefer 70 an
tagonIzc those who are active in the
protection Of the institutions of their
| country by adverse expression and
deeds, in the misguided idea Of desir-
| ing TO see their peculiar fad accepted
by the large majority.
Believe in Laws, Not Men
"The Russian people believe in a
! government Of laws and not of men.
I Although there will be trials TO pass
through before stable and coHstitu-
A, ,ional government has been established
/ there, each movement made will be
] found TO be a rational development
/ toward the fullest and truest kind of
representative government. The Rus
! sian people. following their great revo-
/ luton, should no. be judged by the
! wreck left 70 them by the deposed
. Gar.
"If the people OF Russia are Judged
! on their merits. their patriotic desire
/ for the introduction and defence of de-
mocracy will be found 80 overwhelm-
( ingly in their favor that those who
have been belittling their activities
/ and doubling their loyalty will be fewer
/ in number than the aggregate OF those
/ practicing reasonable expressions
/ within our own borders. The latter,
I instead of helping in the universal
. fight for democracy. are virtually stab
/ bling institutions Of the kind in the
back"