The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-04-08
Union Heads Go on Record
With Regard to Conflict
With Germany.
WANT RECOGNITION
Believe That Prosecution Of
War Successfully De-
ponds on Cooperation.
CONTINUED From Page Onc)

power and usefulness.
The labor movement recognizes the
value Of freedom and 1t knows that
freedom and rights can be maintained
only by those willing to assert theii
!. claim and to defend their rights. The
American labor movement has always
opposed unnecessary conflicts and all
wars for Egrandizement. exploitation
and enslavement, and yet 1t has done
it's part in the worlds revolution. in
the struggles to establish greater free
dom, democratic institutions and ideals
of human justice.
Our labor movement distrusts ana
protests against militarism, because
it knows that militarism represents
privilege and is the tool Of special in
terests. cxploiters and despots. But
while it opposes militarism, it holds
that II Is the duty of a nation to defend
itself against injustice and invasion.
The menace OF militarism arises
through isolating the defensive func-
lions of the state from civic activities
and from creating military agencies
out of touch with masses of the people
Isolation is subvcrsive to democracy
1t harbors and nurtures the germs OF
:. arbitrary power.
The labor movement demands that
clear differentiation be made against
military service for the nation and po-
lice duty, and that military service
should be carefully distinguished from
service in industrial disputes.
We hold that industrial service shall
be deemed equally meritorious as mill
tary service. Organization for indus
trial and commercial service is upon a
different basis from military service
the civic ideals still dominate. This
should be recognized in mobilizing for
this purpose. The same voluntary in
situations that organized industrial
commercial and transportation workers
in times Of peace will best take care OF
the same problems in time of war;
1t is fundamental, therefore, that
the government cooperate with the
American organized labor movement
for this purpose. Service in govern
ment factories and private establish
ments. in transportation agencies. all
should conform to trade union stand
ards.
The guarantees of human conscrva-
ton should be recognized in war as
well as in peace. Wherever changes i'll
the organization of industry are neces
sary upon war basis, they should be
made in accord with plans agreed upon
by representatives Of the government
and those engaged and employed in
the industry. We recognize that in
war. In certain employments requiring
high skill, it is necessary to retain in
industrial service the workers special,
fitted therefor. In any eventually
when women may be employed. we in
sst that equal pay for equal worl,
shan prevail without regard to sex.
Finally. in order to safeguard all tho
interests of the wage carners organ
lied labor shall have representation or
all agencies determining and admins
tcring policies for national defense
- - aPa'tASuidiiS important that Or
.anizcd labor should have representa-
tives on all boards authorized to con.
troll publicity during war times The
workers have suffered much injustice
In war times by limitations upon theil
right to speak freely land to secure
publicity for their just grievances.
Organized labor has earned the RICH,
to make these demands. It. is the
agency that, in all countries. stands
for human rights and Is the defende,
of the welfare and interests of ths
masses OF the people. 1t is an agenc,
that has international recognition
which is not seeking to rob. exploit
OF corrupt foreign governments. but
instead seeks to maintain human rights
and interests the world over, nor does
it have to dispel suspicion nor prove
its motives either at home or abroad d
The present war discloscs the strug-
gle between the institutions of dcmoc-
racy and those of autocracy. AS ma
ton we should profit from the expert
enccs of other nations. Democracy
can not be established by patches
upon an autocratic system. The foun
dations by civilized intercourse be-
tween individuals must be organized
upon principles of democracy and sci
cntific principles of human welfare
Then a national structure can be per-
fectcd in harmony with humanitarian
idealism--a structure that will stand
the tests of the necessities OF peace
or war
We, the officers of the national and
international trade unions of America
in national conference assembled in
the capital Of our nation. hereby pledge
ourselves in peace or in war, in stress
or in storm. to stand unreservedly by
the standards of liberty and the safety
and preservation of the institutions
and ideals of our republic. -- a. s*..-
In this solemn hour of our nations
life, 1t is our earnest hope that oul
republic may be safeguarded in its
answering desire for peace; that oul
people may be spared the horrors ant