The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1917-11-16

Proportion of the Burden of Defend
ing the Nation-Economic Democracy
Must Be Established and Maintained.
Mutual Co operation Necessary.
Wherever interruption of industry
occurs both the government and en-
ployers appeal to organized labor,
There Is a general desire to hold the
labor movement responsible for all
things affecting the human side of pro-
duction without corresponding de
sire to recognize the function of organ
tied labor and to give 1t opportunity
or authority.
Conditions against which organized
labor protested and worked are now
rising up to plague the nation In our
time of need The hordes of immi-
grant workers induced by trusts to
ards of work have deliberately been
prevented from learning American
ways of living and, of course, do not
now manifest loyalty to Americas
war necessity Corporations that have
beaten up every labor organizer who
ventured to set foot on their domains
now come crying to the American Fed
Grafton of Labor to help adjust labor
differences. The departments of the
federal government bring all labor diff
ficulties TO the responsible officers of
the labor movement and then let con
tracts to nonunion establishments.
What the government and employers
must recognize Is that there is no def
mite, tangible way to deal with unor-
ganiZed workers and that our success
in winning the war depends upon our
ability to organize our men and re-
sources. The only practical policy is
to lay upon the labor movement re-
sponsibility for dealing with the labor
side and then give 1t an opportunity to
make good.
Labor organizations desire 70 enter
into agreements SO that they can give
loyal service. The metal trades have
already offered to furnish the govern
ment with necessary workers for war
contracts and to arbitrate all differ
ences without cessation of work. They
have done everything that patriotic
workers could do. They could not be
expected to submit to unjust treatment.
and therefore they ask the establish
ment of ways and agencies whereby
they can remain at work and have In
justice remedied. The coal miners and
other trades have taken similar action.
The nation is counting upon organ
lied labor to do its share and holds 1t
responsible for an Indispensable part
OF national defense. Organized labor
represents a fundamental force in our
Industrial world. A plan for national
defense that does not have a place for
this elemental force has failed to look
facts squarely in the face and has fail
ed to understand the problem.
No greater mistake-aye, crime-can
be committed against our nation than
TO conceal truths and to follow meth
DDS that are not genuine and fruitful
Hypocrisy and special privileges for a
favored few will get US nowhere in
this war. The need demands national
cooperation, organization TO serve the
nations need. Those forces that can
help should be given fun opportunity.
II the world is to be made safe for
democracy, democracy in the United
States must be made strong and eff
cient By establishing economic democ-
racy to coordinate with political de-
mocracy. Sound, mutual economic CO
operation is the foundation for coop
Grafton In all other relationships
American Federationist