Denver labor bulletin., 1917-04-21
BRITISH DELEGATES SENT
BY LLOYD GEORGE WITH
WAR COMMISSION.
Conscription For War and For
Farm Labor Commanding the
Attention of Statesmen and
Labor Officials at the
National Capital.
By LAURENCE TODD
pecfal Washington Correspondent The
Denver Labor Bulletinl

Especial Washington Correspondent The
Denver Labor BuIletin.)
WASHINGTON, April 16.-Mili-
tary conscription, which has met with
protest from every section of the coun-
try from the day it was suggested by
President Wilson III his war message
to congress, is in conflict with the
whole spirit of the organized labor
movement This was the message
President Gompers of the American
Federation of Labor gave to the house
committee on military affairs today.
If conscription is defeated or consid-
erably delayed, pending a thoro try
out Of voluntary enlistments in force
organized for the period of the war
only, the labor movement can claim
credit for this result. Chances for
and against compulsory war service
were pretty nearly even when the la
Dor interest was heard from.
The organized labor movement has
always been fundamentally opposed to
compulsion," Gompers said. at has
maintained that institutions and rela-
tions of free people can and should
be based upon the voluntary principle.
1t now maintains that what has been
the directing basic principle in indus
trial organization and service must be
eLS bdsAS The
tary. The declaration of March ~
unanimously adopted by the repre-
sentatives of the entire organized la
Dor movement of the United States is
based upon this adherence to this
voluntary principle.
Plea Against Conscription.
ssIt has been the hope of the men
and women OF labor that If this re-
public should inevitably be drawn into
active participation in the present
world conflict, that free institutions
and ideals are effective and sufficient
in war as well as in peace. - We
declare that at no time have voluntary
institutions been given a really eff
fective and conclusive test. Until
such a test shall have been given there
is no good reason for abandoning the
principle which was born of the spirit
of 1776 and which has enabled US to
establish the ideals and the traditions
that have given this republic meaning
as country-free, efficient and capa-
Bile of meeting any condition or emer-
geury."
This plea against conscription is
typical of the most of the efforts of
the labor movement thus far in this
war. Labor is fighting for free ex-
preston, for the safeguarding of DEM
the lawlessness of martial rule.
Probably the most important move
in this direction made by Gompers, as
the result of conferences with various
other leaders, has been the sending of
messages to the British and French
premiers, asking that two prominent
trade union leaders from each country
be sent as part of the commission from
those countries to the United States
to plan Americas share in the war.
Lloyd George cabled back to Com
pers: Delighted to comply with your
request. Two labor leaders and repre-
sentatives of welfare department of
ministry of munitions will leave for
America as soon as possible"
All-Entente Labor Council.
This opens a new chance for the
American labor movement. Even tho
the two British labor leaders be of the
most conservative type, they will come
with desire to help the American
Federation of Labor and the Railroad
Brotherhoods to defend industrial DEM
ocracy. They will be able to give eX-
pert advice on the degree to which
restrictive legislation in England has
injured trade unionism during the war.
They will also form the first unit in
what must soon become an An-Entente
with directing the policies of the en-
tente allies, and officially capable of
intervening their influence for peace
when the labor movements of the sew
eral nations are ready for peace. 1t
makes absolutely sure the assembling
of an international advisory congress
of labor at the time of the assem-
bling of the peace congress of the na-
tions when the war is done.
Army For Agriculture.
Agriculture conscription is u good
deal more likely to be popular in this
country during the present war than
is military conscription.
Hearings are being started by the
senate committee on agriculture on the
whole subject of the food shortage and
how it shall be met. The wage-earn-
ers of the towns and cities are not as
yet taking any part in the food agita--
ton, but the farmers, the dealers and
the shippers are very much wrought
up by the danger. So is the United
States department Of agriculture. and
so is ]. Ogden Armour, head Of the
beef trust. and so Is "Doc" Wiley. ma
tional food expert. Herbert Hoover,
(Continued on Pngo Ysur)