The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-04-14

pubic-Cal Upon All Workers to Do
Their Utmost to Aid In Safeguarding
and Preserving the Nation.
In recent editorial the New York
Times says:
1t was at the suggestion of the Coun-
Gil Of National Defense that a confer
ence of the officers of the American
trade unions, national and internation-
al, was held in Washington. That
council, charged with the duty Of
bringing about the cooperation and
coordination of the national resources
and all departments of its industrial
and economic life, is naturally con-
cerned to establish harmonious rela-
tons and a common purpose between
capital and labor i'll preparation for the
eXigencies which events may entail.
In Great Britain, less fortunate than
France or Germany, some of the trade
unions were slow for a time to merge
their special interests or claims in the
general patriotic effort Of the nation.
The American trade unions show In
the most vital of the resolutions adopt
ed by the conference their hearty uni
son with the great body Of Americans
They pledge themselves Gin peace Or
war, in stress or storm, to stand I'M
reservedly by the standards of liberty
and the safety and preservation Of the
institutions and ideals of our republic"
They hope for peace, but if war comes
they will do their best and utmost for
their country. There is a manly, sin
cere, noble note, a solemn fervor, in
their promise and summons:
eve, with these ideals Of liberty and
justice herein declared as the indis-
pensable basis for national policies,
offer our services to our country in
every field of activity to defend, safe
guard and preserve the republic of the
United States of America against its
enemies, whatsoever they may be, and
we call upon our fellow workers and
fellow citizens in the holy name of la
Dor, justice, freedom and humanity to
devotedly and periodically give like
service"
They speak for some millions of
men. At this time it is good to feel
that there is drawing together of
americans. The compartments and
partitions which interest, habit, preju-
dice have erected tend to disappear or
be disregarded. If in other parts of
the document adopted by the confer
ence there are reminders of the old
class" language, of the dOctrinairiSm
Of an economic and party creed, we
must remember that many socialist,
radical and intransigent elements had
to be regarded; that the declaration of
rights and wrongs and duties is large
ly theOretical; that every man is en-
titled to his opinions and that the as
sertion without conditions or qualifi-
cations of the common resolve to de-
fend the country is the prime and es-
sential part of the statement.
Nobody doubted the patriotism of
the unions, but it was worth while to
confOund the pacifists, the sentiment
talists, the Socialists, by this strong
expression of it. Other evidence of
the feeling of the labor leaders, faith
fully representing organized labor, is
not wanting. John Mitchell is among
the signers of notice to the citi
zens of New York of their opportuni
ty to subscribe to a pledge to support
the president ''in protecting American
rights against unlawful violence upon
land and sea, in guarding the nation
against hostile attacks and in uphold
ing international right" and among
the supporters Of that declaration OF
the first day Of its appearance were
such conspicuous labor leaders as 10
seph Barondess, Hugh Frayne, Tim
othy Healy and James P. Holland
There is no proviso on the American
ism of organized labor. The demands
conditions and guarantees laid dow
! by the conference are largely theoret
ical. The devotion to national self de
| Tense is unreserved.