The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-09-14
GOMPERSPRES|DENT
AMERICAN ALLIANCE
PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION is
TO CRUSH DISLoYALTY
AMONG WORKERS
RINGING DECLARATION VOTED
Declare for Suppression of German
Propaganda, Equal Suffrage, Con-
scripton of Wealth and
Many Other Reforms

Minneapolis, Sept S.-The Ameri
can Alliance for Labor and Democra
cy, organized three weeks ago witt
President Wilson's stamp of approval
concluded its big loyalty conference
here last night with the election of of
ficers and the adoption of ringing
declaration of principles.
The alliance, composed of the ma
TONS labor leaders and having as its
double purpose the crushing of dis
loyalty and the solidifying of labor in
the war for democracy, elected as its
leader Samuel GOmpers, president of
the American Federation of Labor.
The outstanding provisions in the
declaration of principles include:
Suppression of dsloyalists and pro-
German propagandistS.
qualification of labor behind the
government.
Consumption of wealth as well as of
men.
Heavy taxes on incomes, excess
profits and land values.
Government control of industries in
case of labor disputes.
Action against speculative interests
which enhance prices of necessities of
life.
Insurance for soldiers and sailors.
Equal suffrage.
Endorsement of President Wilson's
decision not to permit the war TO be
made an excuse for lowering labor
standards.
Declaration that wage earners | usl
have voice in determining conditions
under which they give service must
be represented in councils conducting |
the war and at peace negotiations.
"The overshadowing ISSUE" the |
declaration says" is preservation of |
democracy. Either democracy will en-
will triumph and the race will be en-
shaved. On this prime issue we take
our stand. We declare that the great |
war must be fought to a decisive re-
suit; that until autocracy is defeated |
there can be no hope of. an honorable
peace, and that to compromise the is
sue is only to sow the seed for blood
Ter and more devastating wars in the
future"
'We strongly denounce," the declar
alton continues, "the words and ac-
lions of those enemies of the republic
who, falsely assuming to speak for the
name of labor and democracy, are now ,
striving to obstruct the OPP
erations of the government. In mis- !
the governments pur- l
poses, in traducing the character of i
the president and of his advicers, in
stealthily attempting to incite Sedition f
md in openly or implicitly counselling {
resistance to the enforcement of laws {
enacted for the national defense, they
lbuse the rights of free speech, free as :
;emblage and a free press. In the
lame of liberty they encourage anar-
Thy and in the name of humanity they {
'ender every possible aid and comfort
o the brutal Prussian autocracy. If
he sinister councils of these persons
we're followed, labor would be reduced .
o subsection and democracy would be il
'bliterated from the earth. We de- n
lare that the betrayal of ones fellow f
workers. during a strike finds it's exact V
in the betrayal of ones
elbow citizens in time of war, and .
hat both are offenses which deserve W
he detestation of mankind. q
eve declare that a sturdy defense n
f the interests of labor is wholly b
ompatible with supreme loyalty to "
he government. Our loyalty to the
overnment is the loyalty of free men 81
Tho will not acquiesce in any surren- b
er of principle. s.
"We declare that a condition which il
emands the CONSUMPTION of men like
'ise demands the CONSUMPTION of
'ealth, and that incomes, excess prof Y
s and land values should be taxed
the fullest needs of the government"