Denver labor bulletin., 1918-05-25


ganized labor of America has again
found occasion to lay before the world
its ideas on war and peace and how to
permanently prevent a catastrophe
such as is convulsing the civilized
world today.
At the swim the War for Perma-
nent Peace" conference held here in
Independence hall, the delegates rep
resenting the American Federation of
Labor and the American Alliance for
Labor and Democracy, speaking on
behalf of the American working peo-
pie, presented their manifesto.
The labor delegates to the conven-
ton are, representing the American
John A. Vol, Grant Hamilton, Arthur
G. Holder and Joseph Richie; repre-
senting the American Alliance for La
Dor and Democracy: William English
Walling, Winfield r. Gaylord, Henry
l.. Slobodin and David j. Berry.
The labor proclamation, which was
drawn up on April % at a conference
held in Washington, presided over by
President Samuel Gompers, at which
both groups were present, is as fol-
lows:
The delegates of the American Fed
, Grafton of Labor and of the American
have decided to take this opportunity
to place briefly before this conference
and the American people certain poll
cies we consider indispensable to win
the war for permanent peace:
1 We urge the general adoption by
i the entire nation of the princi-
Piles and policies adopted by the
labor conference board in determining
the relations between the workers and
their employers in war industries.
They are as follows:
There should be no strikes or lock-
outs during the war.
"The right of workers to organize
in trade unions and TO bargain col
lectively, thru chosen representatives,
is recognized and affirmed.
THE right of employers to organ
I ize in associations of groups and to
bargain collectively. thru chosen rep
resentatives, is recognized and af-
/ firmed.
Employers should not discharge
workers for membership in trade
unions, nor for legitimate trade union
activities. The workers, in the ex-
ercise of their right to organize, shall
not use coercive measures to induce
persons to join their organizations,
or deal herewith.
I'm establishments where the union
shop exists the same shall continue,
and the union standards as to wages,
hours of labor and other conditions of
| employment shall be maintained.
I'm establishments where union and
non union men and women now work
together, and the employer meets only
with employees or representatives en-
gagged in said establishments, the con-
tinuance Of such conditions shall not
be deemed a grievance.
Established safeguards and regu-
lations for the protection of the health
and safety of workers shall not be re-
Taxed.
J "If il shall become necessary to en-
! ploy women on work ordinarily per-
formed by men, they must be allowed
equal pay for equal work and must
not be allotted tasks disproportionate
to their strength.
1.-THE basic eight-hour day is rec
ognized as applying in all cases in
which existing law requires it In
all other cases the question of hours
of labor shall be settled with due
regard TO governmental necessities
and the welfafe, health and proper
comfort of the workers.
1.-THE maximum production of all
war industries should be maintained,
and methods of work and operation
on the part of employees or workers
which operate to delay or limit pro-
duction, or which have q tendency to
artifciaily increase the most thereof,
should be discouraged.
"For the purpose of mobilizing the
labor with view to its rapid and eff
fective distribution, permanent list
of the number of skilled end other
workers available in different parts of
the nation shall be kept on file by the
department of labor.
"In fixing wages, hours and condi-
tons of labor, regard should always
be had to the labor standards, wage
scales and other conditions prevailing
in the localities affected.
1.-THE right of all workers, includ-
ing common laborers, to a living wage
is hereby declared.
"In fixing wages, minimum rates
of pay shall be established, which will
insure the subsistence of the worker
and his family in health and reason
able comfort"
q Organized labor represents the
Z largest group of industrial work
ers, trained for many years in the
ways and objects of industrial democ-
racy and intimate with the manage
ment of great industries. 1t is in the
interest of the community and of all
the measures necessary to win this
war that this ability and experience
in industrial and democratic organi-
zation should be utilized to the full
both by governmental and by other
public bodies for the common purposes
Of the nation. We advocate the ex-
tension Of the representation of or