Denver labor bulletin., 1918-08-10


plish whatever purpose they had in
mind. The misconceptions which had
arisen were overcome thru the pre-
sentation of the official records of the
A. F. of L. conventions, and if the
mission accomplished nothing else, it
succeeded in clearly stating the posi-
ton of the American trade union
movement on the subject of war aims
and policies. The receptions rendered
to the mission are referred to in a
separate section of this report, but
those which were given to US by our
British and French brethren.
International Federation of Trade
| Unions.
During the conferences held in Lon
don and Paris with representatives of
the labor movement and in private
conversations with many of the lead
ers in both countries, reference was
made to the many existing conditions
which could only be adequately met
i've International Federation of Labor
In both countries it was the unani-
nous opinion that it should be re-es-
tablished in a neutral country. At
present there exists an unfortunate
dearth of official records of the sew
| eral national trade union movements
and owing to this it has been possible
for politicians and the partisan and
general press to spread much misin-
formation among the workers relative
to the attitude of trade union leaders
and official policies. There is a cry
ing need for much greater interna-
tional exchange of trade union infor-
nation, experiences and ideas, which
can only be accomplished satisfac-
toriIy thru a central international
trade union bureau or secretary. Such
an international center is also most
essential SO that greater stability and
unity OF purpose may be established.
In Great Britain and upon the Euro
pean continent there exists today
among the workers more or less Joint
industrial and political movements,
the French workers having the Joint
committee of the Confederation du
Travail and the Socialist party, while
the British workers in their labor
party include Socialist groups such
as the Independent labor party, ma
tional Socialist party, British Social
ist party and the Fabian society
While these Socialist groups work
with the trade unionists politically
they maintain their separate affilia-
ton with the international Socialist
organization. Our European trade
union brethren are the best judges of
what their political activities should
be and what affiliations, political or
otherwise, which this should include,
but the existing condition tends new
ertheless to emphasize the urgent
necessity for purely international
trade union federation at which the
industrial problems can be given am
pie consideration entirely apart from
any political movements or consid-
erations. 1t is unsafe and unsound
to passively contemplate the influ-
ences exerted upon the trade union
movement in the great industrial ma
tions of the world. by political lead
ers, however small they may be,
whose viewpoint and experiences are
those of the student and politician.
The policies and programs of the
workers must be formulated by the
workers themselves, acting thru their
industrial organizations, if their best
interests are to be conserved.
Attitude Of the Public.
In war today the morale Of the
people constitutes one of the vital
lines of defense. Unless that holds
everything else is weakened, il not
lost. The mission therefore gave es-
pecial attention to the state of mind
among the people at all times.
That there is a certain WEAKNESS
among the people of France and Brit
ain is evident even to the casual OBJ
server. The burdens of nearly four
years of terrific war have fallen upon
their shoulders. The drainage of man
power has been such as to leave at
home few but the aged, the unfit
and the very young. Where men for
merly preponderated in industry wom-
en- now preponderate. There are in
Vulnerable hardships to irritate nerves
already freighted with tragedy and
sorrow.
But despite the burdens the will to
win remains mistaken. The deep
meaning Of the war is craven into
the hearts of the people in all walks
Of life and there is an unmistakable
an American, "the only way out Of
this war is thru it."
There is, it must be said, pacifist
minority that would yield to Prussian-
ism upon any pretext or none. Among
the fanatics Of this minority there
| are all shades of pacifist and enemy
opinion. And the minority is noisy.
However, the minority is too small to
affect the national purpose in either
nation. The fair and correct state
ment is that the morale Of the people
in France and Britain is fully equal
to the strain that must yet be borne
and that in these countries Germany's
greatest antagonist is the determine
tion of free people to remain free.
Beneath the care and WEAKNESS that
is all but hidden, there is a serenity
that betokens confidence. It is a
calm confidence. It is a splendid con-
fidence. 1t is an unshakable conf
dence. II is found in home and fac