Denver labor bulletin., 1918-12-07
LABOR'S FUTURE
TO BE GUARDED
PRESENT WORKING CONDI-
TIONS MUST REMAIN
w. A. Nickson of Colorado Springs
Sounds Warning That There Must
Not Be Any Revision Of
Eight-Hour Day.
(By w. A. Nickson.)

Today we stand on the threshold
of a new era. For four years the
entente allies held back the German
hordes, and the conflict became so Bit
ter at times that the Hun with all his
insolence seriously menaced Paris.
The peace of the world was in dam
ger. The despairing, eresolute cry of
the poilu, "They shall not pass!" and
the order of Field Marshal Haig to the
British forces on that memorable day,
Fight with your backs against the
WALL" showed the intense strain when
the line was hourly becoming thinner.
The entrance of the United States of
America into the war put an end to
all the dreams of the war-mad kaiser
and his cohorts. No more will de-
mocracy be terrorized by the bully of
Europe.
Now all is changed. From war we
boring men prepared to welcome the
day when swords will be made into
plowshares and tanks into farm trac-
tors? We believe the man who tolls
is ready to reconstruct a battered
world. He gave his blood to defend
the rights of democracy and now that
peace is here he will calmly and logi-
call.r work out his destiny. The man
who works has come into his own.
What will he do with it? Let US hope
that labor will stand shoulder to
shoulder and not be betrayed by the
sophistry of parties which continually
seek the support of the worker for
selfish ends.
There must be no revision of the
eight-hour day. No court will con-
slider in the face of the evidence the
right of the employer to abrogate the
eight-hour day. 1t is not for us to
set forth claims as to its justice-it is
principle with us and for principle
we are prepared to grid ourselves for
battle.
Workingmen, in order to give the
best service to their employers, must
have time for required rest and diver
sion. ''All work and no play makes
Jack a dull boy is an old and true
saying. No longer will the sweatshop
be tolerated. The high standards of
family life must be conserved and en-
couraged else manhood and woman
hood will decay.
The problem of wages will readjust
itself if the employer and employe
come together with a mutual under
standing and a desire for justice. High
cost of living begets high wages, and
the profiteer must be dethroned be-
fore wages can be tampered with.
Labor must beware of the oppor-
tunist. Who is he? The man or party
who seeks your franchise by specious
promises which are never intended to
be fulflled-to use common express
sion, "To sell out" We have all seen
the picture of the cornfed gentleman
with stove-pipe hat marching in a
political parade abreast with men of
| broad shoulders, sleeves rolled up and
wearing square caps. People have
wondered why they are depicted as
| wearing square caps. Workingmen
| are not square-heads.
Now that the sword has been
sheathed and the workers, rich and
poor, have marshaled their forces for
peaceful pursuits, let us all bend our
energies toward the goal Of blight
| er and happier world-where there
shall be no want, suffering or poverty.
Labor, you are the arbiters of your
own future. How will you acquit your
selves?