The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-03-01

lamation to the working people of
America has been issued by the
Executive Council of the American
Federation of Labor, restating La
boris position of loyalty and fidelity
and calling upon all workers to stand
true to the principles of freedom
and democracy.
The proclamation is, in reality, a
ringing call to the producers of
the nation 1t follows in full:
eve are face to face with world
crisis We are in a world struggle
which VII determine for the imme-
diate .cure whether principles of
democrat freedom or principles OF
force shall dominate. The decision
will determine not only the destiny
of nations but of every community
and of every individual No life
will be untouched.
either the principles of free de-
mocracy or of Prussian militaristic
autocracy will prevail. There can be
no compromises. SO there can be
no neutrality among nations or in
dividuals-we must stand up and be
counted with one cause or the other.
For labor there is but one choice.
"The hope of labor lies in oppor-
tunty for freelom The workers of
America will not permit themselves
to be deceived or deceive themselves
into thinking the fate of the war will
not vitality change our own lives. A
victory for Germany would mean
a Pan-German empire dominating
Europe and exercising world bal
ance of power which Germany will
seek to extend by force into world
control.
"Prussian rule means supervision,
checks, unfreedom in every relation
of life.
"Prussianism has it's roots in the
old ideal under which men sought to
rule by suppressing the minds and
wills of their fellows; it blights the
new ideal of government without
force or chains-political or indus
trial-protecte by perfect freedom
for all.
Force the Only Argument
"Unless the reconstruction shall
soon come from the German workers
within that country, it is now plain
that an opportunity to uproot agen-
cies of force will come only when de-
mocracy has defeated autocracy in
the military field, and wins the right
to reconstruct relations between ma
tions and man. The peace parleys
between Russia and Germany have
shown the futility of diplomatic ne
gotiations until Prussian militarists
are convinced they cannot superim-
pose their will on the rest of the
world. Force is the basis of their
whole organization and is the only
argument they will understand.
Spontaneous uprisings in Germany
in protest against the miIitarist Gov
ernment have shown that the Ger
nan Government is still stronger
than the movement for German
emancipation. German freedom is
ultimately the problem of the Ger
man people. But the defeat of Prus-
sian autocracy on the battlefield will
bring an, opportunity for German lib
erty at home.
eve have passed the period when
any one nation can maintain its free
dom irrespectively of other nations.
Civilization has closely linked ma
tions together by the ties of COM
merce and quick communication,
common interests, problems and pur-
noses. The future of free nations
will depend upon their joint ability
to devise agencies for dealing with
their common affairs so that the
greatest opportunity for life, liberty
and pursuit of happiness may be as
sured to all.
hhhtS oiuSBfS US
sible
'This matter of world democracy
is of vital interest to labor Labor
is not sect or party. 1t repre-
,ants the invincble desire for great
or opportunity of the masses of all
nations. Labor is the Drawn, sinews
and brains Of society. 1t is the
user of tools. Tools under the crea-
tive power of muscle and brains
shapes the material of civilization.
Labor makes possible every great
forward movement of the world. But
labor is inseparable from physical
and spiritual life and progress. Labor
now makes it possible that this IT,