Denver labor bulletin., 1918-11-09
GERMAN LIBERTY

llileTestS dI STAKE III the proper du-
justment of the questions involved in
this war. Our people have always en-
joyed free speech, free public assem-
blage, freedom to travel from place
to place, freedom to exercise any hu-
man right in an orderly way.
We of America probably do not ap-
preciate this freedom, because few of
us have lived under the rule of a ma
tion which not only restricts at all
times the exercise of that freedom but
absolutely prohibits it.
Germany is such a nation. Ameri-
can travellers in Germany even before
the war marveled at the abject serv-
ility to their rulers of the German
people; were amazed by the arrogance
of the military caste.
George w. Perkins, president of the
international Cigarmakers Union, in
reference to tour of investigation in
Germany, as representative of the
American Federation of Labor a year
before the war, made this observation
in recent article in the Elevator
Constructor:
My personal experience while
studying the labor movement in Ger
many was such as to make me more
than ever absolutely and unqualifiedly
back of our government in this war.
| found absolutely no democracy in
the German labor movement. No
meeting of working men could be held
in Germany without government po-
lice supervision. No one could speak
in foreign tongue ut any labor meet
ing without first submitting his speech
to the autocratic government, having
it censored, and being given permit
to make the address"
How long would the working people
of this country tolerate such a sys-
tenn? How long could the average
American live under a government
permit system, in which his every
would be officially recorded
This system of absolute control Of
the destinies of the people is the fun
damental basis of the German govern
ment. The unquestioned exercise Of
that power has created the German
ambition to dominate the world
America is now engaged in render
ing that power impotent; in smashing
it, if need be. The future safety of the
liberties Of the people of this country
make that imperative.
Since liberty is the dearest posses
sion of mankind, it cannot be achieved
without sacrifice; it cannot be main
tanned without a struggle against the
autocratic powers that thrive on priv
ilege without wrestling that power
from a ruling class and vesting it in
all the people.
The subjugation of liberty affects
all free people. Therefore, the sacri-
fee and the struggle necessary to re-
tain it must be shared by all.
A great responsibility rests upon la
Dor, for labor first must build the ships
and make the guns and the ammuni-
tion before the fighting forces can be
transported, before their courage and
their prowess in battle can be made eff
fective.
The most potent labor agency which
prevents the fulfillment of that respon-
sibility is the impeding of continuous
production by absenteeism, labor turn
over and stacking at work, or loafing
on the job. These evils-fnay be caused
by improper working conditions or by
the carelessness of the individual
workers, but whatever the cause every
effort should be made at this critical
period in the worlds affairs by both
employers and workmen engaged in
this imperative work to eliminate
these evils. The finished product be-
ing the combination of many opera
tions, harmony of all the contributing
factors is absolutely necessary to pre-
vent both congestion and idleness in
particular stage of manufacture
The completion of shell, for instance
requires ten operations. II the eighth
and ninth are delayed, congestion is
bound to occur, in all the prior opera
tions, while the tenth is idle--a bad
state of affairs when the soldier in the
trench needs that shell.
The soldier cannot delay the war to
await the arrival of that shell. His
life may depend upon its accessibility
and if it isn't within his reach, despite
his personal courage, he, not the un.
dutiful workman, must pay the pen.
atty for the Stacking or absenteeisn
of Nos. 8 and o and the consequent
idleness of No. 10 in the making OF
that shell.
The disaffection of labor, therefore
not only imposes upon the soldier
needless risk of his life, but in this
war it exerts vital influence upor
the liberties of the world.