The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-11-08
IF BUSINESS CAN BE INTERNA-
TIONALIZED, WHY NOT DEMOCRACY"
The Nations of the Earth Will Either League Enforce
Peace They Will Revert the Old System of Secret
Diplomacy and Huge Armaments."

WASHINGTON, Nov. Eff bus
mess can be internationalized, VIII,
not democracy" asks Frank Morri
son, secretary A. F. of L., in a de
fense of the theory of unity of ma
tions, written at the request of the
League to Enforce Peace, New York
City.
Opponents of league of this
character, said the trade unionist
I ..vant only one kind of internation-
-.ism-buying the natural resources
of weaker peoples and then have
armed forces back up their invest
ment.
"After this war;" he writes, "the
nations of the earth will either Join
a League to Enforce Peace or they
will revert to the old system of Sc
cret diplomacy, huge ornaments and
an atmosphere charged with rumors
of war. In the latter event the ideal
that spurred America to war against
German autocracy will have proven
delusion.
"An argument against league of
nations is that it could be used to
Cypress small nations and also work
ers who, in their organized capacity,
would assume responsibilities in the
conduct of affairs in their respective
countries to which they are entitled.
Another argument against the league
is that it would develop an interna-
tional ideal injurious to the spirit of
Americanism.
"To the first charge l agree. A
League to Enforce Peace could be
used to perpetuate wrong. But this
possibility now exists in individual
nations, down to their smallest mu-
inequalities.
"A league of this character is re-
lated to the village constable, who
can maintain order because he is
supported by organized society. In
its last analysis government rests
on force and any people whose So
cial conscience has not been devel-
oped is menaced by the thing that
may be charged against the proposed
league. This danger can only be
removed by the diffusion of edu-
cation, improved working conditions
of the masses which will permit of
more leisure, and an intellectual de-
velopment upon which democracy
rests.
"The charge against the spirit of
Americanism cannot be supported.
1t will be noticed in this connec-
tion that opponents of unity of
nations support large corporations
in their struggle for worlds mar
kets. Are we to understand that
our government will be encouraged
to aid this work, backed by secret
diplomacy and huge armament, but
that the peoples Of our country must
not extend their doctrine of peace,
fraternity and democracy to coun-
tries that American interests would
exploit?
Buying the natural resources of
weaker peoples with armed forces
to back up their investment, is the
only internationalism they favor.
"In short, they want business to
be internationalized, but not princi-
pie.
"We must end the excuse for
armed forces when a social disturb ;
ance in small nation threatens to
destroy values of exploiters. When
a man invests his money in those
he should take his chances
with the people of those countries
and not be permitted to embroil his
fellow ictizens in bloody war. This
would destroy the prop upon which !
one form of Imperialism rests. |
"The proposed league contains no i
new element that l can see. Num- /
bers do not effect principle, and {
bhe plan to unite major nations in I
the interest of peace is but the en- i
argmeent of the idea that nations f
with common interests have put into il
affect from time immemorial. b
1--WE have been flattered that prior
10 this war we held aloof from in {
sel national affairs, but history does C
not Justify this claim. To cite one e
Instance: At the present time there b
s in existence a Pan American
Union. Our country is leading fig a
ire in this combination that is based [
'n fraternity and right relations h
With our neighbors south of the Rio A
Irande and in Central and South r